Wisdom I took away from the Business of Art Symposium in Nevada City

Last Saturday I participated in the Business of Art Symposium in Nevada City, hosted by Nevada County Arts Council. You can find the scoop in their calendar for county-wide arts events and opportunities.

Saturday's keynote speaker, Peter Blachley, Founder, Morrison Hotel Gallery, addressed a crowded auditorium at the Sierra Expeditionary Elementary School. He inspired the crowd of creatives with the possibilities of strategic business planning for an artist career. His advice included

• make sure that your work keeps you close to the creatives in whatever field you are working in
• choose to create in a place geographically that offers you room to grow

The business of art often involves this triangle of relationship: a need, a creative solution, and a sponsor. How do you connect these three elements in your business? And if you make these connections, ask yourself:  

• What would I create if...

I began brainstorming my dream of creating a writers retreat this spring at the Lost Trail Lodge during the two keynote talks, and now I hope to move forward with collaborating on this retreat with some key creatives.

Eliza Tudor led a packed room through the "boring" anatomy of a grant application. She is a brilliant presenter, offering the crowd specific and tangible tools for finding, applying for, and winning grant funding for their projects.

I jumped on board the The Maker Movement at a panel with Liam Ellerby and Kara Asilanis, co- founders, The Curious Forge, Karyn Stanley, Executive Director, The Truckee Roundhouse, and Joe Taylor, artist, educator and Lead Volunteer at The Roundhouse. These collaborations offer opportunities for different ways to make and to network with creatives. A list of new vocabulary for me: Slack, Adobe "Capture" function, nation of Makers on Facebook, Instructables DIY website, Evil Mad Genius, CNC Router, CNC Plasma, Lasercutter, and 3d Printer.

Taking a break to soak up some sunshine, I met my new workshop buddy, artist in residence Ruth Chase. She is linking her three year project Belonging | HOME with a new program for organizations wishing to explore issues of equity, diversity and inclusion, and this will manifest as a convening May 8th, 2020. This project curates a sensitive conversation on what it means to be "at home." Her commitment to OF/BY/FOR ALL is helping deepen community impact, advance goals around diversity, equity, and inclusion, provide professional development, and develop new, community-centered ways of working. Being part of OF/BY/FOR ALL’s change network is the beginning of a journey for us all.

Our lunchtime keynote, SUMMONING PERSONAL AND COLLECTIVE CREATIVE EXCELLENCE, featured the beautiful video interviews by photographer Norman Seeff and art supporter Charles Hannah. I can't wait to see more of these unique videos and photographs of performers, musicians and bands. Norman Seeff spoke to us to help us identify that moment in your creative life where you made a paradigm-shifting choice or decision that changed your path in life.

Did you know Nevada County Arts Council serves as a hub for information on the arts in Nevada County, and the go-to place for ways to get involved in the arts in our county?

Nevada County Arts Council, by resolution of Nevada County Board of supervisors, is State-Local Partner with California Arts Council. A 501c3 not-for-profit organization, it facilitates collaborative efforts that promote and sustain the visual, literary and performing arts of Nevada County to advance the cultural, social and economic life of our community.