SC Arts Commission Press Releases
S.C. Arts Commission Offers Affordable Artist Business Training
June 24, 2009
Media Contact:
Milly Hough
(803) 734-8698
COLUMBIA, S.C. – To ensure that artists statewide have affordable training options, the Arts Commission has partnered with three organizations to offer training at comparable costs as part of the S.C. Arts Commission’s S.C. Artists' Ventures Initiative.
The names, dates and locations for the training opportunities are:
- FastTrac New Venture for Artists begins July 6 in Greenville
- The Artist as an Entrepreneur Institute begins July 13 in Columbia
- Becoming a Creative Entrepreneur begins this fall in Charleston
With FastTrac, artists learn and interact with a group of aspiring artists who are trying to put their ideas into action. Participants also work with certified instructors who have start-up business experience and understand the benefits and pitfalls of starting a new enterprise. The class takes place Monday nights, July 6 - Sept. 14, at the Greenville Chamber of Commerce at 24 Cleveland Street. The cost is $145 for artists who register two weeks in advance; $195 for all others. Other FastTrac New Venture courses will be offered throughout the state during the summer and fall. Call Mary Dickerson at (843) 805-3110 for more information or to register.
The Artist as an Entrepreneur Institute provides a comfortable environment where artists of all disciplines and experience can explore the fundamentals of business. The class takes place at 6 p.m. Monday nights, July 13 - Aug. 24, at Midlands Technical College Northeast Campus, at 151 Powell Road in Columbia. The training opportunity is underwritten in part by a grant from Leveraging Investments in Creativity, reducing the cost per person from $450 to $150. Call Katie Fox or Eleanor Stein at (803) 734-8696 for more information. Registration is now open.
Becoming a Creative Entrepreneur is a professional development series specifically designed to help artists, designers, filmmakers, performers, musicians and others in creative businesses develop their skills as entrepreneurs. The series begins this fall at The Tate Center for Entrepreneurship, at 5 Liberty Street in Charleston. The Tate is offering a $150 rate to the first 20 artists who register. The cost is $300 for all others. Contact Jessica Bluestein at (843) 953-6622 for more information or to register.
S.C. Artists' Ventures Initiative is dedicated to improving conditions for S.C. artists by helping them develop knowledge and skills to build satisfying, sustainable careers. Responding to input from artists across the state, the Arts Commission is offering the following activities: artist gatherings, business training and start-up support for new arts-based businesses.
S.C. Artists' Ventures Initiative is funded by a major grant from Leveraging Investments in Creativity (LINC), a national initiative that works to improve conditions for artists, enabling them to more readily do their creative work and contribute to community life. As a part of this national initiative, the Arts Commission is drawing from and contributing to the research, resources and tools being forged by the national network.
Artists can stay informed of networking opportunities, calls for submissions and other opportunities, by signing up for the monthly e-newsletter or by visiting the S.C. Artists’ blog. For more information, contact Katie Fox or Eleanor Stein at (803) 734-8696.
About SCAC:
The South Carolina Arts Commission is the state agency charged with creating a thriving arts environment that benefits all South Carolinians, regardless of their location or circumstances. Created by the South Carolina General Assembly in 1967, the Arts Commission works to increase public participation in the arts by providing services, grants and leadership initiatives in three areas: arts education, community arts development and artist development. Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., the Arts Commission is funded by the state of South Carolina, by the federal government through the National Endowment for the Arts and other sources. For more information, visit www.SouthCarolinaArts.com or call (803) 734-8696.
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