The Artist As An Entrepreneur

Broward Cultural Division Hosts

The Artist as an Entrepreneur Institute

A series of full-day sessions to be offered on four Saturdays,

Starting November 1, 2008 at ArtServe Inc., 1350 East Sunrise Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale

Broward Cultural Division, The Community Partnership for Arts and Culture (CPAC) and ArtServe announce The Artist as an Entrepreneur Institute (AEI) for South Florida artists to be presented on four Saturdays in November and December 2008, at ArtServe, 1350 East Sunrise Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. 

The AEI is an artist-focused course of study designed to assist all artists of all disciplines, by cultivating and advancing their business skills. AEI will be offered as 18 classes convening during full-day sessions (9:00 am - 6:00 pm) on November 1, 8 & 15, and a Business Plan Clinic on December 6, 2008 (9:00 am - 2:00 pm.) Registrants will receive an AEI course book. Developed by CPAC, the course book features exercises and readings to prepare for each session, and is tailored to the specific needs of artist entrepreneurs. 

The Business Plan Clinic guides participants through preparation of a simple business plan, an essential tool for any artist. In addition, they learn how to effectively work with lenders to obtain financial support through the Artist Micro Credit Program, a community-based revolving loan program, designed to assist resident Broward County practicing professional and emerging artists. 

"Artists are the most important ingredient for a creative economy and healthy cultural ecosystem" says Mary A. Becht, Cultural Division director. "The Cultural Division, ArtServe, and the Community Partnership for Arts and Culture (CPAC,) Cleveland, OH, in partnership, are investing in the professional development of our artists." 

Designed to help artists operate in the marketplace more effectively, the AEI course curriculum covers all aspects of developing an artistic business. It helps artists identify and develop their personal brand, develop strategies for communicating with their target market, raise capital and identify a variety of tools for protecting their work legally. As an Artist as an Entrepreneur graduate, Steven Sylvester says, "When it comes to artists that have an understanding of business, I find my difference in the marketplace.  It isn't other artists that are buying your work, but business people; you must be a credible supplier."                                                                                                                                                                                                               

AEI is led by a premier faculty composed of leading business practitioners and artists familiar with arts and culture from the South Florida region. Faculty members instruct artists through a series of lectures, panels and discussions.  

Participation costs $100 and includes light refreshments and free parking. Register online at www.broward.org/arts and click on ‘Workshops,' or call Broward Cultural Division's Grants Administrator James Shermer at 954-357-7502: E-mail: jshermer@broward.org.

"A people's art is the genesis of their freedom."

                              Claudia Jones, Founder

                              London Carnival, 1959

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