Power of Telling Stories

Today I've decided to revisit "Telling Your Artistic Story"

Telling your artistic story

In my work at ArtISability I often ask people what their end goal is. Some people just want to have a dabble with paint and others tell me they're interested in selling their artwork.  Some of the artists I work with at ArtISability, will be eligible for support under the NDIS to run their artistic practise, for these artists they will need to communication their story well to ensure they will be supported by the NDIA to achieve their goals.

The rules for setting goals are:-

• Must be clear to everyone (I want to sell my work), is clear.
• Must be measurable (when you sell your work you have achieved your goal)
• Support required must be reasonable and necessary. (I think being an artist is reasonable).
• Must be cost effective, the NDIA is not going to pay for your set-up cost, art supplies, gallery hirer, website development, marketing fees. These are all costs that we as professional artists need to budget for.  The NDIA will pay for necessary costs of getting to work, support to produce art and assistance to get it to its sale point.
• Planning - How will you fun your set-up costs. Take an inventory, know the resources you are starting with and find out the cost of getting your work to the point of sale.

So who besides the NDIA needs to hear your story?

I like to say everyone, the more you share your story, the easier it will become.  "Word of mouth" is still your most economical and powerful marketing tool. There are lots of other ways to market your work, such as social media, like facebook or giving out flyers like the one above.

However as a professional artist their are very formal ways you will need to tell your story.  When you approach a art gallery, they will want to here your story and see samples of your work.  These are know as Artist Bios, CVs or Artists Statements and a portfolio of your artwork.

My artwork hanging in a gallery

So the first 'tool' in telling your story is to keep a record of your artwork through photographs. Keeping photos of your art on your mobile phone is a great 'tool' to use when talk to people you meet in the street. So here's my first golden rule in sharing your story with others.

Golden Rule # 1 - Don't ask people in the street if the want to buy your artwork.

Random people you meet in the street or at the bus stop are not the sales point for a profession artists.  Professional artists sell there work through art competitions, galleries, gallery shops or sometimes online. If people are really interest in your work they will ask or you could give them your business card.  A business card could be a miniature version of your story.

It has your name

(I have a postbox, I do not give out my home address)

Contact details:  Email / or phone

Your online presence (facebook, twitter, website)

I also have a online shop (this is a point of sale and one way to start putting your name out there.

I also think using you own artwork on your business card is a good way to spread your story.

So as you can see there are some small items you start to need to pay for in order to sell your work.

I recently bought some business card 500 for $60. While producing your artwork you're also be buying art supplies and to sell your artwork you also need to think about the cost of framing you work.

Some you might need to borrow some money, apply for a grant or find a sponsor, online crowdfunding is a new way artists are funding the art projects.  Again you will need to tell your story in a more formal way.

Sharing Your Journey

One of the reason you might share your story or journey with friends, neighbours, people in your youth group or work, is to build a bit of a support group or network around you.  These are the people you need to become your personal cheer squad. While some of these people might buy your work, what your want to do is as these people to invest in you journey and travel with you.

Golden rule # 2 - Don't ask people to buy your work straight-up

Sharing your journey requires some form of emotional connection. So the first ingredient you want to share with them is 'your passion'. Before asking others to believe in you, you need to show them - you're real deal.  You're in this gig for the long haul and your willing to invest you time and money into delivering your artwork to the gallery.

From this 'network' of people you may like to as for references, testimonials or a graduator in case you skip town. If you find you need to raise some cash through fundraising these are the people who might help, especially if you a passionate body of energy.  If you 've be pestering them for sales that may not work.

If your an artists you might have other artist in your network so if your wanting to enlist their support it's not going to go down to well if you haven't been promoting their events and attending their openings.  You need to be actively support them.  Offering to take the exhibition flyers to coffee shops.  Physically I find it hard to get to openings on a Friday night.  If its an artist that has assist me or I am wanting to encourage, I might push myself.

You can bet I am sharing all artist events on facebook.  To be a community we need to be linking with each other and providing support. I have posted on that before.  The more you are supporting others and sharing you growth journey as an artist, the more likely others will be spreading the word.

As you approach you first solo opening night, hopefully you might have local community support to really behind you to put on a spread, or you might ask a local business to support you.

