Artists and entrepreneurs align in a number of areas. Both personality types are ones to push boundaries. They are creative—and highly perceptive. Yet somehow these types get pigeonholed into opposing teams. Just think of the tropes: The Starving Artist vs. The Rich Jerk; Head in the Clouds vs. Feet on the Ground.
Old stereotypes need to die a quick death. Stomp, stomp, stomp.
It’s time for a new mode of thinking—and it’s happening. Artpreneur Ottawa takes place on Saturday, October 19 at the Shenkman Arts Centre. It’s a day-long development conference with breakout sessions, workshops, and a talk on Rebranding the Artist by keynote speaker Suki Lee. That’s our CEO! When I’m proofreading my copy and reading it aloud (free advice: always do this!), I marvel at the easy rhythm of “CEO” and “Suki Lee.” And then I say, in my best Sinatra-voice, “You’re a natural, baby.”
She founded Inbox Communications with a focus on arts marketing and has a head both for business and for the narrative, edifying qualities of art. And I’m not just saying this because she’s my boss. I say it because flattening the seam between artistry and entrepreneurialism is the key to becoming a great artpreneur. Just look at Banksy.
Suki will talk about how marketing is all about content—and that content is already available to the artist. It’s the stories behind their great art. She’ll show you how blogging gets you found and provide other small, illuminating tips to help you pull it all together. Tickets for Artpreneur Ottawa are available here (hint: students can get tickets for $30 by entering the code STUDENT2013) and at Wallack’s locations. Lee will take questions via Inbox’s Facebook page.
Content by Fateema Sayani, Inbox’s Director of Content.
Topics: Artists
