Application Closes February 7
Are you a mid-career artist struggling to leave your day job or a new-to-the-biz creative with dollar signs in your eyes?
Join other area artists and our experienced instructors in a 6-week intensive business school-style experience aimed at you. From business structures to support systems, from credit cards to cash flow, this course will walk you through the process of creating an art business that makes money. Each week you’ll work on activities and projects that lead you to a clear vision of your business and a business plan. You’ll leave the class with a binder full of worksheets, ideas, contacts, and checklists and be energized to make your business succeed.
This course is based on the REAL Entrepreneurship courses program and is a hands-on, activity-based experience. If you've tried to understand business principles before and have been bored or frustrated, this is for you. If you want tools to understand your own art business better, this is for you. Course topics will include cash flow, production, costs and pricing, inventory, local resources, sales and promotions, and more. These arts business-specific skills are not currently part of most university fine craft and fine art programs but are essential for artists to function as businesses.
Taught by experienced artists, this course will be filled with relevant, valuable skills for your art business.
Both beginners and more experienced artisans can benefit from this course!
Course Details:
The course consists of 6 class dates: March 15, 22, 29, and April 12, 19, and 26.
Classes will be held on Wednesday nights from 6:00-8:00pm. There will be additional question and answer sessions from 8:00-8:30 each class night.
This is a virtual course that will take place on Zoom; participants will need an internet connection and a device such as a laptop, tablet, or smartphone to access the sessions. A laptop is best.
This course is open to all artists. Applicants who live or work in Durham County, NC, will be given priority for selection.
Participants are strongly encouraged to attend all sessions.
All participants will be invited to a private Facebook group where they can use weekly live video sessions to ask instructors questions outside of the meeting times.
Coursework (outside of class) may be as much as one hour per week and, while not mandatory, will help participants to get the most out of the course.
The application will close on February 7.
You will be notified of your application status by February 15.
This program is funded by Durham Business 360, a program of the City of Durham’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development, your source for the tools you need to innovatively start and grow your business.