Événement

Creating for hire: Supporting a Thriving Artistic Practice Though Commissions

Co-presented by The Old Stone House, Emerging Leaders of New York Arts (ELNYA)-a program of the Arts and Business Council of New York, and Museum Hue

Customized work by artists is in demand: from iconic sculptures for government and corporate buildings to one-of-a-kind paintings of individual families' children, pets or special events. Today, gaining access to patrons for such commissions can be as easy as uploading one's art to a user-friendly website or even Instagram. How can commissions comprise an important part of an artist's livelihood while still allowing artists the time and space for a fulfilling personal artistic practice?

This panel and workshop will present the ins and outs of gaining different types of public and private commissions, and will also include examples of profitable artistic businesses. The admission price includes wine/beverages, talks by artists and administrators offering practical and conceptual advice, and individual career mentoring for artists on such topics as procuring commissions, managing client relationships, and entrepreneurship. Participants are encouraged to bring brief resumes, business proposals, and/or portfolios to share in speed mentoring sessions with panelists and guest mentors during the second half of the evening.

Panelists: Katherine Gressel, Founder and Live Event Artist, Event Painting by Katherine and Contemporary Curator, Old Stone House; Ariane Hunter, Photographer and Creative Career Coach; Jennifer Lantzas, Deputy Director for Public Art, NYC Parks Department; Chris Soria, painter/muralist and co-founder, Maniac Pumpkin Carvers; Brenda Zlamany, painter
Moderator: Monica O. Montgomery, Strategic Director, Museum Hue

The event is presented In conjunction with the exhibition "Partners, Parents, Pets: Contemporary Portraiture," curated by Katherine Gressel, on view at Brooklyn's Old Stone House February 10-June 20. This exhibition aims to raise such questions as: how does an artist's portrait work for hire influence his/her personal work, or vice versa?

Image Credit: Meghan Keane