​Andrea S. Temkin’s career in arts administration and arts education has been built on her belief that all people, regardless of economic, geographic, or social circumstances, age or ability, have a right to opportunities for self-discovery, empathy-building, and joy that come from practicing the arts and arts-integrated learning. She has been fortunate work with talented artists of all disciplines who are committed to sharing the knowledge, skills and techniques of their art forms with persons who might not otherwise have such an opportunity. Her extensive background includes working with arts nonprofits, educational institutions, government agencies, and as staff and board member of philanthropic regranting entities. Her consulting firm, Transition Solutions Group, focused on supporting organizations in transition by creating operational stability, ensuring a supportive transition environment for staff, board, constituents, and donors, and enabling continued growth and forward momentum of the mission and goals of the organization to enrich its community.

Ms. Temkin’s arts nonprofit experiences range from coordinating a Muralists-in-the-Public-Schools project for a small community arts organization to serving as a member of a large professional staff of a major U.S. symphony. Before establishing her own consulting firm, she served as the executive director for the Community School of Music and Arts in Mountain View for eight years. During her career, she has also had the enlightening experiences of working with funding agencies as well, as a staff member of the National Endowment for the Arts (1978-1980), the California Arts Council (1985-1994), San Mateo County Arts Commission (2015-2018), and as a board member of the Arts Council Silicon Valley (1996-2003). Ms. Temkin has served on grant review panels for the California Arts Council, San Francisco Arts Commission, and Arts Council Silicon Valley. She was a member of the Partners in Excellence Advisory Committee of the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts.

Besides actually enjoying asking for money, she is a strong believer in strategic planning and evaluation for nonprofits, the value of mentorship, and not reinventing the wheel. Ms. Temkin is currently enrolled in an MFA in Creative Writing program at Rainier Writing Workshop, Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, WA.