Events

HOW TO LAY THE FOUNDATIONS OF A COMPELLING BRAND Branding can be a tricky concept to comprehend and many creative freelancers and arts organisations don’t understand how to make it work. In a marketplace full of mixed marketing messages, a compelling brand can help a creative practitioner or organisation stand out from the crowd. Creatives who make the most of their branding can build a loyal community of clients and customers that are engaged and interested, willing to spend money, and happy to spread the word.  In this down-to-earth workshop, participants will learn about:+ The basic concepts of branding, and why it’s so important;+ Personal and professional branding, and how it applies to creative practitioners;+ The ingredients that make a compelling brand;+ Practical steps to help participants bring their branding A-Game What do I get?  All participants of this workshop also receive:+ Lifetime access to a dedicated Creative's Guide to Branding Dropbox folder full of additional resources and workbooks to help continue the learning after the workshop is over;+ Access to additional free webinars to supplement the material covered in the workshop;+ The possibility of further one-to-one business advice, mentoring and support from one of our creative industries business specialist […]

Government funding, grants, awards and procurement are often held up as the holy grail of a successful arts business, but this revenue stream also takes hard work and patience. After all, there’s no such thing as ‘free money’.Funding Guidelines for Creatives showcases the basics of writing, winning, and acquitting any kind of funding, as well as making plans and preparing for your funding future. In this down-to-earth workshop, participants will learn more about: + The different kinds of funding available;+ Creating a Funding Folder and Grant Calendar;+ Researching funding and considering applications;+ Writing the Proposal – and avoiding the common errors;+ The Acquittal Process – and how to recover from setbacks;+ The five main ways to ‘fail’ at funding. Resources, examples and templates will also be provided for a variety of funding applications. This workshop will be relaxed and informal. You can ask all the questions you have never been able to ask before and will have ample opportunity to network and get to know each other. Ideal for: This workshop is tailored specifically to creative people who are (or want to be) self-employed in some capacity. It is ideal for recent graduates, freelancers and small arts organisations. What do I […]

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SINGLETON SHIRE COUNCIL Marketing is one of the most despised and least understood aspects of running a creative business and being an arts entrepreneur. Most creatives hate to sell, and would rather be making than hustling. There is a simple secret to making marketing more palatable – understanding the strategy behind the sales will make a huge impact on your creative career. This down-to-earth and enjoyable workshop explores the mystery behind the marketing magic, specifically for creative professionals. We’ll also examine:+ The key elements of a successful marketing campaign;+ How to understand clients, customer and competitors;+ The deeper meaning of word-of-mouth marketing;+ The importance of social media;+ How to make a website with impact … and much more! Our Creative’s Guide to Marketing workshop is tailored specifically to creative people who are (or want to be) self-employed, from students and start-ups to experienced freelancers and arts organisations. What do I get?All participants of this workshop also receive:+ Lifetime access to a dedicated Creative’s Guide to Marketing dropbox folder full of additional resources and help;+ Access to a dedicated webpage full of links and resources to help them get ahead in their creative business. Who should enrol?This workshop […]

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WILD LEARNING Curious about turning your creative practice into a fully-fledged small business?  This fun and friendly workshop will cover all the essentials you’ll need to get the basics right and avoid some of the most common pitfalls for creatives as they enter the world of self-employment and freelancing.  You will learn all the following, with a focus on the arts and creative industries :+ Making a plan for your start-up journey+ Understanding ABNs, structures, business names and licences+ Getting ready for the money+ Preparing for the market+ Where to go for more (free) help. What do I get?  All participants of this workshop also receive:+ Lifetime access to a Dropbox folder jam-packed with resources+ A Creative Business Start-Up Checklist+ A One Page Creative Business and Marketing Plan+ The option of more one-to-one advice from a creative business specialist.All questions are welcome in this relaxed, safe and inclusive workshop. Participants are also encouraged to share their own experiences and network with their fellow practitioners. Who is presenting?Emmie Hallett has one foot planted firmly in each world—the arts and small business—and loves helping people turn their creative work into a business reality. She has been an educator for […]

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SINGLETON SHIRE COUNCIL A website is so much more than a passive online portfolio display. It can be a centralised place to showcase services, a marketing tool to share stories, and an educational platform to help clients understand your craft. Creative's Guide to Websites is a practical and comprehensive workshop that examines the best ways for creatives to present their websites, with real-life examples of best practice, and helpful resources for DIY design. Tips that will be shared include:+ Why? Outlining the goals for your website;+ Making a Site Map and organising the content;+ Do It Yourself or Hire a Designer? The pros and cons of each;+ Choosing the best platform for a DIY website;+ Thinking SHOP not GALLERY.Resources and links will be shared throughout the workshop to help guide participants. What do I get? All participants of this workshop also receive:+ Lifetime access to a dedicated Creative's Guide to Websites Dropbox folder full of additional resources and workbooks to help continue the learning after the workshop is over;+ Access to additional free webinars to supplement the material covered in the workshop;+ The possibility of further one-to-one business advice, mentoring and support from one of our creative […]

