Society for Iberian Global Art

By-laws

Article I: Name, Office and Membership

  1. The name of the Corporation shall be the Society for Iberian Global Art Inc., (hereinafter “SIGA.”)

  2. The office of SIGA shall be maintained at such place or places as the Board shall from time to time determine.

  3. All members of SIGA and all members of SIGA’s Board shall be active in the study of the art, history, culture, language, and/or society of Spain and/or Portugal and their global communities or related professional areas.

  4. The Society for Iberian Global Art Inc. shall be established in 2024.

Article II: Purposes

The purposes of the Corporation are:

  1. To foster and support the practice and publication of art historical scholarship in the study of the art, history, culture, language, and/or society of Spain and/or Portugal and their global communities or related professional areas in the United States.

  2. To provide a forum for presenting and advancing new approaches to the above-mentioned fields; for examining problems that confront these fields; for identifying scholarly needs and opportunities to its members; and for fostering a diverse and inclusive community for the dissemination of knowledge and the free exchange of ideas and scholarship.

  3. To fulfill the society’s mission to promote and disseminate scholarship on global Iberian art in the United States, SIGA will offer prizes that celebrate excellence in the field.

    1. Authors will not have to be active members of SIGA for consideration.

    2. The prizes will include, but are not limited to:

      1. The annual Eleanor Tufts Award, which will recognize an outstanding English-language book in the fields of Spanish or Portuguese art and architectural history.
      2. The annual Jonathan Brown Award, which will recognize exceptional achievement in an English-language exhibition catalogue dedicated to an Iberian or global Iberian theme. Foreign-language exhibition catalogues published with English-language translations will also be eligible, but such translations must be included in full in the original publication, not published at a later date or available in an online or digital format or an in-gallery brochure only.
      3. The Gridley McKim-Smith Award, which will acknowledge a superior peer-reviewed English-language article, essay, or book chapter on any aspect of Iberian or global Iberian art or architectural history from an individual not more than thirty-five years old or who has received the doctorate not more than five years before acceptance of the article for publication. The award is offered every other year beginning in 2024.

Article III: Membership and Dues

  1. The Corporation shall invite individual membership with the right and privilege to vote for a governing Board (see Article III.D) in triennial elections (see Article III.G). The Board. The Board shall establish the dues of membership (see Article III.J.1); set the budget for the Corporation; manage short- and long-term activities such as, but not limited to, the organization of the College Art Association (hereafter “CAA”) annual conference session and the Triennial Conference; and oversee all fiscal affairs.

  2. All persons interested in the mission and purposes of the Corporation are eligible for individual membership.

  3. Any person shall, upon application and payment of dues, become an Active Individual Member of the Corporation. Active Individual Members shall have the right to hold office in the Corporation and to vote in elections for said offices.

  4. The Board shall consist of the following offices, the responsibilities of which are given in Article VI. The first three (3) officers (President, Secretary, and Treasurer) together constitute the Executive Committee:

    1. President
    2. Secretary
    3. Treasurer
    4. Diversity Officer
    5. Graduate Student Representative
    6. International Representative
    7. Membership Coordinator
    8. Webmaster
    9. Social Media Editor
    10. Hispanic Research Journal (hereafter “HRJ”) Visual Arts Issue Editor
    11. Prize Committee Chair
    12. Past President (as circumstances dictate)

  5. All Active Individual Members of the Corporation are eligible to stand for election to these offices, with the exception of those who have served on the Board for two (2) successive terms (see Article III.F). Self-nominations are permissible.

  6. The tenure of these offices shall be three (3) years, and all Board Members shall be eligible for reelection to one (1) successive term, by vote of the general membership of the Corporation (hereafter “the membership”). After the conclusion of two successive terms, that is, six (6) years, Board Members shall not be eligible for election until an interval of three (3) years has elapsed.

  7. Elections by the membership shall be held every three years at the Annual Business Meeting of the Corporation (see Article IV.A) or at a special meeting called by the Board, with the new Board taking office on July 1 of that year.

  8. All elections shall be by electronic voting and all Active Individual Members of the Corporation shall be notified by email of the results of all elections.

  9. All Active Individual Members of the Corporation shall be provided with notice of any meetings of the Corporation, as described below in Article IV, items D and G.

  10. Dues are due annually on July 1, which shall constitute the beginning of the Fiscal Year of SIGA, which shall run until the following June 30.

