ABOUT GROWING CREATIVE CAREERS (2020 – 2023):
WorkInCulture is working closely with the Windsor-Essex Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre and Arts Council Windsor & Region to develop and deliver a professional development training series for artists and arts workers/arts administrators in the Windsor-Essex region.
The training includes workshops, access to online resources and local experts, and facilitated peer-mentoring circles. Participants who complete the training will come away with a detailed plan of action to move their careers/businesses/organizations forward.
The training series will be delivered 4 times to four different cohorts over the course of 2021 – 2023. Each cohort will have a different focus and application process.
Growing Creative Careers: Windsor & Region
Cohort 4: Building Career Capacity
This cohort will focus on a series of topics essential for any artist or creative professional looking to build their capacity, and to create or refine an interdisciplinary strategy to support their career.
We invite Windsor-Essex-based artists of all disciplines, creative professionals, arts administrators, and arts and culture organizations to register now for these free, intensive training sessions on building career capacity, happening in downtown Windsor from April to June 2023.
Please note: This cohort will be delivered primarily in-person at the Windsor-Essex Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre, with one virtual session held via Zoom. Participants will have access to online resources to support learning throughout the program.
The core topics that will be covered are:
- Marketing: Learn essential marketing skills to support the creative work you produce, present, promote or sell.
- Project Management: Learn how to take your project from idea to implementation with project management foundations and practices.
- Data Collection and Analysis: Learn about key data points to collect and interpret to optimize your process, understand your impact, and engage with your audience.
- Creative Business Launch: Learn the foundational business skills that will help you start a creative business or administer your creative practice or programming.
We will take an inter-disciplinary, collaborative approach to all topics. Special attention will be paid throughout the training series to collaboration and partnerships. Learning topics are based on priorities from a 2023 professional needs and sector profile assessment that explored the range, contributions and career training needs of Windsor's creative community.
This cohort is geared towards participants who wish to develop or expand their creative career and bring it to the next phase. Participants will work closely together throughout the program to learn from one another's experiences and will come away from the cohort with a strengthened network of creative contacts in Windsor-Essex.
Program Details and Key Dates:
This is a free program. There is no cost to register or to participate in Growing Creative Careers training sessions.
SESSIONS:
Completed:
- 1. Thursday, April 20, 2023, 6–8 pm (VIRTUAL): An Introduction to Building Your Career Capacity in the Arts
- 2. Saturday, April 29, 2023, 10 am–4 pm (IN-PERSON): Marketing for Creatives and Arts Professionals
- 3. Saturday, May 13, 2023, 10 am–4 pm (IN-PERSON): Project Management for Creatives and Arts Professionals
- 4. Saturday, May 27, 2023, 10 am–4 pm (IN-PERSON): Data Collection and Analysis for the Arts
Registration Open – Limited Spaces Still Available!
- 5. Saturday, June 10, 2023, 10 am–4 pm (IN-PERSON): Creative Business Launch
REGISTER HERE.
About Registration:
- Participants can sign up for all sessions or for as many as they are available to attend, or interested in! Remaining spaces are limited; please sign up in advance to secure your place.
- Once registered, participants will be sent reminders, venue details and any additional details for each session by email prior to each session date.
- Participants who attend and engage in a minimum number of sessions will receive a completion certification. Please consult the FAQs for more information.
Eligibility:
- In order to sign up for the sessions, participants must complete a registration process and detail their experience pursuing a career in the arts.
- Participants must be based in the Windsor-Essex region.
Program FAQ: Read more about what this cohort will focus on, who is eligible to participate, and how the training will be delivered.
Program Overview and Session Schedule: Note: some details are still TBC and/or may be adjusted accordingly to who applies.
Growing Creative Careers Curriculum Consultant and Facilitator: Nadja Pelkey
Nadja is a Windsor-based artist, educator and cultural worker. She has a history of working with the creative community in Windsor, including through previous experience as interim-ED with the Arts Council Windsor and Region. She is currently Associate Curator, Projects & Partnerships with Art Windsor-Essex and a sessional instructor with University of Windsor. She has designed and delivered a range of relevant training in line with this project's objectives, and has an acute understanding and appreciation of the creative community in Windsor and how Growing Creative Careers can help support it.
For updates on Growing Creative Careers and related training activities, please sign up to receive more information.
If you have any questions about Growing Creative Careers: Windsor & Region or the professional needs and sector profile assessment, please contact Stephanie Draker, