Thursday, February 9th, I went to the arts, culture and entrepreneurial (ACE) BIPOC artist workshop hosted by The Ellington-White Contemporary. The event was held at the Arts Council Museum in Downtown Fayetteville. This event was free and open to all individuals looking to grow and establish a sustainable career in the visual arts. The workshop started by having everyone introduce themselves by their name, preferred pronoun and artist discipline. I was very surprised at the wide variety of artists that attended the event, ranging from singers to graphic designers. The room was full of talent.
The guest speaker of the workshop was Michelle Saunders, she currently resides as the Outreach and Engagement Coordinator for the College of Humanities and Social Services. Not only is Michelle a marketing guru, but she is also a model under MMG management in New York. During the workshop she spoke about marketing strategies that benefit artists as well as business owners, apps that help you promote yourself, and how to value yourself as a brand.
I had the privilege of speaking to Michelle after the workshop and the conversation went like this.
Me: If you could give this generation any key marketing advice what would it be?
Michelle: To know your identity and promote your brand. Do not be like everyone else, a trend is only temporary, but you are permanent.
Personally, I encourage all artists and business owners to attend these workshops. Whether you are well established in your craft or are still searching for your business idea/brand this workshop will benefit you. Not to mention, it’s a great place to find information about resources and grants within the community. We all love free money right! See y’all at the next workshop. Don’t be afraid to step out and take advantage of every opportunity that this city has to offer.
Check out the upcoming workshops below:
March 9, 2023 - Promoting Yourself
April 8, 2023 - Pricing Your Work
April 20, 2023 - Record Keeping and Legal Considerations
May 11, 2023 - Funding and Grant Writing
June 8, 2023 - Business Plans
June 17, 2023 Exhibition Opening @ The Ellington-White Contemporary Gallery
June 22, 2023 - Engaging Customers
Register here to attend: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/arts-culture-and-entrepreneurial-ace-bipoc-artists-workshop-tickets-457410255387
-Zae