Gloucester Daily Times
http://www.gloucestertimes.com/
Published: July 25, 2006
Artists plan to partner with businesses
By Katie McManus
Gloucester Daily Times Correspondent
Society for the Encouragement of the Arts, a Cape Ann arts organization, plans to improve the recognition of local artists and businesses through a new program it announced last week.
"One of the keys to a healthy society is to re-establish the connection between artists and the public," said Susan Erony, executive director of searts.
searts' new Arts-Biz program intends to do that. searts, an organization of artists as well as organizations and individuals who support the arts, strives to promote and improve the economic standing of arts in Cape Ann. In addition to its Partner with an Artist, searts developed the Arts-Biz program to bring local businesses and local artists of Cape Ann together.
"This will not only raise visibility of arts but of business as well," searts' development director, Lara Lepionka, said.
This year is the first time that this program will be run and is designed to give 22 searts members of low to moderate income hands-on training in the art business field.
These trainings include lessons on how to deal with the press, how to approach businesses and how to improve marketing techniques; searts board members and staff provide the training. Artists can showcase their work in the businesses. Reimbursements of up to $200 will also be available to artists for exhibition and performance costs.
The Arts-Biz program is open to more than just contemporary art. searts includes painters, sculptors, writers, architects, dancers, actors and more.
Businesses will have just as much control in this process as artists do, officials said.
"We want the businesses to respond," Lepionka said. "This will enhance their physical environment and be an extra draw for people."
Businesses that decide to partner with an artist would agree to exhibit the artist's work for one month along with co-hosting an opening reception. Businesses are encouraged to join searts but are not required.
Relationships formed this year will lead to the Arts-Biz roster. This roster will eventually be available on the searts Web site and will list businesses interested in displaying work and artists who would like to show their work or organize a performance. This future roster will allow artists and businesses to contact one another.
Funding for this program came from the Massachusetts Cultural Council John and Abigail Adams Art Program and the City of Gloucester. These donations extended the amount of artists and businesses the program could serve.
While there is no deadline for application for this program, artist training programs and reimbursements are available on a first-come, first-serve basis with the majority of the reimbursements reserved for low to moderate income artists. Erony hopes to have 11 artists featured in September and 11 more featured in October.
"We would like for this to be the beginning of the engagement of art and business," Erony said. "What is good for culture is good for business."
Arts-Biz program
What: The collaboration of local artists with local businesses
Who: Local businesses and searts members
Sponsored by: The Society for the Encouragement of the Arts, or seARTS
Contact for information: Lara Lepionka
How: 978-283-1308 or e-mail llepionka@searts.org
Deadline: First-come, first-se