What is Mind Your Art Business?
Mind Your Art Business provides educational and business programming to the creative community through the Detroit Art & Business Institute. We offer targeted, private consulting, connective group workshops in art and culture non-profits as well as pop-up workshops at various locations in metro Detroit.
MYAB teaches healthy business and relationship strategies to help artists, makers, designers and other creative entrepreneurs connect with their passion, and express it effectively to their consumer while learning necessary business skills. Artists and their creative work are undervalued in our society, so our classes start with building their business from the inside out, guiding them to raise their confidence level and re-value themselves and their art before diving into business strategies.
What was your experience in Build?
I had just moved back to Detroit from New Jersey and knew I needed to continue building a strong network and creating opportunities. A colleague loved his Build experience and told me about it. I didn’t know what to expect but the class was so much fun! We had a great class camaraderie with lots of laughter, and we all helped each other. I really appreciated the other entrepreneurs in my class – everyone was really down-to-earth and willing to learn and I felt I was able to offer something to my peers as well as receive excellent feedback. Now whenever I need services for my business, I will call my classmates first!
What are your recent developments?
I taught a business development workshop during the Detroit Design Festival’s Design Crawl and started a Meetup group for the creative community in metro Detroit, which takes place at a different innovative space once-a-month. We are also developing an exciting, educational event that connects local artists to buyers and gallery owners which will launch in 2015. Stay tuned!
To support MORE creatives and other organizations, I’m in the midst of developing courses for the fashion industry – The Runway in Lansing and our more local Detroit Garment Guild Group. I’m also a Kiva Detroit Trustee, which allows me to submit my 8-week, Achievement consulting clients to the Kiva interest-free loan/crowdfunding program and support them through the process!
What’s in the future for Mind Your Art Business?
Mind Your Art Business is just one aspect of the Detroit Art & Business Institute. My eventual goal is to launch an engaging, educational facility specifically for the art community, where musicians, film makers, designers, entrepreneurs, artists, students and more can connect with each other and learn how to work with local businesses and nonprofits. Our art community is very insular – we need to reach different networks and sectors to create greater opportunities for ourselves, increasing our value in the process.