Just as local arts agencies act as voices and conveners for their arts and culture communities, so do local chambers of commerce for their business communities. The pARTnership Movement, a program and platform of Americanss for the Arts, presents a three-part curriculum that will guide local arts leaders on how to build strong and lasting partnerships with their local chambers of commerce to achieve shared community and economic development goals. The series and accompanying toolkits will focus attention on how local arts leaders can build business-to-business (B2B) relationships, shift thinking and actions to one of a creative business that positions one’s assets differently, and position their local arts agency as a driving force for equitable community and economic development alongside their private sector partners. Each part will include three on-demand sessions, a one-hour live conversation, and a digital toolkit as accompaniment. This toolkit accompanies Part 1 - The Basics and is designed to be used in tandem with the pre-recorded sessions. 

Part 1 of this series will establish a foundational knowledge of local chambers of commerce, the networks in which they operate and that serve them, how to navigate a traditional business environment, and basic activations a local arts agency can undertake to establish a partnership. Participants will hear from chamber and arts leaders and gain perspective on chamber priorities and challenges and learn to identify the various chamber and economic development entities in their communities. Participants are encouraged to use the toolkit as complimentary learning, and participate in a live discussion with presenters once completing the 3-part on-demand webinar series.