Conference

November 10, 2007
Free Artists & Entrepreneurship Conference

The Kirstein Business Branch of the Boston Public Library, the Boston Business Assistance Center, and the Artists Foundation were please to present the first Artists + Entrepreneurship Conference, on Saturday, November 10th, from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, at the Boston Public Library in Copley Square. It was a free conference for artists working in all disciplines (visual, literary, performing, etc.). Over 150 artists attended the event.

The conference was free of charge and included a series of panels, workshops and a resource fair that provided artists of various disciplines with valuable tools and resources including advocacy, entrepreneurship, and health care. One goal is to make this an annual event that is connected to the Annual Artists Under the Dome Event at the State House. The other key goal is to bring the Conference to local artists communities across the Commonwealth. We would like to thank all the panelists who donated their time to serve on the panels, all who helped get the word out, and the Boston Public Library and its staff.

The schedule for this conference was as follows:

All Day Resource Fair will include information from public and non profit organizations that provide support services to artists/ entrepreneurs in the region.

9:30-10:30am- Register & Visit the Resource Fair

10:30- 11:45 am Welcome Remarks by Laura Pattison, Kirstein Business Library

11-Noon Morning Panel:

Artists as Agents for Social Change.

Panelists: Gail Burton, Poet, Playwright, Founder of NewFreedWoman Project, & Practitioner and Teacher of the Theater of the Oppressed; Charles Coe, Poet, Writer, & CoChair of the Boston Chapter of the National Writers Union; David Galiel, Musician and Consultant on using online tools and technologies for social change; John Grimes, Musician and Vice President of the Boston Musician's Association/American Federation of Musicians local 9-535; and Susi Walsh, the Executive Director of the Center for Independent Documentary, founding board member of the Massachusetts Production Coalition, and a partner in the Alliance for Independent Motion Media. Moderator: Kathleen Bitetti, Artist & Executive Director of the Artists Foundation

Noon- 1pm Lunch and Networking- "Lunch on your Own"

Afternoon Workshops and Panels:

1-2pm Artists Doing It For Themselves- Artists Founded initiatives Conversation.

Featured: Mary Sherman, Visual Artist & Co-founder of Transcultural Exchange, Christian Holland, Writer & Executive Editor of BigRedandShiny.com; Donna Dodson, Visual Artist and Founder of JP Art Salon; Eve Bridburg, Writer and Founder of Grub Street; and Tracy Strain, Filmmaker & Member of Color of Film Collaborative. Co-Facilators: Ja-Nae Duane, Mezzo Soprano & Founder and President of Wild Women Entrepreneurs; and Kathleen Bitetti, Artist & Executive Director of the Artists Foundation.

2-2:30pm Grants for Artists-This session also had information about grant resources in the Boston Public Library's Fine Arts and Social Sciences Departments.

Featured: Kelly Bennett, Massachusetts Cultural Council; Kathryn Ostermier, Program Officer for the LEF Foundation, and more.

2:45-3:45 Entrepreneurship for Artists -Business planning, marketing & public relations, bookkeeping & taxes...

Featured: Liora Beer, Boston Business Assistance Center & Laura Pattison, Kirstein Business Library; Michael Dimino, Mass Small Business Development Center @ UMass Boston; Carole Belloew, Bookkeeping; Brian Price, Harvard Law School Community Enterprise Project, Ralph Jaccodine of Ralph Jaccodine Management, & more

4-4:30pm Healthcare for Artists - This workshop focused on the Massachusetts Health Care Reform Law- its new requirements and options for individuals. Presenting was the Artists Foundation & www.healthcareforartists.org, and Health Care for All.

All Day Resource Fair included information from public and non profit organizations that provide support services to artists/ entrepreneurs in the region.

Featured information from: the City of Boston; BRA; ArtistLink; StageSource; Health Care for All, the Insurance Partnership, the Access Project, Health Law Advocates, Photographic Resource Center, Mass Production Coalition, Alliance for Independent Motion Media, Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, Mass Cultural Council, Grub Street, TransCultural Exchange, Boston Musician's Association, Society for Arts & Crafts, Mass Small Business Development Center @ UMass Boston; JPNDC; DBEDC; SCORE; the Financial Education Department of State Treasurer's Office, and others.

For more information: contact@artistsunderthedome.org