So that we can make sure participants have all of the preliminary information they need, registration for this event ends at 5 PM on April 15th, the day before the presentation.
DOES WRITING ABOUT YOURSELF MAKE YOU NERVOUS? KATIE CAN HELP!
A solid artist/about statement is a critical piece of making connections with potential clients, customers, galleries, and venues. A bio is another must-have for artists or creative entrepreneurs who want to promote their work or business. To sell your work, you need to show people who you are and what’s behind your work. Both documents are part of the foundation of so many things–including your website, social media posts, proposals and applications, and other PR collateral. It’s important to keep them compelling, coherent, and grammatically correct, too!
After teaching Writing and Composition for over two decades, Katie Hoffman understands that it can be really hard to get started–especially when you’re writing about yourself. She knows how to help writers generate ideas, and she has tips, tricks, and strategies for helping writers move past that initial (sometime terrifying!) writer’s block.
This presentation walks you through the process of understanding how to generate ideas and deciding which ideas belong in which document. She’ll also go over the purpose and use of each document, including deploying them to send a submission to an exhibition or gallery, promote a musical performance, or pitch your services to potential clients.
This presentation isn’t just for artists. It will work well for any entrepreneur with a specialized small business who wants to write a compelling “about” statement, too!
INSTRUCTOR BIO: Katie Hoffman currently serves as the Executive Director of Create Appalachia. She is the founder and owner of Appalworks, a consulting business focused on Appalachian arts and culture. She holds a PhD in English (with a focus on Appalachian Studies) from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, an M.A. in English from East Tennessee State University, and a B.A. in English from the College of William and Mary in Virginia. Katie has worked with numerous regional and national organizations on a variety of projects showcasing the culture and art of Appalachia, including the Smithsonian Institution’s annual Folklife Festival, The Richmond (VA) Folk Festival, the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, the Portsmouth Art and Cultural Center, the Central Appalachian Living Traditions Project, and The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail.
DONATIONS ARE REQUESTED BUT NOT REQUIRED. We’re a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, and we reinvest all money collected from fees and donations back into serving creatives in our region. The suggested donation for this class is $10-$20. We’d appreciate a donation of what you feel you can afford. If you can’t donate right now, we completely understand! You can contact Katie Hoffman at katie@createappalachia.org for a scholarship ticket.
This workshop is subsidized and made possible thanks to a generous grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission’s Arts Build Community program.
