Career Strategies for Creatives
‘Art is a business and yes, artists have to make difficult, honest business decisions.’ Amanda Palmer, The Guardian.
Few artists are comfortable talking about their practice in business terms perceiving that this somehow may make them less than a true artist. However, business and career play a big part in the decisions we all have to make along the way of a creative life.
If you feel that it is time to move on from the old paradigm and want to combine the two common career areas in your life – loving what you do and being able to make a living from it, then Career Strategies For Creatives is for you. The workshops are designed to inspire artists and creative small businesses to look strategically at their practice in terms of building a career and a business and have been crafted specifically to cater to the needs of those working in the creative industries.
1. Top Ten Tips for Creative Businesses – This fast and fun workshop identifies the ten most essential areas of focus for anyone starting out, or already running, a creative business. Goal setting, business planning, time management, money, marketing and more – in this action-packed presentation participants learn some practical tips to help with the reality of running an arts business from an expert with over 25 years experience in the creative industries.
2. Marketing Strategy for Creative Businesses – Marketing is one of the most despised and least understood aspects of running a creative business and being an arts entrepreneur. This fun and practical workshop explores the mystery behind the marketing magic: devising strategy, making measurements and meeting goals. We’ll also examine some of the key elements necessary for a successful marketing campaign, including the use of websites, social media and word of mouth.
3. Grant Writing Part 1 & 2 – Grants are often held up as the holy grail of a successful arts career, and to be awarded “free” money can feel like a blessing, until you realise how much work is involved. But how do you get to the point where you have won? In this informative and inspiring session, Creative Plus Business’ Grants Expert helps participants to understand what types of opportunities exist, how to prepare for a grant, and learn how to avoid common submission errors. We will explore the tools and techniques artists need to build a useful grants strategy as well as look at other income options should your submission fail.
Tickets are available online – please see right hand column for links. Venues are listed below.
Cost for each workshop is $27.50 pp, includes GST.
Tweed Shire – Murwillumbah
4 Sept 2017 | 10am – 1pm Marketing Strategy
Book Here | Marketing Strategy Murwillumbah
Byron Shire – Byron Bay
5 Sept 2017 | 10am – 1pm Top Ten Tips | 2pm – 5pm Marketing Strategy
Book Here | Top Ten Tips Byron Bay
Book Here | Marketing Strategy Byron Bay
Byron Shire – Bangalow
6 Sept 2017 | 10am – 1pm Grant Writing Part 1 The Start | 2pm – 5pm Grant Writing Part 2 The Strategy
Book Here | Grant Writing Part 1 The Start
Book Here | Grant Writing Part 2 The Strategy
Lismore City – Lismore
7 Sept 2017 | 10am – 1pm Top Ten Tips | 2pm – 5pm Marketing Strategy
Book Here | Top Ten Tips Lismore
Book Here | Marketing Strategy Lismore
Clarence Valley – Yamba
8 Sept 2017 | 10am – 1pm Top Ten Tips | 2pm – 5pm Marketing Strategy
Book Here | Top Ten Tips Yamba
Book Here | Marketing Strategy Yamba
Presenters

Monica Davidson, CEO of The Creative Plus Business Group Pty Ltd
Monica runs workshops and masterclasses, delivers keynotes and presentations, and regularly provides her expertise to panel discussions and the media. She is a guest lecturer on creative entrepreneurialism at tertiary institutions and has been a specialist business advisor to over 500 individual practitioners and small creative companies since 2011.

Irene Lemon – Community Artist and Production Associate
Irene has a diverse background across many creative mediums and brings a wealth of experience to the Grant Writing Workshop. Her skills include theatre practice, exhibition and event co-ordination, community and stakeholder engagement for community arts events, working with youth and the arts, music publishing, recording and producing, project management including writing grants, sales and business development, social media strategy, video promotions, graphic design, crowdfunding and revenue development for arts initiatives.
Venues
Tweed Shire | The Citadel, Queen Street, Murwillumbah, NSW
Byron Shire | Encounter, 1 Acacia St, Byron Bay, NSW
Byron Shire | Catholic Community Hall, Deacon Street, Bangalow, NSW
Lismore City | Lismore Regional Gallery, Rural Street, Lismore, NSW
Clarence Valley | Island Collective, Unit 1/16 Uki Street, Yamba, NSW
TO BOOK PLEASE SEE INDIVIDUAL LINKS FOR EACH WORKSHOP ABOVE