Smart Artist Series

The “Smart Artist Series,” presented by TheaterEngine, Big Heavy World and the Vermont Dance Alliance will feature three FREE evenings (space limited) of professional development workshops for artists and creatives from throughout the state. Panels with Q&A will feature experienced regional professionals and topics of “digital marketing basics”, “seeking press exposure”, and fundraising. Following each workshop at 8pm, the hosts invite participants to gather for social networking at The Whiskey Room (173 College Street). The social mixer is hosted by the Chittenden Zone of the Vermont Creative Network.

WORKSHOP 1 - NOVEMBER 19 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM | DIGITAL MARKETING BASICS

What digital tools matter to artists and artistic organizations? How can you be sure what’s working and what’s not? Kylie Halpin (Director of Digital Marketing at Hark in Burlington) and Andy Butterfield (Director of Marketing and Communications at Weston Playhouse) will discuss the basics of a digital foundation and how to use online tools to maximize your outreach. They will also talk about when, why, and how to spend money advertising online - and when not to. Participants will leave the workshop armed with immediately impactful action-items and relevant industry data to help inform future decisions.

WORKSHOP 2 - DECEMBER 3 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM | GETTING PRESS

Media experts offer their insight about the most effective approaches to ‘earning press’ in print, radio and television. Pamela Polston is cofounder, coeditor and associate publisher of Seven Days. In 2015, she was inducted into the New England Newspaper Hall of Fame. Mary Engisch is the host and reporter for Weekend Edition Saturday and Weekend Edition Sunday on VPR and a director for Vermont Edition. From 2014-2018 she hosted Art Hounds, a weekly arts calendar segment. Galen Ettlin is an American Emmy-nominated Bilingual TV Anchor/Reporter/Producer, SPJ winner, and GLAAD award nominee. He anchors the Channel 3 News at 5:30 & 11 p.m. for WCAX in Burlington.

WORKSHOP 3 - DECEMBER 17 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM | ARTIST FUNDING

Learn where to get funding as an artist or artistic organization. Grants, loans, memberships, sponsors, and fundraisers. What are the different opportunities for artist funding? What works for individual artists and what works for organizations? Hear from a group of experts with experience getting funding or granting funding to artists and creative organizations. Guest speakers include: Amanda Rafuse (Fundraising consultant and former Director of Development at Northern Stage), Alice Dodge (Executive Director for the VT Center for Arts and Learning), Abbey Salomon (Loan Officer at Community Capital of Vermont), Dominique Gustin (Artist Services Manager at the Vermont Arts Council) Hanna Satterlee (Founder and Director of the Vermont Dance Alliance), James Lockridge (Founder and Director of Big Heavy World), & Dominic Spillane (Founder of TheaterEngine)

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About TheaterEngine: TheaterEngine’s mission is to make the performing arts a more accessible entertainment choice for people everywhere, while also creating a digital infrastructure of artists, production companies, venues and performing arts resources that will make the creation of live performance easier for everyone. Contact Dominic Spillane, dspillane@theaterengine.com, theaterengine.com

About Big Heavy World: Big Heavy World is an independent nonprofit music development office working to archive and promote the original music of Vermont. With a crew of volunteers it publishes information about Vermont’s music industry, archives thousands of Vermont-made recordings, photographs and artifacts, and operates 105.9FM, a radio station highlighting the region’s creative community. Contact James Lockridge, jim@bigheavyworld.com, bigheavyworld.com

About Vermont Dance Alliance: The Vermont Dance Alliance is a foundation for Vermont dancers and a public platform for dance in Vermont. The alliance cultivates deeper relationships between its members, and helps to foster a thriving artistic community throughout the state. Contact Hanna Satterlee, info@vermontdance.org, vermontdance.org

The event series is made possible with generous support from sponsors Hark Digital, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center; Vermont Creative Network, Chittenden Zone; Community Capital of Vermont, Burlington City Arts, and with media support from 105.9FM The Radiator. Big Heavy World is also supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov.