Art professionals to speak at symposium at Missouri Southern

(From Southern News Service)

Business and visual arts professionals will provide expert insight into the business end of professional arts careers during the annual Nanette Philibert Business of Art Symposium from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 3, at Missouri Southern State University.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held in Billingsly Student Center’s Connor Ballroom.








“The symposium allows for us to cover topics that sometimes do not fit neatly into our already established curriculum,” said Frank Pishkur, chair of the Department of Art and Design. “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.”

The sessions and presenters will include:

“Museum Career Opportunities for Artists”: Dr. Kimberly Masteller, curator of South and Southeast Asian Art at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City.

“Insights in Self-Publishing, Illustrating and Marketing Children’s Books”: Isaiah Bayse, a graduate of MSSU’s teacher education program and a self-taught illustrator and author.

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

“Overview of the Neosho Arts Council”: Janet Penn, a board member on the Neosho Arts Council.

“MSSU’s Arts Management and Leadership Certificate”: Erick Wolfe, chair of the Theatre Department.

“Regional Graduate Studies Opportunities”: Donna Smith Jones, director of recruitment and outreach at the University of Arkansas School of Art.

At the conclusion of the event, design students at Missouri Southern will have the opportunity to participate in a breakout portfolio review led by Chloe McMain, director of creative services and branding/interim director of University Relations & Marketing at MSSU.

The symposium is a joint effort between the Department of Art and Design, and the Missouri Small Business Development Center at MSSU. For those who are unable to attend in person, it will be streamed live via Zoom. To register for the free streaming event, visit www.mssutraining.com and click on “Services” and then “Calendar of Events.”