Arts business training
The Morgan Arts Council, MAC, announces 36 hours of business training classes for artists to be held six hours each month for six months beginning in September. Six different topics essential for working artists are featured, one each month. Registration for a limited number of seats in each class is now available. All classes are scheduled for the Ice House in Berkeley Springs. An individual may take one or more of the classes.
Timing of the innovative program is linked to completion of arts incubator space at the Ice House funded by a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission. "Providing space, like the dance studio, in which artists can work and teach is just part of the incubator process," said Jeanne Mozier who developed the training program for MAC. "Making available the type of business training artists need is almost as important as the space. Far more artists can be involved including those from other counties," she said.
According to Mozier, classes are scheduled from 2 to 5 p.m. on the first afternoon, then followed up with a second session from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. the following morning.
A Practical Guide to Entrepreneurship and Profitable Pricing for Artists and Artisans is the first class, scheduled for Thursday and Friday, September 20 and 21.
The entire series continues in October and November 2007 and March, April and May, 2008. On Wednesday, October 24, Rebecca Kimmons of Katalyst in Charleston is teaching Media Savvy Marketing.
The second session of the October class has the Eastern Panhandle marketing team of Jen Rolston and Sandy Sponaugle working with artists on marketing materials. They will be teaching both days of the November class on Wednesday and Thursday, November 14 and 15 outlining for artists What a Hard Working Website Should Be.
On Wednesday, March 19, Katie Ihndris of Monarch CPAs in Martinsburg presents a class in taxes as they relate to artists. The Thursday morning session is taught by Jill Klein Rone who addresses the nitty gritty of bookeeping, tracking expenses and comparative shopping.
Helping artists navigate the skills they need to work in schools as visiting artists is the topic on Wednesday and Thursday, April 16 and 17.
The final class on Wednesday and Thursday, May 14 and 15 is Creative Curating taught by Kelli Burns of Hamlin.
Some funding is provided for the project by a Challenge America grant from the West Virginia Commission on the Arts. "It was rated as the best of all grants submitted to the program," said Mozier. "Part of the requirements for that particular grant is to report on what we learn in the process of doing this program," she said. "There is a need for artist training throughout the state and hopefully what we do in Berkeley Springs will be useful elsewhere."
Other support is provided by the Small Business Development Center at Blue Ridge Technical College. "There are also special training funds available to assist military veterans in attending the classes," said Mozier. "All these sources are helping MAC keep the price of the classes affordable for working artists."
Registration in the classes is now open and a limited number of spaces are available. Classes are open only to West Virginia artists or emerging artists. Call 258-2300.
