Today we’d like to introduce you to Annie Royer. They and their team shared their story with us below:
The Arts and Music Guild is a non-profit organization which began in 2010 and has grown from two events a year to over fifty, from just one small program (Summer Music Intensives) to now four major programs: Summer Music Intensives, The Cove, McKinney Art Studio Tour, and McKinney Plein Air Society. The Guild also provides volunteers to support McKinney Cultural Arts District events, particularly the annual Unique By Nature Juried Art Competition and the annual Arts in Bloom festival. The Guild supports college art students through a major scholarship and small microgrants. All of this work is done with volunteer administrative leadership dedicated to serving the artists and musicians of North Texas. What began with a meeting of several artists and the initiative of Annie Royer and L.C. Tobey has grown to an organization that brings together creative people through innovative events, that trains and supports young and emerging artists and musicians, and that engages the public in meaningful ways.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The struggle is always for volunteers and funding. Every program operates on a very tight budget; there is little overhead (no paid administrative staff, no office space), and many tasks, such as website development and marketing are handled by volunteers. The McKinney Arts Commission provides a grant that represents less than 30% of the budget. Artists are charged a small fee to participate in a program, such as membership in The Cove or participation in the McKinney Art Studio Tour. Tuition for the Summer Music Intensives is kept very low. The remainder of the budget is provided through generous donations and sponsorships. Again, the hours and hours of service provided by volunteers (including the Director, Annie Royer) ensures that the Guild functions smoothly with limited funds. These volunteers also tackle the immense task of maintaining the communication required to meet the needs of each and every person involved in the programs and events. It is important to note that artists and musicians who teach or perform are contracted and paid because the Guild is very intentional about supporting the arts community in tangible ways, which includes paying creative people for their expertise.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Through the years, the Arts and Music Guild has received great feedback from the community of people it serves. For example, the Guild is known for prioritizing service, for providing great events free to the public and often free to the creative participants while paying those who are performing or teaching. The Guild is known for getting the job done, for following through on its commitments, for supporting other arts non-profits and their endeavors. The Guild is known for growing the arts community in McKinney by bringing together people from across McKinney and surrounding communities, including Dallas, Fort Worth, Denton, Sherman, Farmersville, Allen, Plano, Frisco, and more.
What matters most to you?
The future of the Arts and Music Guild rests on the next generation of leaders. Training a new group of adults in their twenties is a new and very important goal. These young people are passionate, teachable, service-oriented, hungry for ways to contribute to their community, and willing to put in the sweat equity needed to learn new skills in organizational leadership, grant writing, marketing, communications, website development, and gallery management.
Contact Info:
- Website: artsandmusicguild.org
- Facebook: Arts and Music Guild
