Workshops

Artists can select workshops a la carte.  Scroll to the bottom of each workshop description and click on the Registration link.

JUNE: Making a Living as an Artist

Making a Living as an Artist requires both “nuts and bolts” know-how, coupled with enthusiasm, drive and persistence.  In this workshop, you’ll learn how to take your art career to the next level, with guidance from Creative Career Coach, Jane Pollak, author of Soul Proprietor.  Think of this workshop as your “complete roadmap” to entrepreneurial success.

Participants will learn the essentials of entrepreneurship, gaining insights on how to manage the day-to-day operations of a creative career, including:

• Learning the best system(s) to track the multiple details of your creative career/life (Master Notebook, Tickler File, Single-Handling)

• Polish up those business skills you’ve allowed to rust or neglected (Delegating, Networking, Masterminding)

• Uncover and transform limitations to your professional growth (Persistence, Intuition)

In addition, during this workshop, artists will have the opportunity to participate in the mastermind process, a tool that will support you in keeping your career on track, and motivating you to continue growing as an artist.

The Making a Living as an Artist workshop will wrap up with some real-life stories that illustrate valuable entrepreneurial lessons.  Participants will be:

• Encouraged to handle rejection, adapt to change and wisely learn from your mistakes.

• Motivated to be persistent, look for new opportunities and take the time to enjoy the victories.

This is your chance to learn from an expert who has seen and done it all in her 30+ years operating her own creative business. Jane teaches key business concepts and illustrates the universality of business experience while relating tales of her successful enterprise as an artist, author, coach and professional speaker.

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Wednesday, June 12th from 6:00pm-8:30pm
Fairfield University

Tuesday, June 18th from 6:00pm-8:30pm
Hartford Art School, University of Hartford

Monday, June 24th from 6:00pm-8:30pm
University of New Haven

Register  for June Workshops here!

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The Following Workshops Have Already Taken Place:

JANUARY:  Goal Setting and Career Planning
Learn the art of setting SMART goals (specific, measurable/meaningful, attainable, relevant, timely) from Creative Career Coach, Jane Pollak, author of Soul Proprietor. Participants will better understand how to successfully set short and long-term goals that will create meaningful results. Be prepared to identify a goal to be accomplished in the next year, structure your calendar year to reflect that purpose using mind maps, and commit to a long-term goal and establish the map to its achievement. Jane Pollak will lead each of following three workshops.  Choose the venue that’s right for you:

Monday, January 28th from 6:00pm-8:30pm–RESCHEDULED for FEB 4 Due to weather–tickets still available!
University of New Haven

Tuesday, January 29th from 6:00pm-8:30pm
Hartford Art School, University of Hartford

Wednesday, January 30th from 6:00pm-8:30pm
Fairfield University

 

FEBRUARY: Legal Considerations
Learn the ins and outs of the legal considerations that you need to be aware of as an artist.  This workshop will focus on intellectual property issues of concern to artists (including copyright and trademark laws).  A brief overview of contract law will also be reviewed, including real estate contracts (rental leases and purchasing) and gallery contracts.  Also, included will be a discussion of what type of business to set up, and when. As a participant in this essential workshop, you’ll gain a basic understanding of what you must know about the law to survive and thrive in your career as an artist.

About the Presenters:

Steven Certilman is a lawyer who is passionate about the arts.  As a collector, he is invested in seeing artists succeed and watching their careers blossom.  He has been sharing his knowledge of the law with artists for years in his popular workshop, “Law for Artists~A Paint-By-Numbers Primer.”

Lisa Moyles combines her extensive knowledge of the law with a passion for inspiring people to grow.  Ms. Moyles has years of experience  helping small business owners to navigate general legal issues, as well as providing support around Intellectual Property (IP) issues.  Artists will enjoy learning from Ms. Moyles, and her ability to make legal information for accessible.

NEW DATE: Wednesday February 27th from 6-8:30 (Feb 13 Cancelled due to Snow)-tickets still available!
Fairfield University, Bellarmine Museum
Featured Lawyer:  Steven A. Certilman, PC  www.certilman.com

Tuesday, February 19th from 6:00pm-8:30pm
Hartford Art School, University of Hartford
Featured Lawyer: Lisa Moyles, Esq. www.moylesandtremblaylaw.com

Monday, February 25th from 6:00pm-8:30pm
University of New Haven–Saw Mill Campus (see sites and locations for address and directions)
Featured Lawyer: Lisa Moyles, Esq.

MARCH (SATURDAY EVENT):

Marketing (morning) with Jackie Battenfield, author The Artist’s Guide: How to Make a Living Doing What you Love
Working with Exhibitors (afternoon)

The third and fourth workshops of the Make.Art.Work. professional development series for visual artists will be brought to you in a double feature event.  For one day only, we’re pulling together workshop participants from all over the state to meet at a single venue, creating an opportunity for incredible learning, networking and career advancement.  Bring your questions, a notebook, and of course, your business cards.  We also encourage you to join us for our “boxed-lunch” in order to take full advantage of the networking opportunities that our 1-hour lunch break will offer. Participants can register for one or both sessions.