Your opening night is another opportunity to share your journey and passion.  Those attending are going to want to hear the created process behind putting your show together

Golden rule # 3 - Thank the people who have helped you in your journey.  Public acknowledgment helps them know you appreciate them.

In summary

• Telling you story is about inviting people to come on a journey.
• It's a invitation to your cheer squad
• It require you to invest in them.
• It's only about sales at the actual point of sale

Read my story

Creating Creative Communities

I don't believe buildings and structures are communities, but merely the geographical mark where a body of people live work and play. What makes a community is the transformation of people to create a passion for living.

Communities are born from people's desire to share there passion and challenge our thoughts through creativity. The poets, writers, authors, performers', actors and artists should be the people giving birth to a community. They are our geographical conscious. For a community to become a living identity, the essential ingredients are a heart and soul and I believe Ipswich has the beginners of both.  

Now is the time for us to embrace our creative soul and celebrate what makes us a rich city. From within Ipswich I hear murrs about the lack of community spirit and connections.

Yet as I network with poets, authors, artists from outside the Ipswich region, the question is what's in your water, Ipswich breeds creativity. Our city council is the envy of artists across Australian, as we share ideas of projects and ways to fund our concepts, I say have to talked to your local council?  What, yes of course, the have no interest in the arts. What I down here in Hobart, because my council is looking for ways to build its resources through our precious community resources, artists like myself.

Our library is the envy of authors around Australia, authors and illustrates see Ipswich as a mecca, descending on Marburg every two years, for the Children's Writer's Festival. Our annual poets breakfast, attracts poets form Moree, Gulgong and Charter Towers.

Entries for the QT Ipswich Art Awards and the Ipswich Poetry Feast Awards continue to grow. Some of our local councilors are artists in their own write. 

Cr Paul Tully and Cr David Phaikie use poetry to spar in Councils Chambers. My artist friends from outside the region are jealous when I take them up town.  I can wheel up the street and local business owners know me by name.  I owe my community for the amount of investment their given to a number of my creative passions. Outsides marvel at the relationships I have made. I endeavor to sow back everything my community has given me.

0I didn't just show-up in 2013 and have success with grants and become the successful artist I am. I am someone whose proud of my Ipswich Heritage, I live here by choice.  I both see and feel our creative soul and the challenge our artists give the community.

To those who deny our creative identity I challenge the role and the investment they have given my community. It's all very well to sit back and dissect the lack of support from those outside the arts, and feel frustration of not being able to sell our work. However the reality is being in business as an artists is not that different to any other business, it is as I shared yesterday, a labor of love, driven by passion to continue to invest in other artists lives.  I know my local community and they know me.

We don't need more buildings to cement our arts community, a building only clothes the creative soul.  The collective passion I share with local teachers, librarians, artists, performers, café owners and councils are here.  What you need to do is to walk out of your creative space periodically, and share in the richness of the Ipswich arts community.  It is here waiting for you to come and embrace it! 

My door is now open for business, but you'll have a better chance of catch me drinking coffee or doodling at art time.  I live in my community and my community spirit lives in me.

Hope to chat to you in person soon!

How to fund your next project

Checking your Social Credit

Built on the value  of
supporting each other.

When it comes to grant writing the # 1 mistake is expecting a grant will cover 100% of the cost of your project.  When writing your budget you need to consider other incomes you can list. This may be that you applying for other grants. Or you have secured an grant to cover part of your project.

Income should only be listed in the income column if it is secured. So ticket sales are not income until the cash is in the bank.  Your project may have sponsors or you may be working in partnership with others.  When it comes to grant non-cash items known as  in-kind support can be listed in your income column,

Your income might include:-

1. Cash donations
2. Donation of goods
3. Fundraising to date
4. Sponsorships
5. Cash provided by partners
6. Use of venues or equipment without free
7. Hours donated by volunteers
8. Skills or time donated by others
9. Income from other grants
10. Your time and resources.

When it comes to grants there are always resources we contribute to the project, that will do not factor our budget income, such as phone calls, power, internet, paper and ink or administration time if you are a business.  Even your time spent administrating the grant.. Although some grants will not allow you to ask for these expenses they can be listed as income in-kind.

Many grant administrators want you to demonstrate you yourself are investing into the project.  One way I do this is not to claim all my work hours and list some hours as my income.

