How can my Girl Scout participate?
This year, girls have two options to choose from:
COUNCIL-ARRANGED COLLABORATIONS: Sign up for a traditional council-arranged collaboration, including options for in-person and virtual experiences. Those registered will receive a list of collaboration options to choose from in early January. Register early, limited space will be available. View our Annual Progam Book for all the details.
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 artwork requirements and timelines. View our Annual Program Book for all the details.
How do I sign up my troop for the Create-Your-Own Collaboration?
You must submit a project proposal by Friday, December 1, 2023 (you do not need to know who exactly will be participating in your collaboration at the time you turn in your proposal). You have until March 31, 2024, to register all participants and pay the $5 registration. We will review your proposal and give you the go-ahead as soon as all details are finalized. 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, submit the Artwork Details Form. You also must register all participating girls and pay the $5.00 registration per girl by March 31, 2024. Participating Create-Your-Own Collaboration teams will receive a link to register after their project proposals are approved.
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. (See “When can I drop off my donated or collaboration artwork?” in the Artists FAQs section.)
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 dates 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 Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska council and covers a special artVenture 2024 patch for each girl plus 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 the collaborative artwork, the individual take-home piece each girl keeps, and for preparing the artwork for display. Some charge nothing whileothers 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/caregivers may volunteer as a helper at the time they submit their Girl Scout’s collaboration preferences.
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 April 20, 2024, from 1–2:30 p.m. (CT), and will be held at UNO Mammel Hall, 6708 Pine Street, Omaha.
Since the in-person event will only be in Omaha this year, we are also offering 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 and 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?
This year, 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. The submission deadline is December 1, 2023.