    1. Annual dues shall, for the first fiscal year of the Corporation, be: $85 regular; $55 students and unaffiliated or retired scholars; $155 institutional; $500 institutional; $250 benefactor; $200 patron; $150 supporting.
  11. Upon its dissolution, the assets of SIGA shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Article IV: Meetings of the Corporation

  1. The Corporation shall meet at least once annually at the national conference of the College Art Association (CAA) to present a scholarly session (or other CAA-accepted format that promotes useful exchange of ideas among the members) and hold a business meeting (hereafter the “Annual Business Meeting”).

  2. In addition,the Board shall organize at least one annual meeting, which may be held in person and/or virtually.

  3. The purpose of the Annual Business Meeting is to transact such business as may come before the Meeting and to elect new Members to the Board as necessary.

  4. Active Individual Members may propose resolutions for consideration by the Board of SIGA at the Annual Business Meeting. Any such proposals must: (i) be received by the President of the Board no later than eighty (80) days prior to the Annual Business Meeting; (ii) be in proper parliamentary form; (iii) be signed by at least five (5) Active Individual Members of the Corporation in good standing; (iv) be no more than three hundred (300) words in length; and (v) deal with matters relating to the purposes of SIGA. The Board may also propose matters for consideration at the Annual Business Meeting.

  5. The Notice of the Annual Business Meeting shall be sent by the Secretary via electronic mail to all members at least sixty (60) days prior to the date designated for the Annual Business Meeting. The Notice will include: the date, time, and place of the Annual Business Meeting; the names of and other information regarding candidates for the Board; and of any resolutions or other matters to be considered at the Annual Business Meeting.

  6. At the Annual Business Meeting, the President shall determine the order in which resolutions or other matters may be considered. As the President may deem appropriate, resolutions from the floor may, but are not required, be considered at the Annual Business Meeting.

  7. At the Annual Business Meeting, Active Individual Members, whether present in person or by proxy, may, by majority vote, adopt such resolutions or act on such other business of the Corporation as may properly come before the Meeting.

  8. Special Meetings of SIGA may be called for any purpose and for any reason by: (i) resolution of the Board; (ii) vote of the Executive Committee; or (iii) written request of ten (10) percent of the Active Individual Members. In the event of such request, it shall be the duty of the Secretary to call such a Special Meeting at such time and place as the Secretary may fix, not less than sixty (60) days nor more than ninety (90) days after the receipt of said request. If the Secretary neglects or refuses to issue such call within ten (10) business days of such receipt, any Active Individual Member making the request may issue the call, specifying therein the time and place of the Meeting. The Secretary shall send out a Notice of Special Meeting, in any format as selected by the Board, with the date, time, and place of the meeting and of the resolution or other matters to be considered at the Special Meeting. No business shall be transacted at a Special Meeting except such as shall be specified in the Notice thereof or matters germane thereto.

  9. Active Individual Members shall be entitled to vote at every meeting of SIGA to cast one vote on any resolution, in any election or on any subject that is before the meeting. Such vote may be cast in person or by proxy, the form, content, and technology of which will be determined by the Board.

  10. A quorum for the Annual Business Meeting shall consist of at least ten (10) percent of the membership, present in person or by proxy, and at least 60 percent of the Board, present in person or by proxy, and for Special Meetings of SIGA of at least 60 percent of the Executive Committee and 60 percent of the Board in person or by proxy.

Article V: Board

  1. The property and offices of SIGA shall be managed by the membership, which shall elect a Board to handle all responsibilities as outlined in Article VI.

  2. The Board may delegate their authority, at their discretion, at any time or from time to time, to such committees as may be appointed by the Board at any one or more of their meetings.

  3. An initial Board will form SIGA, following which, approximately a year after its first official meeting, a Board of up to twelve (12) members will be elected by the membership. In subsequent years, up to six (6) new Members may be elected at each Annual Business Meeting.

  4. The Board shall consist of between nine (9) and twelve (12) Members, inclusive of the officers of the Executive Committee, and the Past President (for one year following the completion of their term).

  5. The Members of the Board shall be empowered to fill any and all vacancies as may occur on the Board.

  6. Unless elected as an officer by the Board to fulfill a vacancy as noted in Article V.E, each Member of the Board shall serve a term of three (3) years.

  7. Members of the Board shall be elected at the Annual Business Meeting of the Corporation or at a Special Meeting called by the Board and shall serve until their successors are duly elected and assume office.

  8. Members of the Board begin their term on July 1 following their election.

  9. Members of the Board may be removed by a two-thirds majority of a quorum of participants in the Annual Business Meeting or a Special Meeting of SIGA.

