Sept. 19, 2026

AATA’s 2026 Call for Nominations is open! We’re looking for members to step forward — or to nominate a colleague — for Board Treasurer, four Board Director positions, and one seat on the Nominations Committee.

This FAQ walks through everything you need to know about who can run, how to submit a nomination, and what happens next. If your question isn’t covered here, the AATA Nominations Committee is happy to help at nominations@arttherapy.org. For technical trouble with your Slayte online submission, reach out to Adele Turner at aturner@arttherapy.org.

Want to learn more? Join members of the Nominations Committee for an informal discussion on Sept. 30, 7pm. Register and we’ll send you the Zoom link.

Ready to get started? Submit a nomination or self-nomination through the 2026 Call for Nominations Form by October 12, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET. You’ll log in with your MyAATA credentials, so it’s worth double-checking that your membership is active before you begin.

• • Board Director (4 openings) — help shape national strategy, oversee programs, and represent the field as a visible leader and ambassador.
  • Treasurer (1 opening) — oversee AATA’s financial management and support sound, ethical organizational growth.
  • Nominations Committee Member (1 opening, a separate committee from the Board) — help build a strong, representative slate of candidates by encouraging qualified colleagues to step forward.

As a Board Director or Treasurer, you’d collaborate with staff, committees, and chapters; participate in board meetings and related projects; and help ensure AATA’s strategic goals align with its mission. Full position descriptions — including specific duties for each role — are available here.

How much time does each role take?

• • Board Director: 2-year term (renewable once); 2-hour monthly board meetings plus about 2 more hours a month for related work.
  • Treasurer: 2-year term (renewable once); 2-hour monthly board meetings plus a 1-hour monthly check-in with the Executive Director.
  • Nominations Committee: 2-year term (renewable once); a busier stretch in August and September (roughly 1 hour weekly), then closer to 1–2 hours a month the rest of the year.

The Nominations Committee is looking for candidates who reflect the full breadth of AATA’s membership and the art therapy community. To be eligible, a nominee should have:

• • An active Professional-level AATA membership in good standing for at least one year
  • At least three years of professional experience in art therapy
  • Prior leadership experience in the field (a plus, though not required)
  • Availability and genuine willingness to serve

Beyond these basics, the Committee also weighs:

• • Service to art therapy organizations at the local, state, national, and/or international level
  • A contribution that fills a current area of need for the Board
  • The ability to think beyond individual concerns to what’s best for the organization as a whole
  • Strong communication, professionalism, and accountability
  • Relevant professional, community, leadership, or lived experience
  • Openness to diverse perspectives and a commitment to an inclusive Board environment
  • Commitment to AATA’s mission, values, and strategic priorities
  • Willingness and ability to collaborate as part of a team

A nominee (whether nominating themselves or being nominated by someone else) must be a current Credentialed Professional, Retired Professional, Professional, or Honorary Life Member for at least one year.

A nominee is anyone listed on the preliminary ballot the Nominations Committee reviews. A candidate is someone the Committee has invited onto the final slate that members vote on. Not every nominee becomes a candidate — but everyone who applies is considered thoughtfully, and being nominated is itself a meaningful vote of confidence from your peers. 

If your nomination isn’t moved forward, we hope you will still consider volunteering with AATA in another capacity, and applying again in the future.

The easiest way is through the 2026 Call for Nominations Form, using your MyAATA login. The form, powered by Slayte, saves your progress, so you’re able to step away and finish it later — just make sure it’s completed by the deadline.

• • Nominating yourself? Choose the self-nomination option and submit a statement of 200 words or fewer on why you’d like to serve, along with your CV and a signed form.
  • Nominating someone else? Select “No” to the self-nomination question, then share their name, email address, and a statement (200 words or fewer) on why you’re nominating them.

Prefer not to use the online form? You can also email your nomination to nominations@arttherapy.org — just be sure it arrives by the deadline below.

Either way, self-nominated or nominated by a colleague, every candidate gets equal consideration for the slate.

All nominations are due by October 12, 2026, at 11:59pm ET. We’re not able to accept submissions after the deadline, so it’s worth giving yourself enough time to gather materials — especially if you’re pulling together a CV or reaching out to someone you’d like to nominate.

Realize you left something out, or need to make an edit? You can revise or add documents to your form any time before the deadline. Once the window closes, though, the form locks and can no longer be accessed.

Once the deadline passes, the Nominations Committee reviews every application and works to build a slate that’s balanced and representative of AATA’s membership — considering the Board’s current needs, opportunities for broader representation, and the skills called for in the strategic plan. A slate that doesn’t include every nominee isn’t a reflection of qualification or value; it simply reflects the specific mix of experience the Board needs this cycle. In the end, the voting membership always has the final decision-making power through the vote.

Here’s the expected timeline:

• • Late October: Every nominee hears back by email about whether they’ve been invited to join the slate as a candidate.
  • If invited: You’ll confirm your continued interest and complete a short candidate questionnaire, which is shared with voting members alongside your bio.
  • Mid-November: Voting opens for 30 days for all eligible members.
  • Late December: Election results are announced, and if you’re elected, you’ll be asked to formally accept the position.

After submitting an application, you’ll have more than one opportunity to confirm your interest — or to step back if your circumstances change — before you’re added to the final slate.

We ask nominees and candidates to refrain from active campaigning. “Active campaigning” isn’t formally defined, but it generally includes any campaign-style communication you initiate on your own behalf, including on social media.