Building Ignite Artists Network

Understanding the Community Needs . . .

 

As we grow we want to provide

 

services currently not available in

 

the Ipswich region.

 

Ipswich is home to over 100

 

different armature arts & craft groups.

 

 

Most disabilities support providers

 

engage in art programs for

 

both leisure and skills development.

 

 

As well as opportunities to

exhibit and sell artwork. 

 

What people tell us . . .

 

 

Did you know artists are unable to up skill in the

Ipswich Region itself.

 

 

 

 

Did you know access issues are not isolated to those with disability.

 

 

 

Young mums can experience access issues to education

due to children needs.

 

 

 

Access to transport can be an issue for those

living in remote areas.

Not just those with disabilities.

 

 

 

A person's impairment is not

detected in their artwork.

 

 

 

 

Ignite Artists Network

 

Seeks to increase learning opportunities

 

through peer mentoring.

 

 

 

Workshops and peer development programs.

 

 

 

Support artists to exhibit their artwork.

 

 

 

Assisting with access needs of all

Artists living in the region.

 

 

Email admin@igniteartists.com.au

 

for more information.

Why should you consider having a mentor?

Many professionals seek out coaches and mentors in their professional life as they develop their practise. By developing your arts based practise you are becoming self-employed. Many artists make the mistake of selling there work at low prices. 

The arts industry is a tough one and few artists are able to sustain themselves on their art sales alone.  Like every other industry, the arts is govern by its own code of practise. I also found learning to navigate the different galleries difficult.  There is much to learn.

Where to make your point of sale is another pivotal point in establishing your practise.  To some extent your point of sale will depend on the art products you are producing.  A mentor can assist you to think through the various layers involved in establishing your practise and their there to support you when things don't quite go the way you hope.

A artistic mentor is not so much of a teacher as an advisor.  Those seeking a mentor should already have an art practise under development.  Or course using and artistic mentor means they can help you refine your skills and established sound practise in your studio.

Our 2017 Mentoring Program

So what types of activities could a mentor assist me with? 

• Defining your art practise and setting up your art studio
• Creating a body of work for exhibition
• Entering work into competition
• Developing a business plan, cv and portfolio
• Working with galleries
• Learning about the arts industry's code of practise
• Grant writing
• Ways to fund your arts practise
• Defining your sales point
• Using social media to promote your work
• Business set up
• Developing your artist network and linking you in to the local arts community.

Once we have our list of finalist for the program we will be doing to things:

• Look for a mentor who can best assist the applicants to achieve their nominated outcome.
• Using the applicants cv to apply for funding

The shape of our mentorship program will be driven by the participants.  At this point of our development we are not yet seeking to offer workshops and classes.  We are keen to established a sound foundation for the network.

If you would like to know more about mentoring or becoming a mentor you are welcome to attend our FREE information session on 15th September @ 5:30 pm at the coffee shop at Arttime Supplies 203 Brisbane St, Ipswich.

Please let us know if your attending by 14 Sept.  You can email us for more information.

Wisdom For Mentors

Opportunities Don't Just Happen

"Opportunities don't just happen we create them."

The role of a mentor is to shadow an artists while they build their artistic practice.

Nathanael Small in his post today explains the

process of coaching someone.

Grow your business

Yesterday I attended a Business Development workshop for artists. I think many artists forget that the quest to sell their artwork is a small business, and the essence to building any business is a Build Plan. My dad gave me a tip,  Deb artwork won't sell sitting in your lounge room! The main point of sale for a visual artists is a art gallery. 

So my first goal was to get my art out there!

Coming out!

"Fish tales - Arttime Coffee Shop"

Outlay $40 for wall / income $40

This was followed by

Paw Prints

Drawing Point Gallery

Made a loss

Then . . .

Made a profit!

Getting the local paper to do a story

went viral!

Papers across the Southeast picked up my story

And sale of merchandise assisted

This idea I picked up from working with other artists

and I now sell work online

I also take opportunities as they present.

But I still have no business plan for my

over arching brand!

Deb Chilton

What potential income and I losing out on.

What is my brand?

Is it Deb Chilton, Doodles and Dribble,

ArtISability or Ignite Artists?

Do I give equal time to all products?

Have I tested the market or am I just guessing?

Do I know the opportunities I am missing?

Umm! Having a business plan for Ignite Artists is

not enough!

I need a business plan for my brand

Deb Chilton

and each brand covered by my ABN!

I do somethings exceptionally well

like networking!

Others like a sales straggy have

not hit my radar.

OK I am off to write my business plan.

Ignite Artists

I am developing a new network for artists in Ipswich not to replace existing 'informal networks', but to sit beside they and provide professional support services to the arts community. I see my role as providing a mentoring service for artists; accessing issues to training for artists and inclusion for artists living with disability and mental illness; providing peer support for artists living with disability through the QDN peer support group in Ipswich; and assistance to artists with disabilities in writing their NDIS goals and plans.

I will be available at the Fresh Futures Market on 7th September for 9 am to 1 pm, at the Ipswich Show Grounds. With information and our booklet "My Art, My Way" - a guide to the NDIS and application forms for our 2017 Mentorship program.

The network will begin very small to ensure quality service from day 1 and sustainability long term.  We are hoping to provide a no. of formal mentoring places in 2017.

Mentoring involves the process of guiding a person through the process of developing their art practise and is always one to one.  A mentorship is directed by the participant in the program not the mentor. Activities that may be undertaken (but not exclusive too) are:

• The development of new work
• Planning an exhibition
• Collaborative work practises
• Working toward inclusive communities
• Business Planning and development
• Development of professional skills required for art practise, including CV writing, grant writing, online profile, and market establishment.'
• Planning, development and writing workshops and their delivery.

