FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: October 29, 2002

Contact: Hilary Anne Frost-Kumpf (217) 206-7373

UIS hosts marketing workshop for artists and craftspeople

SPRINGFIELD – “The Artist in Business: Controlling Your Own Destiny” is the focus of a day-long workshop to be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, November 23, in conference room G of the Public Affairs Center at the University of Illinois at Springfield. The program is free, however space is limited and reservations are required.

Libby Platus, a nationally recognized arts marketing expert, will lead the workshop, which will cover such topics as setting goals and objectives, image building, pricing strategies, identifying customers, locating sales outlets, developing promotional materials, marketing tools, marketing strategies, publicity, and strategic marketing action plans. Participants are encouraged to bring examples of their artwork to use in discussions of pricing.

Platus has presented numerous programs across the country, offering artists and crafts people access to information and strategies for promoting their own work.

“Most artists want to do their work and ignore the business side of art,” she says. “But no matter how artistic and creative the person, they need to know how to sell themselves and their work for financial survival. I teach them that financial freedom is possible and that getting there can be interesting and satisfying.”

Hilary Anne Frost-Kumpf, director of the Community Arts Management (CAM) concentration at UIS, adds, “This workshop is designed to help visual artists and crafts people to

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market their artwork effectively and efficiently, using galleries, art shows, and other self-promotion.”

UIS’ CAM concentration is located within the Department of Public Administration. The Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Community Arts Management provides graduate education in leadership, management, and planning that is pertinent to public and nonprofit arts organizations, with a focus on the role of the arts in communities.

CAM is sponsoring the event with support from the UIS Speakers Fund. To make reservations or for more information, call Frost-Kumpf at (217) 206-7373 or e-mail frost-kumpf.hilary@uis.edu, no later than November 18.

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