Professional Craft Artist Summit at Haywood Community College on April 26th

Here are the details from the Haywood Community College website:

Haywood Community College’s Small Business Center will hold a Professional Craft Artist Summit, “Crafting Your Success,” Wednesday, April 26, from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. in the Creative Arts Building on the College campus.

Experience a one-day conference specifically designed to address needs and challenges faced by current and prospective craft artist business owners. Arts-based businesses are unique ventures and require special business planning methods. This not to miss one-day event will provide the tools needed to move your business forward. Take this opportunity to network with fellow and prospective craft artists, learn skills and the power of collaboration along the way.

Deanna Lynch, owner of Deanna Lynch Textiles, will present at the summit. According to her, “The artist summit will be a great place to gain some insight and perspective. It's always beneficial to gather new and fresh information about business growth and development as an artist. Things change quickly and you don't want to be left behind! No matter how many talks or seminars I go to, I always pick up something useful that I can implement into my business.”

Enjoy a powerful keynote session from Brad Dodson of Mud Dabbers Pottery & Crafts, who has launched a successful venture while mentoring fellow artists and diversifying their product mix to meet the ever-changing needs of the market.

Sessions will include:

• Image - Speakers, Jessy Duque, HCC Marketing and Andie Robbins, Write Simple
• Sell – Speakers, Terri Gess, HCC Professional Crafts and Carrie Keith, Twigs and Leaves Gallery
• Money –Carolina Small Business Development Fund and Deanna Lynch, Deanne Lynch Textiles
• Plan –Russ Seagle, Sequoyah Fund & Kelsey Schissel, Plays in Mud Pottery
• People –Tonya Wilson Snider, Ten Biz
• Protect – Sarah Pacifi, Sheppard Insurance and Norman Leonard, Ward & Smith

According to Lindsey Solomon, Haywood County Arts Council Director, “I find the Professional Crafts Artist Summit exciting on so many levels. As someone in arts administration, seeing partnerships develop between businesses and artists and educators is watching my field come to life – it’s about boosting business skills for those artists that are new and learning, connecting them with peer artists who have the skills they want to know, and encouraging them to tell the stories of their artistic expression. I went to school to learn how to support artists, and I’m happy the Haywood County Arts Council has the opportunity to share in the growth of this great Summit.”

There is a registration fee of $25. Registration deadline is April 24. Lunch and light snacks provided. Visit sbc.haywood.edu for more information or email kmgould@haywood.edu. This event is sponsored by the Small Business Center Network, HCC Foundation, Western Women’s Business Center, Haywood County Arts Council, the Sequoyah Fund and the Smoky Mountain News.

Register online here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/professional-craft-artist-summit-tickets-33050825910