Southwest Virginia Community College is offering a career studies certificate that provides talented artists with the business skills to successfully market and promote their art. The Entrepreneurship of Artisans program targets students who know how to create art but need to become more knowledgeable about the business side of their craft.
Assistant Professor of Art, Ellen Elmes knows first hand how essential these business classes are to beginning artists. “As a student, I graduated from college knowing how to create art. However, my first question was, ‘How do I sell it?’ Understanding how to market your art is as equally important as creating sellable work if a person wants to make a career out of their talent,” said Elmes.
Developed in collaboration with the SwVCC Business Division, the two-semester, 29 credit hour career studies certificate provides aspiring artists, who are interested in selling their art, with an overview of business including courses in entrepreneurship, marketing, small business taxes, e-commerce, and small business management. The program also features a portfolio and resume preparation course.
Karen Ward, a student in the program, originally discovered her love for pottery while taking a pottery class as an elective in the education program. “From the first day I just knew it was something that I was going to love.” After graduating with an Associate of Arts and Science degree in Education and General Studies, Ward has been pursuing her passion.
She had graduated from Southwest and had been creating pottery for four or five years when she heard about the new entrepreneurship for artisans program. “The timing of the program was perfect for me. I had graduated and I hadn’t found a job yet. I just decided this was something I wanted to pursue.
“I am very interested in starting a business. The art professors have given me the tools to create, but I have never had any business classes. I cannot go forward in business without these skills. It is really just as important as creating.” said Ward.
She currently sells her pottery at the College’s Appalachian Art Center. “The program has brought me to a point where I can both create and sell my artwork. I have sold several items. I have never before experienced anything quite like the feeling I get when my art sells.”
Ward will receive a career studies certificate in Entrepreneurship for Artisans in May. Her immediate plans are to work toward buying her own equipment. She also hopes to begin to sell her pottery at craft shows.
For more information about the program, contact Ellen Elmes at 276.964.7205.