How can my Girl Scout participate?
Girls have two options to choose from:
1. Council-Arranged Collaborations
Sign up for a council-arranged collaboration. Register early, limited space will be available. Cost: $10* per girl, includes arranged collaboration, patch, and invitation to reception.
*Collaborating artists also may charge each girl up to $25 for materials. Material fee details will be included in collaboration listings.
- Registration Opens: Wednesday, November 1, 2023
- Registration Closes: Friday, December 1, 2023
- Collaborations Take Place: mid-January through mid-March 2024
2. Create-Your-Own Collaboration Team
Form a team of at least four Girl Scouts, an adult project leader (team contact), and an adult artist volunteer. You’ll design your own project, setting meeting dates and times that work best for you. Teams must adhere to the artVenture 2024 artwork requirements and timelines. Cost: $5* per girl, includes patch, and invitation to reception.
*Collaborating artists also may charge each girl up to $25 for materials; this will vary by project and is to be worked out between the artist and the collaboration team.
How do I sign up my troop for the Create-Your-Own Collaboration?
You must submit a Create-Your-Own Collaboration Team Project Proposal by December 1, 2023. We will review your proposal and give you the go ahead to start once approved. You will have until December 1, 2023, to register all participating girls and pay the $5 registration. A registration link will be sent to teams whose project proposals have been approved.
We finished our Create-Your-Own Collaboration, now what?
Once your Create-Your-Own Collaboration is done, you need to submit the Artwork Details Form within two weeks of completion. Friday, March 15, 2024, is the final date we will accept these forms.
How will we get our Create-Your-Own Collaboration artwork to you for the auction?
The adult volunteer project leader and collaborating artist volunteer should coordinate with each other to determine who will drop off the Create-Your-Own Collaboration artwork for the auction.
Outside the Omaha area, the deadline to drop off your artwork to the nearest Spirit of Nebraska Service Center or staff member is Monday, April 1, 2024.*
For the Omaha-area, you can drop-off artwork on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at UNO’s Mammel Hall in Omaha* (6708 Pine St., 12–8 p.m.).
*Unless other arrangements are made in advance.
I signed my Girl Scout up for a council-arranged artVenture 2024 collaboration, what happens next?
artVenture council-arranged collaborations look a little different across the state but no matter where you are you will be contacted by your program specialist after December 1, 2023 with collaboration options for your area. After looking through the options with your Girl Scout (details such as dates, times, location, and artist fees will all be included), you will submit her collaboration preferences. Next, you will receive an email confirming which collaboration she is in. Collaborations will occur mid-January through mid-March, but that may vary slightly by area.
I’m registering my Girl Scout for artVenture. What is the additional artist material fee for?
The $5 (Create-Your-Own) or $10 (Council-Arranged) registration fee is paid to Spirit of Nebraska council and covers a special artVenture 2024 patch for each girl as well as the expenses for the in-person and virtual artVenture Girl Reception that each girl and her family are invited to attend after all collaborations are completed.
Each collaborating artist donates their time, but they are allowed to charge up to $25 per girl for costs associated with materials for both the collaborative artwork and the individual take-home piece each girl keeps, and for preparing the artwork for display. Some charge nothing, others charge the full $25—it really depends upon the art project and the materials used. The material fees are paid directly to the artist at the time of the collaboration.
What happens during a collaboration?
Creativity and fun! The artists will have a general project idea in mind before they meet with the group, but the girls will also contribute their ideas, making it a collaborative effort. We ask the artists to talk a little about their own artist path-why and how they became an artist and what it means to be an artist. They will share their expertise in a particular medium or art form and will work together with the girls to create one collaborative piece that will go to the artVenture auction event. Each girl will also make a smaller piece to take home as a keepsake of her experience.
Where do collaborations take place?
This varies a great deal but most take place in the artist’s studio. This gives the girls a first-hand look at how artists work, their tools of the trade, etc. Not all artists have their own studios, however, or sometimes there is not enough space in them to accommodate a collaboration, so some take place at another site such as a “borrowed” studio, a classroom, or other meeting space.
Do I stay with my daughter during the collaboration? How is supervision handled?
Many art studios are small spaces, and we want to keep the focus on the girls, so the number of adults present during a collaboration is limited. We require at least one adult who is a current Girl Scout member and who has successfully completed a background screening to be present as an adult helper, a supervisory role in addition to the artist. Parents or guardians can volunteer to be a helper at the time they submit their Girl Scout’s collaboration preference.
What is the Girl Reception?
Each participating Girl Scout and her family will be invited to the Girl Reception to see the collaborative artwork on display and celebrate their contribution. At the reception, girls will receive their patch, view all the artwork, pose for photos with their fellow artists and their creations, enjoy some refreshments, and drop off a hand-made thank you card for their artists.
The in-person reception for participating girls and their families will take place on Saturday, April 20, 2024, from 1–2:30 p.m. (CT) at UNO’s Mammel Hall, 6708 Pine St., Omaha.
We will also offer a virtual Girl Reception. Stay tuned for more information about the virtual event.
I know someone who I think would make a great artVenture collaborating artist. How do I get them involved?
We are always in need of more artists, so we welcome suggestions! If you know someone that you think would be a great fit for artVenture, direct them to the Artist Interest Form and then we’ll contact them to provide additional information.
What is the artVenture patch contest?
We invite all registered Girl Scouts to submit design ideas for the year’s artVenture patch. The girl whose design is selected will meet with our graphic designer to collaborate on preparing their patch design for production. Girls may complete and submit their design by Sunday, January 7, 2024.