Out 2017 Mentorship Program is for establish artists wanting to extend their skills as an art practitioner. Once established a range of other mentorships will be offered. There are no up front fees for our 2017 program, however there is a requirement that artists participant in the planning and running of workshops; mentoring other artists or negotiate other means of contributing to the growth of the network e.g. fundraising activities.

Our suggested structure for the mentorship is:-

• A total of 32 weeks one to one mentoring with the number of hours per week to be determined by the two parties.
• A commitment to contribute to art retreat run by Ignite Artists Network including running workshops in return for free mentorship.
• Mentoring another artists for a period of 32 weeks one to one mentoring with the number of hours per week to be determined by the two parties.

These activities are introduce in six month intervals and were appropriate amendment will be approved. 

Costs cover by Ignite Artists

• Mentorship Fees
• Travel or mentors
• Accommodation at retreats

We will not cover:-

• Mentors preparation time
• Mentorship being returned in-kind by participants 
• Art supplies used in individual art practise by either party
• Transport of mentees
• Excursions 
• Fees associated with participants art practise e.g. Gallery and studio hirer.
• Professional membership fees

Mentors will be matched to successful participants in the program. Mentors must have a current professional practise that has been in operation for 5 or more years and/or 5 years teaching experience. In addition to this be able to demonstrate a commitment to the overall development of the Ipswich arts community.  Please note mentors working with artists with disabilities will need to apply for a blue card.

Eligible applicants to supply mentorships can send us their cv; including online links to their arts practise and quote for fees.

Artists living with disabilities and mentor illness are encourage to apply using alternative for matts such as video, we are happy to assist with voice overs or captions where a support person can provide our technical with a script.  Alternative presentations should include topics set out in application forms. email us for application details.

Artisablity Mentor Program 2017

Our New 2017 Program is

about linking artist together

to learn and grow.

What is a mentor?

A mentor assist with the development of your artistic practise. You can state the areas you are looking for assistance with.

This may include:

• Skill development in a specific art form
• Developing work for exhibition
• Putting an proposal together for a gallery
• Marketing your work
• Collaborative projects

Who can apply?

For the opening intake we are looking a artists working at professional level.  We class a professional as anyone who has exhibited, sold artwork or won awards.  Any person living in Ipswich Greater Region can apply.

Once the program is establish it will be offered to all artists.

Cost of the program 

There are no up front fees. We are hoping to develop a social enterprise to sustain the program overtime. Six months into the program you will be require to:

• Contribute to an art retreat and assist with organising
• Consider mentoring someone or assist with fundraising

Time commitment

1. First 18 weeks meeting one on one with your mentor for 3 to 4 hour per week.
2. Organising and running art retreats every 6 months
3. Second 18 weeks meet with your mentor and work for the network for 3 hours per week or fundraise.
4. Last 18 weeks work for the network for 3 hour per week or fundraise.

Successful Applicants

• Decide on merit
• And their ability to contribute to the Ipswich art community.

Important Dates

• Application close 30th Sept
• Finalist announced mid October
• Participants announced 3rd Dec
• Program commences Feb 2017

To apply message us for application from

Mentoring Process

Mentoring Program

ArtISability is moving towards assisting the Ipswich arts community to strength its network system by connecting arts together to foster skills development.  I (Deb Chilton) manager have always desired to empower artists living with disability and metal illness to make their own decisions around the direction of their own art practise. I believe this is possible regardless of the IQ level of a person, given the appropriate support.

Offering a selection of workshops can not always ensure individual choice is always meet.  By offering one-on-one tuition, artists can be match to tutors who specialise in the areas and discipline they chose. Not every artists is interested in exhibiting and selling their artwork, some are drawn to teaching, others to digital applying the artwork to products and a small group of artists practise for emotional wellbeing.

My art, my way allows individuals the opportunity to direct their own pathways and work on individual projects suited to their artistic goals.  While a mentor might also tutor you in artistic skills, they are their to guide your overall development as an artist.

Our 2017 mentoring programme will give participants someone walk beside them as they work towards achieving their individual goals. These goals might be:-

• Working towards a solo art exhibition
• Developing a cottage industry
• art installation
• Developing a digital print range
• Portfolio Development
• Creating an online presence
• Selling art online
• Art and design
• Working on public art projects.

This is a very limited list of goals you could work on with a mentor. I am currently working with a mentor to build my online art practise.  Learning about how to photograph my artwork, editing my images, marketing and running a online store.  Something a class would not offer me.

I will be applying for funding for a number of mentorship places in 2017.  These places are for professional artists who are already exhibition and selling artwork.  As the network develops we will be offering places to emerging artist, and those wanting to be hobbyist.

The mentorship program will launch our Ignite Artists Network. Recipients will be required to join the network team for a period of 18 months, exchange for the services provided by the network successful applicants will be required to tutor, run retreats and mentor other artists who join our network or fundraise on behalf in the hope that overtime we can run independent of arts funding.

Applications for places in our 2017 Mentorship program are now open, use the contact gadget or message us for an application form.

 Applications are open to all residents in Ipswich

Applications Close on 30th September

Finalist notified by 14 th October

Successful applications announced

3 rd December 2016

Places are dependent on

successful art grant applications

Once successful finalist are selected we will be seeking professional artists to engage in mentoring in 2017.

If you are wanting to be considered Deb will take you CV

for a database of people to considering to be engaged and paid mentors.  These mentors should be well advanced in their

art practise or have a minimum 5 years teaching experience.

Email Deb