SERVICES

Section Styles hero

VERGE works with art galleries and museums to align full-service recruitment and human resources support, while nurturing and empowering talented people of the global majority throughout their art careers. Like traditional recruiters, VERGE works with clients to identify the “right fit.”

But VERGE goes a step further, working with new hires and the hiring institutions, post-placement. Ongoing and regular check-ins with new hires, combined with HR support, workshops, and consultations for (and tailored to) the hiring institution, ensure that both sides are set up for success.

OUR SERVICES

Talent Development

Talented individuals are provided a one-stop-shop for accessing sought-after art-positions while also receiving the support needed to thrive in new roles. Support includes:

  • Personal assessment to provide optimal employer + candidate matching

  • Resume and cover letter review and feedback

  • Specialized conversations related to the hiring process 

  • Interview prep and coaching

  • Equitable compensation negotiation

  • Big-picture career development

  • Access to a network and community of talent in the art industry

Recruiting

Institutions are aligned with talent and provided the strategic resources (i.e., specialized workshops, ongoing HR-support) required to help new hires succeed while taking the organization to the next level. Sample of services include:

  • Job placement

  • Job posting feedback, interview preparation, review of candidates 

  • Bias awareness workshop(s) 

  • Sustainability coaching workshop(s) 

  • Cultural strategy planning and roadmaps for organizational change

HR Consulting

Institutions are provided with the support needed to ensure that new hires are set up for success. Sample services include:

  • Development of internal documents such as organizational charts and performance evaluation protocols 

  • Review of systems for pay increases and promotions

  • Retention support including regular personal check-ins with the employee who is hired through VERGE

  • Internal meeting facilitation to discuss real-time conflict and/or growth 

Section Styles bullets

OUR RESEARCH

In 2022, according to the Mellon Foundation, 73% of arts-leadership positions are held by white people. But by 2045, it’s expected that people of color will make up the majority in the U.S. Across industries, we’ve seen efforts to narrow the gap—DEIA trainings and diversity hires. But decades of exclusionary practices cannot be undone overnight. And with new opportunity, comes new challenges. Traditional HR protocols have been hard-pressed to keep up with a rapidly evolving landscape, and arts organizations rarely have standard HR practices in place. To this end, arts organizations are under-resourced in their efforts to support the new employees who are being invited into the halls of power like never before. And unfortunately, lack of support leads to high turnover, low morale, and undermined long-term vision—all of which have an effect on the bottom line of a business. Specifically, it costs a company 1/3 of the salary of the person who has departed. Furthermore, according to the Work Institute, in 2021, 69% of turnover was for preventable reasons.

But when employees win, the institution wins.

As we continue to strengthen relationships with leaders, experts, and talent across relevant industries, VERGE will gather insights and connect the dots. We are committed to sharing information that stands to positively affect the change we seek.

Stay tuned here for research updates, or for opportunities to partake in research efforts.