Craft Lab Workshop Series

with Elaine Grogan Luttreull

As artists and designers consider the business side of their creativity, the art of capturing and describing value through a holistic pricing strategy becomes (almost) as important as the creativity itself. Four factors—cost, competition, customers, and competencies—affect the price for a creative entrepreneur’s work or time, and we’ll explore the science (and the art) behind each one. We’ll end with some conversational tools to talk about the true value of the work negotiation-style.

Facilitated by Sara Hussey (with Karen Olson and Dave Schimke from American Craft)

PR expert Sara Hussey, joined by Editor in Chief and Senior Editor of American Craft magazine, Karen Olson and Dave Schimke, will walk attendees through a step-by-step guide to public relations for small craft businesses. The workshop will include an intro to Public Relations, its benefit to your business, how to find the right media to contact, how to craft a media pitch as well as discuss influencer collaboration strategies. Participants will walk away with a deep understanding of the power of PR and a step-by-step process for crafting and delivering a pitch to the media.

Facilitated by Betsy Altheimer

In this practical and supportive workshop, you’ll learn how to bring your unique artistic vision to life through compelling grant applications. This session will help you understand the essentials of grant writing and will make the process approachable and manageable. We will talk about making grant writing feel like an extension of your craft.

Facilitated by Hannah Cole

In this workshop longtime artist and tax pro Hannah Cole, of Sunlight Tax, will clarify the different options, and the pros and cons of each, so you can tailor your decisions for your unique needs. We’ll focus on the difference between a legal entity and a tax entity, the tax implications, and the level of complexity and expense that each type of entity involves. You’ll leave knowing what you need to cover first, and which entity decisions can wait until later, and you’ll know which questions to ask in order to determine your best option.

Facilitated by Michael Manes and Rachel Saul Rearick

Join Michael Manes, director and co-owner of Blue Spiral 1 along with Rachel Rearick, Executive Director of Contemporary Craft and former exhibitions manager for Pittsburgh International Airport,for an engaging and informative session exploring the ins and outs of navigating galleries and securing exhibition opportunities. Michael and Rachel will provide valuable insights into the exhibition submission process, how to build lasting relationships with galleries and institutions, and what to expect from the exhibition experience—whether you’re a first-time artist or a seasoned professional.

Facilitated by Navin Ramalingam

Join intellectual property attorney Navin Ramalingam, to learn the ins and outs of contracts, agreements, and licensing for artists and entrepreneurs. In this workshop we will cover key topics like: Contracts 101, Types of Agreements for Artists, including Common Artist Agreements, Intellectual Property and Licensing Essentials, and much more!

Facilitated by Sarah Hussaini

This workshop will explore the psychology behind social media and the power of storytelling to grow an engaged audience. We’ll discuss setting goals and boundaries for your digital presence, while analyzing sources of inspiration and learning to create authentically from them.