Wednesday, 6/10/20
7:00-8:00PM

Branding Reimagined for Creatives
Presented by Olivia Wisden

For many, when they think of branding they think of advertisements, Nike, or packaging that gets you to buy expensive kombucha. But branding can be so much more; at its core branding is storytelling. It’s your opportunity as a small business or artist to tell your audience who you are, in a quick, digestible bite. During this conversation, we’ll discuss what a brand is and does, what goes into building a strong brand and how you can use your brand to guide your business decisions.

*This workshop was rescheduled from June 3, 2020**

We stand in solidarity with those who are fighting for justice against systemic racism, brutality, and violence. It is our goal to amplify and support the Black community and create opportunities and spaces that provide a sense of a belonging for all people.

We are committed to listening to the artistic voices and work that have historically been underrepresented, silenced, and excluded. It is our mission at Dane Arts to continue fostering and developing inclusive values and partnerships within Dane County.

Wednesday, 7/1/20
7:00-8:00PM

Crowdfunding with Kiva

Presented by Araceli Esparza

Wisconsin's Latina influencer, Araceli Esparza, presents an informative talk on crowdfunding with Kiva, how to prep, what do you need prior to promoting, how to promote, what is your strategy. Araceli has run several crowdfunding campaigns for her artwork that empowers women of color and marginalized communities. She has found that the response and scope of it, sometimes works better than a grant.

Wednesday, 7/15/20
7:00-8:00PM

Riding the Wave of Disruption:
Networking and Closing Deals in a Virtual World

Presented by Walter Jankowski

The Coronavirus has disrupted almost every industry and person in the world. In the last 10 years, many industries have experienced “Disruptors." The artworld is no different. Many organizations have had to change how business is done. During this Webinar, we will explore some of the ways Artrepreneurs can ride this wave of disruption, network, and make deals in a virtual world. Topics include: how to effectively find, build, and maintain a network, best practices in making sales and closing deals to your network, do's and don'ts of networking.

Wednesday, 7/29/20
7:00-8:00PM

Elements of Storytelling

Presented by Jen Rubin

Jen Rubin leads storytelling workshops around Madison, co-produces the Moth StorySlam in Madison, co-hosts Inside Stories podcast, and teaches the occasional social policy class at the University of Wisconsin School of Social Work. Her first book is We Are Staying: Eighty Years in the Life of a Family, a Store, and a Neighborhood. Jen will cover the five elements in crafting a good 5–7 minute story, how to take an anecdote and connect it to a broader, more universal theme, how to find the moments/anecdotes that you want to turn into a story and more.

Wednesday, 8/26/20
7:00-8:00PM

So You Wanna be an Active Ally: Turning Good Intentions into Results

Carlos Eduardo Gacharná

Join Carlos Eduardo Gacharná to discuss how to turn positive thoughts into direct action that supports the multi-faceted progressive movements creating change around the country. Carlos will share his professional practices and philosophies as they relate to social justice advocacy work. Next, attendees will place some key learning experiences in Carlos’ career under a microscope to discuss the tough lessons he learned in order to be a better ally in the fight against racism, the patriarchy, and the prison industrial complex. The discussion will transition to practical steps all allies can take to better serve communities. Carlos’ hope is that by the end of the workshop participants will feel better equipped and supported to put in the work necessary to address some of the serious issues that are at forefront of today’s national discourse. “We can all find our unique land in the fight for a brighter and more equitable world, but you don’t have to go it alone.”

Wednesday, 9/9/20
7:00-8:00PM

Arts as a Way Forward in the New Economy

Mary Reinders

Backdrop…

The creative economy helps drive the vitality of geographic locations across America. According to recent figures provided by the ASPCA (Arts and Production Satellite Account), funded by the NEA, arts and cultural sector provides $10.1 billion, with creative workers earning a collective $6 billion (including benefits). Larger cities are a significant component of multi-arts opportunities out of the 97,000 jobs. However, smaller regions, rich with history and natural beauty own the competitive edge of tourism. With artistic niches that attract visitors and consumers from around the area and out-of-state. An historically limiting factor is the over-reliance on summer visitors to fuel small town creative economies.

