business courses

[cosmo barbaro]

Is any one familar with any art/design program that utilizies a business class that is geared towards artist, i.e. BFA, BA, MFA?

[Michelle Pajak-Reynolds]

Hi Cosmo,

I don't know of any particular school that has this as part of their program, but if you're at a larger university or college you may want to investigate their business/marketing classes. While at Kent State, I minored in business and marketing. A lot of the material was for larger scale businesses. But, issues of branding, public image, finances, legal issues, etc are pretty much the same or similar for the studio artist. You may also want to check out the professional guidlines on the SNAG website http://snagmetalsmith.org/Publications/Professional_Guidelines/

Michelle

[cosmo barbaro]

Michelle,

Thank you i am an assistant professor in furniture design at murray state university and we are in the process of trying to create a business course geared towards artist. We spoke with the business department and they told us that in order to cover the material that we presented it would take five of their classes which is two classes short of a minor, and because of accrediation we as a art department would not be able to add that many credits to our overall department credits for a BFA, so back to the drawing board so to speak.

cosmo

[2Roses]

There are many paths to the Budha, Cosmo. Marketing and business education for artists has a particular focus of ours for over 30 years. We would be happy to compare notes and share information. Please feel free to contact us at [e-mail]

[cosmo barbaro]

I sent you an e-mail at the address you gave me did you get it?

[2Roses]

Hi Cosmo,
Yes we received it and are working on a reply.

[Stevie B.]

Perhaps a few gems can be shared with the rest of us?

:P

[cosmo barbaro]

OK,

I think that I am ready to start developing way of incorperating business practices into our studio project, so that I am on the same page with you, an example project could be as a class we are going to work with a client to develope seating for a new public area, as a class we will design and build several benches and you will go throught the commission process from conceptual drawing to finished product. I am sure that I am missing things like contracts but am i on the right track, hope to talk soon.

Cosmo

[Michelle Pajak-Reynolds]

Hi Cosmo,

Just wondering how the business classes are going... The info that you seek doesn't have to be part of the BFA. Mine wasn't.

You don't have to re-invent the wheel. Sometimes giving your students a little nudge in the right direction is all that is needed.

[cosmo barbaro]

Michelle,

Right now we are in limbo, I am in the process of meeting with my committee to decide our next step. Originally I wanted to have a class dedicated to the art department, but after careful consideration and several meeting I have decided to rethink my orginal idea. Now I am thinking that basic business precticecs could be incorperated into our studio class in several ways and in addition having some type of lecture series covering basic business practices. Originally we compiled a list of business related items we wanted to cover and after speeking with the busness department they informed us that in order to cover everything our students would have to take an additonal 15 credits which is two classes away from a minor in business. I would not be opposed if our students got a minor in business, the only problem I see with that is usually business departments deal with corperate theory not small businesses. Any advice would be appreciated.

cosmo

[Michelle Pajak-Reynolds]

You may want to contact a small business organization in your area. In Cleveland Ohio, there is the Community Partnetship for Arts & Culture http://www.cpacbiz.org

They offer a multi-part seminar called The Artist as an Entrepreneur Institute. Seth Beattie is one of the Program Managers and he is wonderful. He might be able to send you some info or recommend an appropriate agency in your area. I took the AEI workshop a few years ago and it was great!!!

Another great place to look would be the Council of Smaller Enterprises cose.org CPAC has partnered with COSE. I'm not sure who is at COSE now, but the staff that contributed to CPAC's AEI workshop were super helpful.

Keep me posted and good luck

[cosmo barbaro]

Michelle,

Thank you for the information, I will look into those links.

[Shana Kroiz]

Did you see the seminar that is being taught by Charon Kransen at the Maryland Institute College of Art, Jewelry Center? It is going to be very useful for Artist who are looking to have professional relationships with Galleries.
If you have any questions, you can contact me at [e-mail]