January 2013

Making your art… work: Southern Entrepreneurship in the Arts Conference returns to UNCG

Making great art is a lifelong pursuit, driven by passion and shaped through discipline. For many visual, performing or literary artists, however, turning that creative commitment into a sustainable business can be equally challenging.

The Southern Entrepreneurship in the Arts Conference was developed to address that very problem, as well as to provide guidance for those who work with creative professionals and those simply looking to learn from successful artists and arts entrepreneurs.

In its fourth year, the SEA Conference will take place in Greensboro on Saturday, Feb. 9, and is hosted by the NC Entrepreneurship Center and the Entrepreneurship Cross-Disciplinary Program at UNCG. The theme is “Connect, Collaborate, Create,” and will feature keynote addresses from Roy Underhill, host of PBS' “The Woodwright's Shop” and founder of The Woodwright's School, and Dennis Quaintance, CEO and chief design officer of Quaintance-Weaver Hotels and Restaurants. Other speakers include Harvey Robinson from Monkeywhale Productions; singer-songwriter Laurelyn Dossett; sculptor Ken Thompson; writing and publishing couple Deb and David White; and Doug Borwick, author of the new book “Building Communities, Not Audiences: The Future of the Arts in the U.S.”

In addition, the popular pre-conference Iron Pour and reception returns this year, taking place the night before the conference begins at sculptor Jim Gallucci's studio.

“The conference is intended to assist artists in going from survival to success with hands-on tools they can implement the next day,” said Dr. Dianne H.B. Welsh, conference co-chair and founder. “This is about having artists work full time on their art and not have to supplement with outside employment.”

For the full schedule and registration details visit the conference web site, or look for the event on Facebook.

Read more on the UNCG news site.