Supporting and Being Supported

in our local community

So when we're thinking about how to fund a project cash isn't the only way to measure the value of something,  For example, someone lets you use there printing press free of charge.  This can be listed as a in-kind item, so you need to find out what the value of hiring a printing press is worth. 

Why do you need to list these things as income if your not exchanging cash?

• Most grants will only cover a percentage of the total cost of your project. So if you have an income of $ 23, 566 and the cost of your project is $60, 000. Then you could ask for $37, 444 through a grant.
• Administers of grants want to see you and others in the community are investing in the project.  In-kind income from you and others demonstrates investment in your work.
• In-kind support also demonstrates community support for the project.

Most grant assessors are looking for projects that benefit the wider community, thus you want to be engaging in the community the development of your project.  When I am asking the community or other individuals in the project itself I consult with others in shaping the project. Including any funding body you maybe considering asking for funds.  Sometimes others may suggest organisations you have not considered.

However, the use of social credit is boarder than sources of income you list on a grant application. Social credit can be valuable in activities such a hosting your solo art exhibitions or market stalls.  For some these 'social exchanges' occur without thought. An example of a 'social exchange' is use of screen printing equipment in return for working on a friends website.  'Social exchanges" especially when it involves the exchange of information, occurs between friends without through.

Supporting others . . .

The use of social credit and valuing the worth of these exchanges at least in the beginning may require us to be more deliberate in the way and with who these exchanges take place.  The easiest exchange we can make is to support others and their projects.  This giving a physical presence at the events, sharing information, promoting the events of other artists by word of mouth or distributing flyers.

To calculate cash value of these social support we give to other artist, takes a shift in our thinking. Even through as artists we are not paid a hourly rate, 'out time', 'skills' and 'resources', are of value to others.  Especially when you can save others money, they might otherwise need to pay for, such as the use of table and chairs. While most of my social banking occurs without thinking, I am relocated to provide support to others who do not return my kindness.  So to hire tables and chairs cost money, by leading these to others you are saving you money.

The social replication may be with individuals with in a community. In a world where people ar constantly  asking for donations or placing our demands on our time, often people are looking for a retrun on their investment. This is a principle that many crowdfunding campagins are based on.  If you are raising money to print a calander then those who support you at the very least should receive a copy.

My ides of social credit is to earn it before I ask for support. This means I think about the business I make my purchses, where I chose to drink my coffee and actively supporting other artists in my network.  Then when I embark on a project I think about who might give me a discount or who might assist me to fundraise. Even a realm of copypaper is a valued contribution to you project and $5 you can list in your income column.  Sometimes its just asking someone to write you a suppirot letter.  The time people spend doing this is worth something.

Social cridet involves valuing the small things other do for us. Sometimes a thank-you on facebook or promotiong their page is and acknowledgement of the appreciation of the value of the time others spend supporting you.  Social cridet involve regular exchnges.

How to fund your next project

Checking your Social Credit

Built on the value  of
supporting each other.

When it comes to grant writing the # 1 mistake is expecting a grant will cover 100% of the cost of your project.  When writing your budget you need to consider other incomes you can list. This may be that you applying for other grants. Or you have secured an grant to cover part of your project.

Income should only be listed in the income column if it is secured. So ticket sales are not income until the cash is in the bank.  Your project may have sponsors or you may be working in partnership with others.  When it comes to grant non-cash items known as  in-kind support can be listed in your income column,

Your income might include:-

1. Cash donations
2. Donation of goods
3. Fundraising to date
4. Sponsorships
5. Cash provided by partners
6. Use of venues or equipment without free
7. Hours donated by volunteers
8. Skills or time donated by others
9. Income from other grants
10. Your time and resources.

When it comes to grants there are always resources we contribute to the project, that will do not factor our budget income, such as phone calls, power, internet, paper and ink or administration time if you are a business.  Even your time spent administrating the grant.. Although some grants will not allow you to ask for these expenses they can be listed as income in-kind.

Many grant administrators want you to demonstrate you yourself are investing into the project.  One way I do this is not to claim all my work hours and list some hours as my income.