Marketing: The process of getting your work out of your studio and into the larger world, can feel very intimidating for visual artists. What’s the best way for you to get your work shown, collected and discussed? This workshop will identify the essential tools you will use to network and promote your work. We will then walk through the steps to developing a marketing strategy based upon your art and your goals.
Read more about workshop leader, Jackie Battenfield, here.

Working with Exhibitors: Our afternoon session will bring you face to face with gallerists, museum directors, curators, and non-traditional venue managers.  They’ll share an abundance of information with you, including most common obstacles that artists create for themselves; and what directors, curators and gallerists are looking for in the artists they choose to represent. You’ll walk away from this event with a full download of knowledge that will clarify the steps you need to take to successfully secure exhibitions.

Moderater:
Sophia Gevas, Outreach Education Director at Silvermine Arts Center, New Canaan, CT
Silvermineart

Panelists:
Deborah Frizzell, Independent Curator,  and Professor of Art at William Patterson University, Wayne, NJ  DeborahFrizzell

Helen Kauder, Executive Director at Artspace New Haven, New Haven, CT artspacenh.org

Viera Levitt, Independent Curator and Gallery Director for the University of Massachusetts in Dartmouth  www.vieralevitt.org

Laura Marsh, Director of Seton Gallery, University of New Haven, New Haven, CT  SetonGallery

Saturday, March 9th  
University of New Haven
Buckman Lecture Hall 120
Marketing Workshop 10:00-12:30pm
with Jackie Battenfield, author of The Artist’s Guide: How to Make A Living Doing What You Love
Lunch 1:30-2:30 *Catered boxed lunch orders accepted thru Thurs, March 7th.
Working with Exhibitors Workshop 1:30-4:00pm
featuring a panel of experts from traditional and non-traditional exhibition spaces

 

MARCH: Critical Technology Skills

Participating artists will gain a strong understanding of all the basic concepts required to properly size and send your images, along with receiving crucial tips on how to create a professional website that best makes your work sing!

You’ll learn about:
•    What makes a good website ? How to evaluate your website? Identifying what want your website to do?
•   How to drive traffic to your website
•    Using social media to promote your artwork
•    Images–sizing and free editing tools if you don’t have photoshop
Your fear of technology will be a thing of the past at the conclusion of this workshop.

Wednesday, March 13th from 6:00pm-8:30pm
Fairfield University
Workshop to be lead by the team at TheBananaland  thebananaland.com

Tuesday, March 19th from 6:00pm-8:30pm
Hartford Art School, University of Hartford
Workshop to be lead by technology expert, Tim Yergeau

Monday, March 25th from 6:00pm-8:30pm
University of New Haven
Workshop to be lead by the team at TheBananaland  thebananaland.com

 

APRIL: Financial Management
Explore the fundamentals of financial planning as it pertains to artists.  Discussions will include how to manage your finances with a variable income stream, and how to utilize the benefits of your “second job” to create financial harmony.  You’ll take a look at recordkeeping, budgeting, taxes, money management, etc. Artists will learn how to create a personalized quarterly and annual budget during this informative and eye-opening workshop.  This series of workshops will be lead by Creative Business Consultant, Kristin Merrill.  www.kristinmerrill.com

Wednesday, April 10th from 6:00pm-8:30pm
Fairfield University

Tuesday, April 16th from 6:00pm-8:30pm
Hartford Art School, University of Hartford

Monday, April 22nd from 6:00pm-8:30pm
University of New Haven

 

MAY: Pricing & Presenting Your Artwork and Funding Your Art Career

This workshop, lead by Silvermine Arts Center, Gallery Director, Jeffrey Mueller, will give artists the opportunity to explore essential business skills.  Mr. Mueller will walk artists through the process of pricing and presenting your work, in a step-by-step method that demystifies these often challenging subjects.  Participants will learn the necessary questions to ask themselves that are essential components to their success as self-employed artists. A variety of financial formulas will also be introduced, that artists can use to price their work.  Participants are encouraged to bring along a summary of current expenses and income as related to your work and sales as artist.
Make.Art.Work. Project Manager, Jeannie Thomma, will wrap up the evening’s workshop with a brief presentation on “Funding Your Art Career,” including a look at grants and other funding opportunities for visual artists.

Wednesday, May 8th from 6:00pm-8:30pm
Fairfield University

Monday, May 20th from 6:00pm-8:30pm
University of New Haven

Tuesday, May 21st from 6:00pm-8:30pm
Hartford Art School, University of Hartford