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Turning that art hobby into a career

Where might a local artist or craftsperson turn for advice on how to run a successful small business in the arts? Olympia, Washington resident Pamela Corwin, owner of "Paper-Scissors-Rock", merged art and business with her whimsical mixed-media clocks, magnets and noteboards. This fall, Corwin will share her insight and expertise with local entrepreneurs during an eight-week workshop, "Crafts as a Business".

The workshop will be held on Thursday evenings from 7-9pm beginning September 8, 2005. Local residents who want to learn how to build a viable business from their art or those who already sell on a small scale and want to take their business to the next level will benefit from Corwin`s 25-year career in the crafts industry. Most artists starting out have no idea how to run or build a business, they just hope that if they make great art, people will buy it. Unfortunately, its not that simple, says Corwin. It can take years to get started.

She adds, "I`ll be sharing information and resources I only wish someone had handed me when I first started my business. I`ll be addressing student`s specific needs and questions and they will leave with tools, resources and knowledge it could otherwise take them years to gather on their own."