Being successful as a visual artist is not just about making good art. It takes a considered combination of delivering quality art, opportunity and astute management to turn a talent into a career. It's an industry that does not come with a handbook nor is it governed by a set of criteria for success. Managing the sometimes complicated relationships and opportunities that it brings can be intimidating for new artists entering the market. Contrary to popular conception, opportunity doesn't come knocking on the door of an artist who is closeted away in a studio waiting for inspiration to strike. Art Source South Africa has launched a series of seminars on Professional Practice for visual artists who want to learn how to effectively manage and direct their careers.

The seminar asks artists to take decisions about themselves, their desired career path and their artistic objectives. It looks at how to set and achieve goals and what strategies need to be applied to successfully reach these. It will also talk to the business side of the art world and consider how to engage with this successfully.

• Taking decisions on how to engage professionally outside of the studio
• How to establish yourself as a professional artist
• Defining a strategy related to your individual career plan
• How to successfully build an artistic profile
• The value of networks
• Marketing yourself and your work to realise your objectives
• How to increase and leverage the value of your work
• Building a professional ethos in the South African art sector
• The roles and responsibilities of the gallery or agent and the artist
• The value of a well planned PR and marketing plan
• How to engage with and manage the media
• Art projects vs art exhibitions - the difference
• Exhibition management and curation
• The gallery system
• Sales and pricing of artworks
• Funding and sponsorship – the differences in approach
• Mobilising resources

The seminars have been successfully run in locations around South Africa with key industry partners. During 2010 we have expanded our programmes to include spotlight sessions on key issues for arts administrators, and a two day workshop on selecting a Career in the Visual Arts for learners from Gr 10-12.

Our aim is to develop this area of our business into a full resource for arts and arts administrators who want to engage effectively with the business side of the industry.

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