MSSU to hold Business of Art Symposium

(From Southern News Service)

A collection of business and visual arts professionals will present an afternoon of expert insight into the business end of professional art careers on Wednesday, Nov. 4, in the North End Zone Facility at Missouri Southern State University.

From noon to 2:30 p.m., students will have the opportunity to hear from art and business professionals from the region during the Nanette Philibert Business of Art Symposium. 

The presentations will also be offered via Zoom.

Presentations will include:

“Recent Community Developments for Art,” by Emily Frankoski, director of Connect2Culture.

“Certificate in Arts Management and Leadership,” Erik Wolf, chair of the MSSU Theatre Department.

“Professionalism in Exhibiting for Artists,” by Shaun Conroy, exhibits director at the George A. Spiva Center for the Arts.

“Working as Part of a Creative Team,” by Cody Langford, senior graphic designer in the e-com department at Camping World, America’s largest retailer of RVs and related products and services.

“The symposium allows for us to cover topics that sometimes do not fit neatly into our already established curriculum,” said Frank Pishkur, chair of Missouri Southern’s Art Department. “It’s a service designed to expand our professional development efforts for our majors and our regional community of artists, highlighting some of the resources, issues, and concerns that artists need to navigate as they plan to pursue and/or continue their professional practice.”

Held each fall, the event was originally developed by former MSSU management professor Nanette Philibert. It is a joint venture by the Art Department and the Missouri Small Business Development Center at MSSU.

As making a living as an artist is extraordinarily difficult and there is no single formula for success, this program is devised to educate how artists and other creatives can approach the business side of building a career around their talent.

Admission to the symposium is free, and the public is invited to view the event free via Zoom. To register, visit www.mssutraining.com/calendar-of-events.