The Opportunity…

Paving our way out of economic losses and demoralizing COVID set-backs will take all of the creative energy input Wisconsin’s industry has to offer. Arts and culture has the power to revitalize and reimagine community. Artists, designers, performers, story-tellers, historians, green industry can work with existing structures and systems to help build economies of the future. The session asks: what happens to the arts after the art tours and street festivals are over for the summer? It’s time to engage artists across mediums to not only boost tourism but also (re)create thriving communities. The arts can be a driving force in growing local business, build community, inspire education, and ignite diversity. Hear data, ideas and thoughts of senior consultant, Mary Reinders from past studies, and fresh interviews with a local economic development director, arts-education leaders, Wisconsin Arts Board leaders, and long-time members of the Wisconsin Creative Community.

Wednesday, 9/23/20
7:00-8:00PM

Commissions 101: Knowing Your Value and Maintaining Good Client Relationships

TL Luke

Taking on commissions (custom art for a third party) is a huge step for an artist to take on their business journey. That being said, it doesn’t have to be scary! During this workshop, we’ll talk about knowing your value, gaining clients, and maintaining good relationships so those new clients become repeat clients! Leading “Commissions 101” is T.L. Luke, full-time illustrator and muralist in Madison, WI. Since 2019, Luke has had over 100 commissions from both individuals and businesses around the world, including but not limited to notable businesses like A Room of One’s Own Bookstore here in Madison and publishing company, Lerner Books, in Minneapolis.

Wednesday, 10/7/20
7:00-8:00PM

Pod Camp, or How I’ve Run My Mouth for a Living

Michael Penn II

Michael Penn II is a 26-year-old rapper, songwriter, and cultural critic from Fort Washington, MD; he’s currently based in Chicago, IL. He releases music under the name CRASHprez, and is 1/3 of the rap group defprez. As a writer, Penn currently works at VMP as the Senior Staff Writer and Host/Executive Producer of the Good Convo podcast. As a performer, he’s shared stages with Chance the Rapper, Saba, Danny Brown, and JPEGMAFIA among many others. His written work has appeared in VICE, The FADER, AFROPUNK, and Mic among many others.

Wednesday, 10/21/20
7:00-8:00PM

Transitioning to Art Full Time

Tommy Sweeney

In Transitioning to Art Full Time, Tommy Sweeney will present on business fundamentals as they apply to visual art. Topics will include sales, production, and collection. Tommy’s approach is based on a self-sufficient model that is supported only by clients. Tommy is a full time fine artist who has been in the art business since 1987, and has been selling exclusively his own artwork for the last seven or eight years. A little over a year ago, Tommy’s wife, Ann, left her job as Creative Services Director to work with him full time. Their studio is in the Capitol East District in Madison WI. Connect with Tommy at his website: TommySweeney.com, Instagram @Tommy_Sweeney_, or on LinkedIn.

Wednesday, 11/4/20
7:00-8:00PM

Science-Art Fusion: How to advance responsibility to the public good & amplify the artist business

Ginger Ann 

Ginger Ann, Executive Director of the Illuminating Discovery Hub, will highlight the science-art fusion work at the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery (WID) at UW-Madison. Science Art fusion works aim to amplify STEAM access in underserved communities as a means to create social change, support the working artist, and advance inclusive academic belonging. Principal initiatives to be discussed, include: Science to Street Art, Science to Script and co-grant writing. How can science-art fusion lead to paid partnerships with local artists? This workshop provides information on WID programming, how artists can tap into WID frameworks, and strategies to support future collaborations through science grants.  Why Science Art Fusion? Future STEAM advancement lies in diversity, but attracting and retaining diversity in science is often prevented by unconscious biases. Retaining diverse minds and people still remains a challenge within both formal and informal science learning. Science-Art fusion, and using a JEDI approach, challenges unconscious biases and compels community members to ask and answer: what does a leading scientist look like and how do we tell the story of science?

Wednesday, 11/18/20
7:00-8:00PM

Team Roundtable: what’s next?

Presented by the DABL Team

Join the DABL team (Dane Arts Executive Director Mark Fraire, Producers Meghan Blake-Horst and Sarah Akawa) and previous facilitators and presenters as we wrap up the 2020 workshop series. We will touch on things we learned through the workshop series and how things have changed since early March. This will be the last workshop in the DABL 2020 workshop series.