Survival skills for creative businesses
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Glass Jewellery by Designer Maker
Charlotte Clark participant
in the course 2012
Wolverhampton Adult Education Service offers a unique programme for artists and Creative Businesses.
Steps to Self-employment aims to equip artists with the essential skills to help them make a living. During the course you will be encouraged to explore ways of working as an artist and hone the following skills;
- Confidence in talking about your work and approaching and negotiating with organisations
- Compiling a CV
- Understanding pricing, invoicing and tax
- Identifying promotional tools including social networking
- Seeking opportunities
- How to capitalise on local knowledge and resources
All this is done in a friendly and supportive environment where you can meet like-minded people.
Who can take part?
It is suitable for people with creative skills working in a variety of disciplines. This has included painting, photography, storytelling, music,poetry, textiles, jewellery, ceramics, animation, film-making, illustration and many more. Participants are normally graduates in their art form or have considerable experience of their discipline area.
What does the course involve?
The sessions will incorporate seminars with group discussion, individual tasks and visiting speakers. There’s an opportunity to participate in a showcase event in February or May 2014.
For more than a decade the course has supported many artists making their first steps into self-employment or arts related employment, for example; selling work through craft fairs and exhibitions, working in schools, arts and health, gallery education work, arts development, public art commissions and community arts.
Artists and businesses who complete the course successfully, benefit from increased confidence and direction and a ‘Toolkit’ to assist them in the development of their career.
Course dates and costs:
The next course starts on Tuesday the 25th February 2014 from 1-3pm at Bilston Craft Gallery.
The course runs for 15 weeks and costs £108, if you are in receipt of JSA (Job Seekers Allowance) or Work related ESA (Employment Support Allowance) you will be exempt from fees. There are also discretionary discounts for learners on benefits who are seeking employment.
If you have any questions about the course contact Moya Lloyd via email: creative_connections@hotmail.co.uk . For details of how to enrol telephone the Adult Education Service on 01902 558180 or refer to the website: How do I enrol?
