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Springfield LCC Grant provides Artist in Business Training for Springfield-based artists
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Artists, performers, and craftspeople in the Springfield area are invited to attend a two-day Artist in Business Training on December 8th and 9th from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Springfield Museums, 21 Edwards Street, Springfield, MA presented by Dee Boyle-Clapp, Interim Director of the Arts Extension Service at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Maren Brown of Maren Brown Associates, Florence, MA.
This two-day Artist in Business Training will be available for free to Springfield-based artists thanks to a grant from the Springfield Local Cultural Council, with additional support from the Springfield Museums, Big Y, UMass Amherst, and Artist Square Group Gallery in downtown Springfield, Massachusetts. The training takes place over two intensive days; the first day will focus on business basics and business planning, and the second day will focus on marketing one’s art, and will explore online tools, no-cost or low-cost marketing ideas, and how to work with the media. Space permitting, artists from other communities will be able to participate for a small fee of $25 per person which includes the trainings, handouts, and refreshments. Participants will bring their own bag lunches.
“61% of the Pioneer Valley's workforce is tied to the Creative Economy. If this sector fails, the domino effect will be significant. It is essential that artists of all disciplines have the skills they need to excel in their field. ,” said Dee Boyle-Clapp, “Artists need more than survival skills; they need guidance and training in basic business practices to run their artist businesses more efficiently and effectively. Artists also need to understand the many opportunities that exist, even in difficult economic times, and our Artist in Business Training provides that information. Perhaps most importantly, the trainings are for artists taught by artists, and we understand the fears around business, the need to protect one’s valuable free time, and the need to network so artists can encourage one another.”
The Arts Extension Service has nearly forty years of experience providing trainings for artists and arts professionals. “We know this 2-day training is effective,” said Boyle-Clapp. “A recent survey of our prior Artist in Business Training participants revealed that even in the worst recession of our time, not one of our artists showed a decrease in income, and 30% showed an increase in income.”
Artists are invited to sign up online (http://artsextensionservice.givezooks.com/events/springfield-artist-in-b...) or contact Tracy Woods at the Artist Square Group Gallery at artistsquaregroupgallery1@gmail.com for information and directions. For Artist in Business Training questions, contact the Arts Extension Service at aes@acad.umass.edu or 413-545-2360.