Shaunia Grant

SNAG Board/Student Candidate
Shaunia Grant is an object maker, born and raised in the border town of Las Cruces, New Mexico. They graduated from New Mexico State University in 2020 with their BFA in Studio Art and are currently an MFA Candidate at the University of Georgia School of Art. Their identity as a queer, indigenous Latinx person informs their material language as a maker and scholar as they consider assimilated notions of desire and contend with a complicated relationship with
sentimentality.

What does SNAG mean to you? Why are you interested in committing your time and energy to our organization?

I have found that SNAG creates a space where community can be built from a small to a large scale. SNAG has personally connected me with other makers who are in a variety of stages in their careers, creating relationships that are mutually beneficial. SNAG opens resources and opportunities for growth at any level. My desire to open up more spaces and have conversations about how we can better help each other, focusing on members that have been underrepresented and need further access to resources, is what interests me in committing my time and energy to SNAG.

What do you think are the characteristics of a great Board member?

I believe that a great board member should be passionate about creating an organization that truly benefits its members. They should be mindful of the power they have been given and use that power to represent the people that placed them in the position. It is important that a board member be able to speak up and discuss when things need to be changed to further progress. I also feel that a board should have members from those communities, as a queer indigenous person of color, being represented in these positions is critical.

Fundraising is a significant obligation of Board service. Can you tell us about your experience in fundraising?

I have been in leadership positions in the Metalsmithing Clubs, both in my undergraduate as well as my graduate program. I have organized several fundraisers on a smaller scale that have allowed members of those groups opportunities in travel, exhibitions, conferences, and lectures. I also volunteered for a local non-profit for several years, fundraising money for local charities with the goal of creating opportunities and resources for local women.

Board members bring experience, wisdom, strategic thinking, and their support network contacts. Can you tell us about yours?

As a student, my support network is constantly growing and developing. I have the great fortune to have wonderful advisors in the professors and advisors that have helped me to evolve as an artist, professional, and person. With their support, I have been able to create connections through the community. I look forwards to developing more and more connections as I continue to grow.

What kind of autonomy do you have over your calendar? Are you prepared to commit the needed time to this leadership position?

Because I am currently pursing my MFA, I do not have full autonomy over my calendar. I am very willing to commit the time that I can to this position but do have prioritization to my students and myself as a student. Despite the lack of flexibility, I firmly believe having student board members will give the SNAG board insight into the value and needs of a large section of their membership and keep the organization moving forward with the future in mind.

Can you describe a problem you have had to address that reached a point of crisis? How did you solve it?

I find that resolutions to most crises begin with clear and open communication. Through communication, problems can be analyzed fully, allowing for consideration of the full extent of the issue before making rash changes or judgments. When organizing a show with a deadline and multiple artists, I have been able to handle crises by being very active in reaching out to the participants and putting out fires before they have a chance to spread. I also feel that there are crises that are just simply too large for a singular person to be able to solve; being able to accept and reach out for assistance is an important skill to have.