Arts Focus: From Art Making to Art Marketing — Skill Sharpening Workshops

This column is sponsored by Arlington Arts/Arlington Cultural Affairs, a division of Arlington Economic Development.

Arlington Arts continues to offer a range of capacity-building opportunities for Arlington artists. The final round of our Arts Enterprise Institute Spring Classes on Zoom can help you to sharpen your skills as creatives and better promote your work via social media.

Upcoming workshops include:

Hands, Paper Go!
Tuesday, May 4 and May 11, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Explore creative ways to work with paper and make fun personal storybooks by hand while learning about diverse traditions. No experience necessary and good for both budding and practicing artists.

Session 1: Fold, Cut, Punch, Glue. How did books start out, and what kinds of books did humans create? Learn about Japanese and Himalayan traditions as you fold, cut and punch papers to make creative books.

Session 2: Staple & Sew. How did different writing styles dictate the shape of books? Learn about ancient Islamic book art styles and enjoy blending them with today’s everyday materials.

Leading the above workshops is Sushmita Mazumdar, an Arlington-based artist, writer and educator. She works across stories, book arts and mixed media to explore her memories of home, heritage and migration from India. She mixes into her work present-day places, which inspire, and the community who collaborate, discuss and respond to inform her creations. Sushmita is the founder of Studio PAUSE, a community space for art and stories, and a studio arts instructor with the Smithsonian Associates.

Some supplies are needed in advance (not included with registration). See Eventbrite description for details. The final two sessions of her Artful Mind series’ are still ongoing: the origami session “Fold, Fold, Fold” (April 22) and paper workshop “Tear, Tear, Tear” (April 29).

Social Media Storytelling
Tuesday, May 18, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Social media is a form of communication that utilizes written, visual and verbal storytelling. By engaging with your audience in real-time and being an active user, you can promote your work and build your core audience. The main ingredients for a successful social media presence are consistency and authenticity.

Learn why social media is important for small organizations and individual artists with Nicole Schenkman, Communications & Outreach Manager for City Blossoms, a successful D.C.-based nonprofit that cultivates the well-being of urban communities through creative programming in kid-driven gardens. Learn how to get started with setting up your goals and a communications strategy.

Arlington Arts’ Arts Enterprise Institute Spring Classes often fill to capacity. Artists, performers and arts professionals looking to up their game are encouraged to explore the remaining sessions, continuing through May 18, 2021. (All classes are virtual.)

As this is our final round of workshops until the fall, classes are filling up quickly. Sign up now! Attendees will receive a Zoom link via email after 5 p.m. the day before the event. Certain supplies not included with your registration fee will be needed in advance. Visit our Eventbrite page for registration fees and details.