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SINGLETON SHIRE COUNCIL Selling online and using e-commerce can be overwhelming at first, especially for creatives – where to begin? This beginner’s course is ideal for any creatives who have products or services ready to sell, but no idea how to get their online sales set up. With a focus on the arts and creative industries, this workshop will cover:+ The pros and cons of selling online+ Preparing for the basics – bank accounts, cloud accounting and stock management+ Choosing an eCommerce model+ Understanding the Customer Experience+ The legal checklist+ Marketing your Online Store… and more! At the completion of the workshop you will have:+ Lifetime access to a Dropbox folder jam-packed with resources+ A One-Page Creative Business and Marketing Plan+ The option of more one-to-one advice from a creative business specialist. All questions are welcome in this relaxed, safe, and inclusive webinar. Participants are also encouraged to share their own experiences and network with their fellow practitioners. Who is presenting?Lillie Brown is a freelance marketing strategist and Marketing Manager of Creative Plus Business. Lillie works with small to medium creative businesses to devise and implement marketing and social media strategies that are easy for creative brains […]

PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CITY OF RYDE The Cultural Tourist is a traveller who wants to learn, experience and get involvedin local offerings. How can your arts centre encourage this kind of visitor? Cultural tourism is when people travel “for essentially cultural motivations” such as study, artisticexperiences, festivals, and pilgrimages. For small-to-medium creative and arts organisations,cultural tourism can also be an effective way to generate revenue, connect with community,enliven the local tourism economy and help to define a place as a cultural and artistic destination. Cultural Tourism is a practical workshop in which participants will learn how to maximise thespecial attributes that set their organisation apart from others, including their history, traditions,arts and culture. This includes:+ Understanding the cultural tourist—what interests, motivates, or inspires the traveller?+ Your story—finding the story that needs to be told and an engaging way to share this with visitors+ Projects and Activities—what can your organisation or region offer to the cultural traveller?+ Outcomes—setting up systems to measure the data about the impacts of cultural tourism+ Marketing—sharing the story and projects with your potential market+ Resources—where to get help, resources, worksheets, and more! What do I get? All participants of this workshop also receive:+ Lifetime access […]

Social media is everywhere, as are tips and tricks to use it for business. What are the best ways for creative and arts professional to use this powerful marketing tool? Social media is a complex and challenging marketing tool for a lot of creatives, as it can be very difficult to find a balance between constantly updating the world just about themselves, and ignoring the platforms entirely! Creative’s Guide to Social Media is a friendly, up-to-date and interactive online workshop for beginners that covers the basics of how to kickstart marketing using social media, with a focus on the main tools at your disposal and the strategy behind the socials. With a focus on people selling in the arts and creative industries, you will learn: + A new and different definition of social media to consider for the arts and creative marketing. + The basics of social media marketing, regardless of which platform you choose. + The strategic process behind using social media for marketing, including R.O.I. + Understanding audience, and finding out what your followers and fans want and need. + Choosing the right social media, from the most used and popular platforms right now. + Content creation tips […]

Making a living from your craft means learning, understanding and embracing the flow of money in and out of your practice. Financial literacy and concepts like ‘cashflow’ are necessities for creative practitioners and arts workers who want to take their passion to a professional level. Cashflow for Creatives is a short online workshop designed by creative practitioners to help other artists understand and embrace the rollercoaster of income and expenses that comes with working in the arts. It’s a safe space where every question is welcome, and the mysteries of money will become a little clearer. Participants will learn all the following, with a focus on arts practice and creative industries: + The Famine and the Feast – weathering the ups and downs of creative income + The Flow of Money Out – Understanding and making realistic budgets + The Basics of Forecasting, and how to develop a ‘crystal ball’ for income + The Flow of Money In – Understanding income and how to create regularity + Practical steps to getting financially organised + More resources and places to go for help Cashflow for Creatives is a relaxed and interactive online workshop that guides participants with practical tools and steps […]

Creatives, arts organisations and small businesses all need a website, but where to begin when there are so many tech and design hurdles to navigate? A website is an essential part of any marketing strategy, but with a little thought and planning it can be much more than a passive online portfolio display. A creative’s website can be a centralised place to showcase services, a marketing tool to share stories and case studies, and an educational platform to help clients and customers understand everything they need to know about your craft, your purpose and the offerings you have that meet their wants and needs. Creative’s Guide to Websites is a practical online workshop for beginners that examines best practice for creatives to present their websites, with examples and helpful resources for DIY design. With a specific focus on the arts and creative industries, this workshop will cover: + Starting with the Why – Outlining the goals for your website and why they matter. + The importance of planning, making a Site Map and organising the content. + Designing a website that focuses on proactive sales as well as a passive portfolio. + Do It Yourself or Hire a Designer? The […]