Let’s Talk Creative Business – Programme Open Call (Deadline: 9 Feb)

This Creative industries programme from Dublin City LEO in collaboration with VAI, (built on the success of the 2024 and 2025 programmes) will include 5 Workshops and business mentoring for creative businesses to grow local and international business. (3 onsite at VAI, Curved Street Temple Bar and 2 via Zoom).

Objectives:

• To prepare and empower  Dublin City LEO clients in the Creative Sector to explore new opportunities and ways to grow their business.
• Build confidence and competence in key fundamentals such as digitalisation, marketing and finance.
• To highlight the benefits of networking and group learning.

The programme will be delivered by industry expert, Emer Ferran. There will be individual mentoring sessions on-site to focus on the key fundamentals, delivered by experts in the relevant fields.

Special Event Opportunity :  Thursday 5th March. Showcasing your work. Exhibit your work as part of the Local Enterprise Week at a Creative Event in VAI.

Programme Overview

Workshop 1: Tuesday 17 February (onsite at VAI)
Recognised as talented, how do I organise my work and my practice to grow and be sustainable? Pricing my work, running my studio effectively, planning, tax returns, contracts, sales.

Workshop 2: Tuesday 24 February (onsite at VAI)
Thinking my Brand and Online Presence – Social Media and selling my work.

Thursday 5th March: An exhibition of participant’s work and creative practice networking event as part of Enterprise week.   

Workshop 3: Tuesday 10 March (online via ZOOM)
Marketing my work – Digital and physical. Continual research and building a plan.

Workshop 4: Tuesday 24 March: (online via ZOOM)
Planning for success – Conquering isolation, accessing funding, effective applications, bursaries – residencies, sustainable careers and ethical practices, public art enquiries, and building networks.

Workshop 5: Tuesday 31 March (onsite at VAI)
Selling my work on the national and international stage – gallery owners, concept stores, art and design retail, public commissions, preparing a brief. Operating as an individual practice in a large system, new guidelines working with curators. How to get my work shown? How do I develop an international practice?

Dates: 17th Feb –  31st March – 10am- 4pm 
Places: Open to those  located Dublin 1-13, 17 or 20 only 

Participant selection criteria:

• Open to those located Dublin 1-13, 17 or 20 only.
• In practice for one or more years post qualification in a recognised creative discipline
• Participated in a group or solo show in the past year
• Able to submit a two year directional plan including potential exhibitions and collaborations. 

How to RegisterTo register interest, visit the Dublin City LEO page here

This must also be followed up by sending an accompanying 200 words on objectives for your business and 3 high resolution images of your work to Emer: services@visualartists.ie

Closing date for expressions of interest and supporting materials is Monday 9th February at 5pm.If selected the Administration/participation Fee is €60 euros which covers all, mentoring and training course materials – payable to Dublin City LEO.