Article VI: Members of the Board and Duties

  1. The Executive Committee of the Corporation is: The President, the Secretary, and the Treasurer. The remaining Members, together with the Executive Committee—and, as circumstances dictate, and the President-Elect, who may be an Elected Member other than the President—constitute the Board. All Members, including the Executive Committee, shall be elected by the membership. Members of the Board shall be eligible for reelection to one (1) successive term at the conclusion of their three (3)-year position. After the conclusion of the successive term, officers shall not be eligible for election until an interval of three (3) years has elapsed.

  2. The President, who shall serve a three (3)-year term, and who shall be eligible for reelection to one (1) successive term, by vote of the membership, shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation and shall preside at all meetings of the Board. The President shall appoint all committees, including members of the Triennial Conference Committee, and act as the Corporation’s liaison with the College Art Association (CAA), overseeing payment of all dues and/or fees to CAA and assuming or delegating responsibility for the management of SIGA’s activities at CAA’s annual conference, which includes but may not be limited to the Corporation’s sponsored session and annual business meeting. The President shall have the power to appoint on a temporary, limited basis any director of the Corporation to perform the duties of the President.

  3. The Secretary, who shall serve a three (3)-year term, and who shall be eligible for reelection to one (1) successive term, by vote of the membership, shall notify or cause to be notified each member of the Board of all its meetings, and all members of the Corporation of the Annual Business Meeting and all Special Meetings; issue or cause to be issued all other authorized notices to members or other persons; attend all sessions of the Executive Committee and the Board and all meetings of the members of the Corporation, and act as clerk thereof, and record all votes and the minutes of all proceedings; draft and submit any periodic report as required by law; and perform such other duties as the Board or Executive Committee may assign. The Secretary may delegate to any other Elected Officer the power to do any and all of the same foregoing and, in such event, the acts taken pursuant thereto shall be of the same force and effect as if done by the Secretary personally.

  4. The Treasurer, who shall serve a three (3)-year term, and who shall be eligible for reelection to one (1) successive term, by vote of the membership, shall collect and have custody of the funds and securities of the Corporation and shall hold in a custodial or fiduciary capacity any other funds as directed by the Board. The Treasurer shall keep or cause to be kept complete and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements of the Corporation; shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects of the Corporation in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such banks or depositories as the Board may designate; and file all forms and reports to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), including Form 990-PF, as required by law. Whenever required by the Board, the Treasurer shall render a statement of the accounts. He/she/they shall at all reasonable times exhibit the books and accounts to any Member of the Board and shall perform all duties incident to the role of Treasurer and such other duties as shall from time to time be assigned to him/her/them by the Board. Annually, at a meeting of the Board, the Treasurer shall present a report showing in appropriate detail: (i) the assets and liabilities of SIGA as of a twelve (12)-month fiscal period terminating not more than eight (8) months prior to the meeting; (ii) the principal changes in assets and liabilities during that fiscal period; (iii) the revenues or receipts of SIGA, both unrestricted and restricted to particular purposes, for that fiscal period; and (iv) the expenses or disbursements of the Corporation, for both general and restricted purposes, during said fiscal period. The report shall be filed with the minutes of the meeting of the Board. The report to the Board may consist of a verified or certified copy of any report by the Corporation to the Internal Revenue Service that includes the information hereinabove specified.

  5. The Diversity Officer, who shall serve a three (3)-year term, and who shall be eligible for reelection to one (1) successive term, by vote of the membership, will work in close consultation with the Executive Committee to ensure that the Corporation’s commitment to promoting and sustaining a diverse, inclusive and equitable environment wherein all members of the Board and all Active Individual Members feel respected and valued regardless of gender, age, race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation or identity, disability, education or any other bias is upheld.

  6. The Graduate Student Representative, who shall serve a three (3)-year term, and who shall be eligible for reelection to one (1) successive term, by vote of the membership, will work in close consultation with the Executive Committee to ensure that the Corporation’s commitment to promoting and sustaining the intellectual and professional development of graduate students and early career scholars is upheld.

  7. The International Representative, who shall serve a three (3)-year term, and who shall be eligible for reelection to one (1) successive term, by vote of the membership, will work in close consultation with the Executive Committee to ensure that the Corporation’s commitment to collaborating with the international community of scholars of global Iberian art and architecture is upheld.

  8. The Membership Coordinator for the Corporation, who shall serve a three (3)-year term, and who shall be eligible for reelection to one (1) successive term, by vote of the membership, will work in close consultation with the Treasurer and Webmaster to coordinate active membership lists. Members shall be able to update their information on the website, supervised by the Membership Coordinator and Webmaster.

