Alaska: Empowering Artists as Entrepreneurs

The Alaska State Council on the Arts (ASCA) is leveraging the exposure, networking and community building of its upcoming statewide meeting, Latitude: 2014 Arts Convergence, to offer two professional-development opportunities to the state’s creative class. Storm Sessions for Alaska Musicians is a seminar for helping independent Alaskan musicians expand their careers. The training will address the business of music in the digital age, focusing on marketing, audience development, social media, revenue streams, career planning and retirement. Creative Capital Professional Development, meanwhile, is a chance for artists to learn about strategic planning, fundraising, marketing and promotion, budgeting, contract negotiations and staff management. Through the workshop, which ASCA organized with Creative Capital, a national nonprofit organization, there will be lectures, peer critiques, practice exercises and written assignments. Storm Sessions is free to musicians registered for Latitude, and participation in the Creative Capital training costs only $100 because it is subsidized by ASCA, which also is awarding a limited number of $500 travel grants for the program. Learn more from ASCA Executive Director Shannon Daut.