Art
Learning Community of Artists: Best Business Practices Program
This professional development program empowers visual artists from all disciplines to take the next step in building sustainable art businesses. The program is a discussion rather than lecture based format and teaches both theory and hands-on skills with an emphasis on adult, interactive learning. Many of the learning outcomes are self-selected and self-directed, respectful of scheduling and learning-style preferences.
Martina Skobic
Learning Community of Artists Facilitator
skobic.mart@uwlax.edu
or 608.785.8105
Learner Outcomes:
- Over a 10-month period, you work together and explore common issues of artist-run businesses, learning how to achieve financial success without sacrificing creativity.
- Throughout the months, you share resources, observations, and best practices.
- Our guest speakers share their expertise with you.
- You meet and discuss common interests and concerns.
- You build a strong network system, research and discuss resources, receive support, mentoring and peer critiques.
- You choose curriculum that will increase your knowledge base, have the most impact on your business plan, and connect to your learning objectives.
- You complete assignments between community meetings to focus on implementation of newly-developed business skills.
- Near the end of the program, a celebration involving members of the communities, families, friends, other artists and friends of the arts will showcase these capstone projects. (Optional)
- You will participate in the participants' reunion shows. (Optional)
This program will offer artists a core curriculum on:
- Producing artwork for a profit
- Learning general business management skills
- Developing marketing strategies to increase sales
- Learning about record keeping, tax and legal issues, best business insurance options, technologies, resource development, etc.
Meeting time:
- You will meet once a month over ten months for three hours each time.
- The first meeting will be held on October 8 from 5-8 p.m at the Cleary Alumni and Friends Center at the UW-La Crosse campus.
- After the first meeting, you may influence place and time of each other meeting.
Some presentations and discussions will draw heavily on facilitator and community member knowledge and skills. Others will require the services of UW-L art or business faculty or staff, business proprietors, arts organization directors or consultants.
October 2008 - June 2009
$195
30+ hours time commitment
Community size: up to 20 artists
Please contact Karen Langaard, langaard.kare@uwlax.edu or 608.785.6508, to express your interest for the next La Crosse Community. More information is available at www.uwlax.edu/sbdc.
This program is partially funded by an UW-Extension grant.
Printable Registration Form (1 page PDF)
