MAKING AN IMPACT WITH PUBLIC ART: RALEIGH COHORT
Are you wondering about taking your artwork out of the gallery and into the public sphere?
Raleigh is growing and stepping onto a national stage for foodies, sport fans and, more and more, the arts. As the attention of both locals and the tourist market is captured by large-scale, public art there is a growing need to develop the next generation of local artists who can successfully create these works.
Long-lasting art careers require professional support and development that extends beyond the selection of materials. If you are seeking to move your work from the personal scale to the public scale, you need training in the business and planning skills necessary to work with civic groups, architects and municipal leaders in order to bring your work to our public spaces.
The Making An Impact with Public Art - Raleigh course will help you learn more about bringing your work to a bigger audience. Class dates are Oct 7, 14, 21, 28, Nov 11, 18, Mondays 6-8pm. Participants are encouraged to set aside an additional 1-3 hours per week for project research, personal professional support material preparation and presentations.
This course is for artists in ALL mediums, but there will be a focus on visual arts.
What You'll Learn
How to identify which art calls are right for you.
How to develop your professional support materials (CV, slides, image list, references, letter of interest).
What due diligence is and how it affects you as an artist (site visits, phone conferences, email inquiries, budgeting, accessibility studies and more) via in-class case studies and visiting artists
Budgeting, cost evaluations and financial aspects via case studies
Behind-the-scenes insights from public arts professionals (artists, architects, engineers, arts administrators, vendors)
'What Not To Do’: business school-style case studies of successful and unsuccessful projects
You will work on and complete a real, live public art RFQ with the support and assistance of the instructors! Many participants choose to submit their project to the call and past participants have successfully been chosen as lead and team artists on submitted calls. Participant outcomes will vary, but we encourage participants to submit.
This full 6-week course will be delivered live in a virtual classroom and will include interactive elements and in-person (optional) meet-ups. Participants will also receive one-on-one mentoring and peer-to-peer connections.
To get the most out of this class, participants are encouraged to set aside 1-3 hours per week (outside of class time) to work on their art calls and other class activities.
The class will also include optional in-person field trips and site visits.
This series is funded by the City of Raleigh’s Impact Partner Grant program. Course will be free for accepted applicants. All applicants will be rated based on career readiness and ability to participate in the program. Priority will be given to artists that live or work in Raleigh, but all artists are invited to apply.
About your instructors:
Matt McConnell is a sculptor and designer with degrees in Architecture and Industrial Design from NC State University. He founded McConnell Studios in 2001 and with a team of builders has completed over 500 projects including sculpture, lighting, architectural installations, furniture, and more, including work nationally and internationally in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
As a sculptor and designer, Matt has always been fascinated by capturing and expressing the energy of time, motion, and invisible forces like wind, gravity, and light. He uses repetition and transformation to create a rhythm and flow in elemental materials that intertwine to create truly three dimensional forms. A passion for implying that motion in still form and impacting space without overtaking it is the focus of much of his work.
Commissioned work includes residential, commercial, and public artwork and functional elements, often created in dialogue with clients to allow a shared experience in the creation of the pieces.
Learn more about Matt’s work here.
Cynthia Deis is a Raleigh-based artist, writer and arts educator with experience in a variety of mediums. Her background as a production jewelry designer and retail store owner provides her with an artist’s understanding of business and entrepreneurial issues. Certified in REAL Entrepreneurship and REAL Craft courses, she also teaches and consults on pricing, studio layout, and email marketing with artists, craftspeople and small arts organizations.
With her business and mentoring background, Cynthia is the Education Director of Triangle ArtWorks, where she works to develop and implement programming and events focused on artists and arts organizations as sustainable economic factors in their communities.
Learn more about Cynthia’s work here.