The City of Auburn, in partnership with Artist Trust, is offering “I Am An Artist” Professional Development workshop April 9-10.
The two-day intensive symposium is a great way for artists to jump-start or refresh their creative careers. The class will be taught by Miriam Works, who since 1993 has consulted on businesses and marketing with creative artists, small businesses, museums and non-profits, alongside several guest speakers.
The class teaches artists to present and promote themselves professionally, create a business plan, approach for-profit and non-profit markets for funding and support, and develop an effective web presence.
“There are so many great artists in the South Sound who could benefit from a workshop to hone the skills of the business of being an artist,” said Arts Commission Chair Patricia Judd.
The unique feature of this class is that it emphasizes working alongside peers and the importance of networking.
Local metal artist Greg Bartol participated in the Artist Trust EDGE Program.
“It’s great exposure to the business, administration and marketing side of art, including organization, legal and all of the other skills that successful artists make seem so easy,” Bartol said of the training. “EDGE brought-in guest speakers who are perfect models. … My classmates were fiber artists, woodworker, photographer, paper artist, etc., which was a great mix and good exposure to the skills they have.”
Bartol and seven of his EDGE Graduate colleagues (Debra Calkins, Nikki deRelle, Ren Lis, Glenda Powers, Joan Schlichting, Maggie B. Stokes, and Larkin Jean VanHorn) will be displaying their artwork in the Auburn City Hall Gallery from April 6-May 3.
There will be an opening reception from 5:30-7 p.m. on Saturday, April 9 that will have a PechaKucha-style presentation by the artists on display. PechaKucha draws its name from the Japanese term for the sound of “chit chat”, it rests on a presentation format that is based on a simple idea: 20 images x 20 seconds. It’s a format that makes presentations concise, and keeps things moving at a rapid pace.
The artists participating in the “I Am An Artist” workshop will be attending the reception as guests.
Registration to participate in the I Am An Artist workshop is $50 for Artist Trust nembers, $95 for non-members (but includes a membership).
For more information or to register, please contact Nirmala Singh-Brinkman, program manager, nirmala@artisttrust.org, 206-467-8734, ext 20, 1-866-21-TRUST (toll free).
The public is invited to the artist reception.
