Public Relations Acumen for Artists
Jane Notten, MD of Rothko gave an insightful talk on the origins of PR, and tactics and methods which are applicable for practitioners today. Below are her slides. If you can't see them, click here to download them.
In the talk, Jane encouraged us to be proactive in managing our own PR and to consider more a way of doing business than an isolated task.
Any questions you have, feel free to pop them in the comments here.
Is there an art to marketing? Or is it just talk
Hi all, I found it tough to squeeze all the ideas (too many) and the tools to help the marketing side of your businesses into the time available on Monday night. Especially since I know that this section should be most hands-on for you, so you can start using your creativity to market yourself immediately. So, I attach the presentation below - in pdf format - with additional notes and explanations. You may find the explanations of the Blue Oceans Strategy slides helpful, as I have tried to simplify the benefit of these and given practical examples. The last couple of slides, which we did not get to on Monday, touches on networking and the ways you could reach your markets through networks. Pdf file: Branding & Marketing your Creativity and You We didn't look at inexpensive ways to get your message to the right people, but, this coming Monday we will have more practical communication methods explained to us: PR and using the Web! And by two very enthusiastic and passionate experts.
I am very aware that each of your marketing strategies and practical solutions are going to be different (Jess was right in that comment). And you may need some help with thinking how to put your marketing ideas into practice. Even though I'm still in development as a painter, I'm really good at marketing strategies, and have been given budgets ranging from R6million to zero to launch products/services locally and internationally. So, if you're stuck, I can help work out a specific strategy and give you practical ways to tell your target market about your product or sevices. I'm very willing to give a couple of hours, bartered for fair value exchange...
In any case, standing out from the crowd will be easy for all of you if you apply your inherent "out-the-box" thinking and creativity to communicate with existing and prospective customers.
Let the network-centricity begin!
See you again Monday night,
Elske
"There are few people who don't become more interesting when they stop talking." (Mary Lowry)
The Art of Giving and, hopefully, receiving
Two weeks ago Elsbeth Donovan spoke about this article (attached). Although not completely centred around funding the arts, there are some foundations that are listed that might consider arts programme/training programmes (present and future) that are tailored to and furthers their cause. The Mail and Guardian is advertising a supplement that is specific to funding the arts during October - so I will watch out for it and post it as soon as it happens. Here are a few more foundations/organisations that I know of that you can also contact:
www.act.org.za - they supply huge funding to many projects. It is closed for this season, but get ready for next (2008/9)! Make sure you fill in their forms correctly and hit their deadlines otherwise they will not consider you.
www.dac.gov.za - not sure how you find out about their funding, but you can find out what they have funded here: http://www.dac.gov.za/projects/asdy.htm
www.dti.co.za - sections that might be of interest are: the SMME button (look under Integrated Small Enterprise Development strategy), and under Offerings button (look at Incentives and development finance)
www.cwci.co.za/CWCI_Grants_02.htm - an EU Conference, Workshop and CULTURAL INITIATIVES Fund. available to South Africa.
www.nfvf.co.za - only for film, look under the funding section, they will fund training, development and production
http://www.idc.co.za/Media%20and%20Motion%20Pictures.asp - they fund both motion pictures and publications - but do expect their money back.
If you get an angel investor, they can also get tax offset for any film investment they make. SARS allows this under Section 24F of the Income Tax Act. Get more info from www.SARS.gov.za
I have also asked Mike Auret to give us his list of funders - and I will post it to the b-log as soon as I get it.
If you know of any other funders, please post it up to the blog.
See you on Monday!
Isla
Exploration, Bravery and the Space of Good Work
Hi
I was reminded after the work you had all done on your business plans these last couple of days about the importance of Grief in the creation of extraordinary work. It is only after you have grappled with things to the extent that it feels like surfaces have been disrupted and transformed that you are truly beginning to emerge in a place of tremendous discovery and Joy. This poem, one of my favourites, is a talisman for you on that Journey. E
The Well of Grief by David Whyte
Those who will not slip beneath
the still surface of the well of grief
turning downward through its black water
to the place we cannot breathe
will never know the source from which we drink,
the secret water,
cold and clear,
nor find in the darkness
glimmering the small round coins thrown away
by those who wished for something else.
Art and Business Stereotypes Revealed
This morning Lisa Maddison received an email from Jess Henson, who seems quite sceptical about the work we're doing with the BAA programme. I almost shot off an emotional response, but then I thought that perhaps a more credible response would come from the delegates and lecturers on the programme.
Please have a read, and if you feel inclined to respond to Jess, please leave your comments here.
Subject: questions about biz acumen for artists course
dear Maddison
- your breakdown for the course says "Transfer knowledge from other creative thinkers from across the creative industries, cultural sectors and associated professions". isn't that just a long winded way of saying "steal other peoples' ideas effectively"?
and "Generate possibilities through Improvisational Theatre and exposure to the skill of Active Listening" - does that mean we get to play house? (erm, or office, i should rather say)
- your established arts practitioners - are they participating in this course because you pay them kick ass rates, or because they can't afford to feed their pets on their life modelling salaries? who are they? and how do you gauge their creative and financial success?
- how do you guarantee relevant processing if you're opening the course to any creative practitioner? you might end up with one poet and seven graphic designers. PR and marketing is very different for a rock n roll band than for a fine artist.
- do you not provide a drop-in option for the course(or some other stratified approach) - someone may not need to go through the motivational work shopping, but might be looking for help with their admin...
- i'm interested in knowing what research prompted (and supports) the information you share on this course, how the course has benefited participants in the past (if it's a rerun) and, considering it's a UCT initiative, how academic your approach is. i'm weary and wary of academia's myopia and relative unhelpfulness in the working world...
many thanks for your time jess
My own comment: Firstly, neither the business school, the mentors, nor the lecturers are accepting any payment for their involvement in this programme. All revenue generated by the course fees goes to the renovation of the Obs Community Centre. This is a new project which I have personally undertaken to direct and design free of charge, because I care very deeply about the sustainability of artistic and creative endeavours in this country. If there is any doubt as to the credibility of the organisation behind the content on the programme (UCT Graduate School of Business), perhaps Jess should look at our standing in the international education and business community.
I believe that this programme cross-pollinates both the business and creative sectors, and that the economy of the 21st century is built on global collaboration and the spirit of abundance rather than that of scarcity and fear.
Lastly, I think that the best reflection of the value of the programme would come from the feedback of the delegates who are on this journey together. Sorry, but none of the people involved in this programme fit into the stereotypes you've constructed here.
- Elaine Rumboll MA (cum laude), MBA (Wits)
Director of Executive Education
UCT Graduate School of Business
(and Programme Director of Business Acumen for Artists)