Our programs support artists to reach their creative and professional goals through art training, professional development, and presentation opportunities and by providing support through peer-to-peer interaction and community. All courses are free to members.
** APPLY BY MAY 1ST AT 5PM **
Intro To Arts Entrepreneurship is a mentorship program that aims to guide emerging artists with establishing and/or developing their business or career in the arts. Mentees will be provided with support in various skills related to entrepreneurship and business in a way that is more accessible for artists. The objective of this mentorship program is to bridge the gap of knowledge that most artists have surrounding business as many do not have an education or background in business and marketing.
Participants will learn various skills related to entrepreneurship and business such as identifying your niche & audience, creating a business and marketing plan, navigating self-employment and entrepreneurship, product development & monetization, self care for artists and staying resilient in the ever-changing world of art and business.
As formal business and marketing education is often very inaccessible, intimidating, and more focused on a corporate point of view, this mentorship aims to provide this knowledge in a more simplified and relevant manner that’s focused on the most important aspects for artists and by learning through hands on experience instead of academically.
ABOUT THE MENTOR
En Tze Loh (they/them) is a queer & non-binary Malaysian multi-disciplinary artist based in Toronto, Canada. Starting as a tattoo artist at 18, they have since ventured into many different art forms including filmmaking, production design, illustration, graphic design, as well as running their own queer goth art & apparel brand GRRRL Spells. GRRRL Spells was featured in Etsy’s 2021 journal “7 Incredible Queer-Owned Shops to Know” and has achieved over 23,000 sales on the platform, as well as a partnership with Target for their 2024 Pride collection. GRRRL Spells has been featured in various news publications such as Them, Advocate, Xtra Magazine, News Is Out, and The Bay Area Reporter. In 2024, GRRRL Spells was a finalist for the CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) Award by Canadian SME National Business Awards.
Do you need help developing your professional writing skills for your arts practice?
Artists express themselves through their creative work and it can sometimes be a struggle to translate this into language. At the same time, writing about one’s work is a fundamental part of maintaining an arts practice – from having a clear and articulate artist statement and bio for submissions, to navigating the language and requirements for funding and project proposals.
I provide 1-on-1 editorial support to artists at every stage of their careers who are interested in producing better writing about their work. This program is open to all – from folks who are looking for help articulating their practice or applying for grants for the first time, to seasoned writers who would appreciate a second pair of eyes on a draft. Sessions are flexible and based upon the needs of the individual artist.
Writing is an iterative process that develops over the course of multiple drafts. Your project may require more than one meeting, and we will work together to discuss a workplan. Please note that each individual/collective will be allotted a maximum of 6 hours of mentorship per term.
Sessions are offered via Google Meet (a video conferencing platform similar to Zoom) or over the phone. For more information, or to book a session, please email workman.arts.writing@gmail.com
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Paula John (she/her) is a visual artist, writer, and scholar. She holds a PhD in Theatre & Performance Studies from York University, and teaches art, writing, and critical theory in various community and university settings.