Traditionally, when the Continuing Education program at South Puget Sound Community College offers classes for artists in the community, they’re classes on ceramics, painting or mosaics. But this week local artists will be gathering for a free information session regarding a new type of classes aimed at aspiring artists: small business development.
The info session is Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 6:30 p.m. at the new SPSCC Lacey Campus located at 4220 6th Ave. SE. Reserve a seat for this free session online at spscc.edu/cce/continuing, in person, or by phone at (360) 709-2020.
The Art Entrepreneurship Series was developed over the past several months as part of a partnership effort between the SPSCC Continuing Education program and the Thurston County Economic Development Council. The goal of the series is to provide independent artists in the community with the skills and information needed to run a small business. Artists who participate in the series will then be able to determine whether they prefer to turn their art into a full-time effort, or have it as a side business.
Made up of four courses, the series is offered across fall and winter quarters and is taught by a mix of small business professionals and local artists, with several guest speakers from the local arts community contributing their experiences. The courses include training on small-business principles and their relation to artistic ventures, the logistics and interpersonal process of selling art, and more in-depth looks at marketing, financing, and similar topics.
The series will conclude with Arts-Straviganza, a vendor event taking place this March at the Lacey campus. Students are not required to participate in the event, but will get a vendor spot if they opt in. Vendor spots will also be available to the community.
