Event

Elaine Presents at SECAC

November, 2013
Koury Convention Center at the Sheraton Hotel (Map)

Join the Southeastern College Art Conference (SECAC) North Carolina this fall for an incredible program focused on research and discussion among arts educators. The conference will be held at the Koury Convention Center in the lovely (and artsy!) city of Greensboro, and the sessions will run from October 30 through November 2.

Elaine will be presenting her research paper, “When I Grow Up I Want to Budget” on Friday morning, November 1, 2013 from 10:15 – 11:45 in a panel discussion, “Integrating Art and Entrepreneurship,” chaired by Kevin Conlon of the Columbus College of Art and Design. The text of the abstract is below… See you there!

Abstract

When I Grow Up I Want to Budget

The Connection Between Non-Art Tasks and a Successful Art Career

As far as I can tell, “When I grow up, I want to budget,” was never uttered by a single child.  Ever. And yet, managing financial aspects of our lives is central to almost all we do, both personally and professionally. Entrepreneurs – even artistic ones – spend upwards of 50% of their time on administrative tasks related to running a successful business. These tasks include engaging with the professional community, attending meetings that may or may not result in work, sending emails and follow-up emails, promoting a professional accomplishment or a show, reviewing contracts, paying taxes, and yes, budgeting. All of these tasks are vital to sustaining a career, and yet our educational system relegates these skills to a fraction of our education, usually in the form of one required professional practice course led by someone with personal experience, but perhaps not business credentials.

This paper will address the importance of introducing students to entrepreneurial and professional practice skills in a more coherent and technical manner to help prepare students for the realities of sustaining a creative career.  It will also address what the author has found to be the most effective way to present these skills to students to maximize relevance and retention.