  9. The Webmaster for the Corporation, who shall serve a three (3)-year term, and who shall be eligible for reelection to one (1) successive term, by vote of the membership, and will work in close consultation with the Board, especially the Membership Coordinator, to determine, coordinate, and administer the Corporation’s website and oversee communication with the membership.

  10. The Social Media Editor for the Corporation, who shall serve a three (3)-year term, and who shall be eligible for reelection to one (1) successive term, by vote of the membership, and will work in close consultation with the Board to determine, coordinate, and administer the Corporation’s social media presence.

  11. The HRJ special issue Coordinator/Co-Editor, who shall serve a three (3)-year term by vote of the membership, and who shall be eligible for reelection to one (1) successive term, will work in close consultation with the Board to determine, coordinate, co-edit, and distribute to the membership the special issue of HRJ in collaboration with a representative from the Iberian & Latin American Visual Culture Group (ARTES). In the event the publication of the Visual Arts Issue is delayed, the outgoing HRJ Special Issue Coordinator/Co-Editor may assist their successor as stipulated by the incoming Board.

  12. The Prize Committee Chair for the Corporation, who shall serve a three (3)-year term, and who shall be eligible for reelection to one (1) successive term, by vote of the membership, will work in close consultation with the Board to determine, coordinate, and administer the Corporation’s awards, including but not limited to the Eleanor Tufts Award, the Jonathan Brown Award, and the Gridley McKim-Smith Award.

    1. To administer the Corporation’s Eleanor Tufts Award, Jonathan Brown Award, and Gridley McKim-Smith Award, the Prize Committee Chair shall, in consultation with the Board, appoint three Prize Committees as needed that consist of three individuals of the membership with the exception of the President and Prize Committee Chair. Each member of each Prize Committee shall be a specialist in one of the following three (3) fields: Classical, medieval, and/or early modern Spanish and/or Portuguese art and architectural history; modern and contemporary Spanish and/or Portuguese art and architectural history; and global Iberian art, broadly defined to include Latin American, Asian, Atlantic, Caribbean, and Pacific contexts. All Prize Committee Members shall serve a three (3)-year term on a rotating basis and will not be eligible to serve on another Prize Committee until a period of six (6) years has elapsed since the conclusion of their service.

  13. In the absence of the President, his/her/their duties shall devolve upon (i) the President-Elect, if there is a President-Elect at such time; (ii) the Secretary, or (iii) the Treasurer, and should circumstances demand, next upon the longest-serving Member of the Board. In the event of the President’s resignation or death, the order of succession shall be as provided in the preceding sentence.

Article VII: Meetings of the Board

  1. Members of the Board shall meet at least once annually (see Article IV.B).

  2. Notice of the annual meeting of the Board shall be given to each Member of the Board at least five (5) days prior to the meeting.

  3. Supplementary meetings of the Board for any purpose or purposes may be called by the President and shall be called by the President and Secretary at the request, in writing, of any six (6) Members of the Board.

  4. Notice of any supplementary meeting of the Board, stating the time, place, and object thereof, shall be given to each of the Member of the Board at least three (3) days before such meeting.

  5. The annual meetings of the Board shall be held at such place as may be designated by the President, or failing such designation by the President, at such other place as may be designated by a majority of the Executive Committee. Supplementary meetings of the Board may be held at such time and place as shall be stated in the notice of the meeting or in the duly executed waiver of notice hereof.

  6. Whenever notice is required to be given to a Member of the Board, such notice may be given either personally, by mail, telephone, email, or fax.

  7. Whenever any notice is required to be given to a Member of the Board, a waiver thereof given by the Member of the Board who is entitled to such notice, whether given before or after the time at which the meeting is held or to be held, shall be deemed the equivalent of such notice. Any such waiver may be written or oral.

  8. In all matters pertaining to the affairs of the Corporation, the Board shall act by resolution of a majority of those Members of the Board present at a meeting of the Board. The presence of 60 percent or more of the Members of the Board shall be deemed to constitute a quorum at any such meeting. A meeting of the Members of the Board may be duly held by the attendance thereat in person of the Members of the Board or by telephone or electronic means, and any Member of the Board who shall participate in such meeting either personally or by telephone, or electronic means shall be deemed to have been present thereat and shall be counted in the determination of the quorum.

Article VIII: Corporation Affiliations

The Executive Committee may apply for membership in and affiliation with other appropriate scholarly organizations.

Article IX: Amendments

These by-laws may be amended from time to time at the Annual Business Meeting of the membership by a majority of vote of the established quorum of participants (See Article IV.J).

Article X: Parliamentary Authority

All matters not covered by these by-laws shall be governed by Roberts Rules of Order.