Submitted by LIFRC

There are no clear avenues when you are an artist, and marketing is often the most challenging part of an artist’s work. Next month, the Lopez Island Family Resource Center (LIFRC) will help artists address this challenge with a marketing workshop specifically geared to artists and artisans.

The workshop will be taught by Claudia Bach, principal and founder of AdvisArts Consulting (www.advisarts.com) founded in 1982 to serve individual artists. The workshop is designed to help artists build an active bridge between their creative work and audiences beyond the studio. The information covered will be applicable to all levels of artists and artisans from crafts fair to museum representation.

Bach brings with her over 30 years of professional experience in the arts. She served as deputy director of the Henry Art Gallery for more than a decade, and since 2010 has taught in Seattle University’s MFA in Arts Leadership. Her clients include Artist Trust, Grantmakers in the Arts, National Performance Network, 4Culture, Rasmuson Foundation, Northwest African American Museum, Artists Up, as well as many individual artists, and municipal and governmental agencies.

Bach is known for her creative yet pragmatic and honest exploration of issues that stimulates new perspectives and generates effective action. She originated Artist Trust’s career development workshops for visual artists in the 1980s and worked with them on the development of the EDGE program and curriculum. Artist Trust is a not-for-profit organization whose sole mission is to support and encourage individual artists working in all disciplines in order to enrich community life throughout Washington state.

Lopez artist Janis Miltenberger attended the EDGE weeklong program for artists in 2015. She reflects, “So there I was with a thirty six year career in glass and feeling like I needed some sprucing up. I did not study writing or go to business school, but as an artist you need to be able to write artist statements, resumes, grants, and market your work. These needs drew me to apply for the EDGE program at Artist Trust in Seattle. The 50 hour workshop … motivated me to action.”

Bach designed and taught the marketing component of the EDGE program. In Miltenberger’s opinion, “She was the best instructor of the week. We worked in small and large groups to help identify our markets; we did not passively sit and take in information. The class was engaging and informative. When I returned to the island I wanted to bring Claudia here so local artists could benefit from her insights. There are many talented crafts and fine arts people out there who simply cannot get the marketing aspect together and consequently push their art to the side and find other means of making a living. Marketing work is not a stagnant thing, the markets are evolving and so does an artist’s work.”

Miltenberger’s enthusiasm for the workshop prompted the LIFRC to reach out to Bach. She will teach a one-day artist-focused marketing workshop on Lopez. The workshop will be held on March 11 and is limited to 18 participants. The class is scheduled from 10:30-5:30 p.m. to accommodate interisland ferries schedules and people coming from the mainland.

Pre-registration is required and interested artists and artisans are encouraged to pre-register early to secure a spot. Fee is $75 if paid by Feb. 22 and $100 thereafter. Register online at www.lifrc.org or call the LIFRC at 468-4117. Special thanks to Artist Trust for permission to allow LIFRC to present this workshop.