Supporting and Being Supported

in our local community

So when we're thinking about how to fund a project cash isn't the only way to measure the value of something,  For example, someone lets you use there printing press free of charge.  This can be listed as a in-kind item, so you need to find out what the value of hiring a printing press is worth. 

Why do you need to list these things as income if your not exchanging cash?

• Most grants will only cover a percentage of the total cost of your project. So if you have an income of $ 23, 566 and the cost of your project is $60, 000. Then you could ask for $37, 444 through a grant.
• Administers of grants want to see you and others in the community are investing in the project.  In-kind income from you and others demonstrates investment in your work.
• In-kind support also demonstrates community support for the project.

Most grant assessors are looking for projects that benefit the wider community, thus you want to be engaging in the community the development of your project.  When I am asking the community or other individuals in the project itself I consult with others in shaping the project. Including any funding body you maybe considering asking for funds.  Sometimes others may suggest organisations you have not considered.

However, the use of social credit is boarder than sources of income you list on a grant application. Social credit can be valuable in activities such a hosting your solo art exhibitions or market stalls.  For some these 'social exchanges' occur without thought. An example of a 'social exchange' is use of screen printing equipment in return for working on a friends website.  'Social exchanges" especially when it involves the exchange of information, occurs between friends without through.

Supporting others . . .

The use of social credit and valuing the worth of these exchanges at least in the beginning may require us to be more deliberate in the way and with who these exchanges take place.  The easiest exchange we can make is to support others and their projects.  This giving a physical presence at the events, sharing information, promoting the events of other artists by word of mouth or distributing flyers.

To calculate cash value of these social support we give to other artist, takes a shift in our thinking. Even through as artists we are not paid a hourly rate, 'out time', 'skills' and 'resources', are of value to others.  Especially when you can save others money, they might otherwise need to pay for, such as the use of table and chairs. While most of my social banking occurs without thinking, I am relocated to provide support to others who do not return my kindness.  So to hire tables and chairs cost money, by leading these to others you are saving you money.

The social replication may be with individuals with in a community. In a world where people ar constantly  asking for donations or placing our demands on our time, often people are looking for a retrun on their investment. This is a principle that many crowdfunding campagins are based on.  If you are raising money to print a calander then those who support you at the very least should receive a copy.

My ides of social credit is to earn it before I ask for support. This means I think about the business I make my purchses, where I chose to drink my coffee and actively supporting other artists in my network.  Then when I embark on a project I think about who might give me a discount or who might assist me to fundraise. Even a realm of copypaper is a valued contribution to you project and $5 you can list in your income column.  Sometimes its just asking someone to write you a suppirot letter.  The time people spend doing this is worth something.

Social cridet involves valuing the small things other do for us. Sometimes a thank-you on facebook or promotiong their page is and acknowledgement of the appreciation of the value of the time others spend supporting you.  Social cridet involve regular exchnges.

NDIS Arrives

The NDIS Arrives!

I sit here full of mixed emotions, form today the National Disability Insurance Scheme rolls out over the next three years. A scheme that acknowledges like all Australians people with disabilities are individuals and thus deserve individual tailored support to achieve their goals and aspirations. Support beyond what we need to survive.

For me that means support to extend my arts practise. A pipe dream eight years ago, a reality in 12 months time.  . . Only 12 to 18 months to hang in there.

Pride . . . I am proud of every person who stood up and said I COUNT! I have the same rights to access housing, employment, education, entertainment, sport and culture as everyone else in Australia. We call for the UN international humane rights laws to be up held. We call for the right to make decisions and choices for ourselves. We call to control our funding, not the government or services.

Our fight for our dreams and rights is not over (sadness), we now have to reshape our thinking and the thinking of others, while filling in more forms and getting our heads around a hold new would . . . while continuing to survive. The big day is bitter sweet.

Exhaustion while hanging in added my NDIS training needs.  Writing and rewriting plans. 

I chose to feel pride in the 100.000 of individuals who worked eight years to make life changing options a reality. A group of Australian citizens viewed as less than equals, incapable of decision making, decimated against in the workforce and segregation from community still occurs, tested our demonotartic power and birth a better way to do disability care.

With laws passed and new battle field emerges to educate general public and change historical views and perceptions. Bitter / sweet the war won . . . but the battle continues.

I STOOD UP

TO BE COUNTED!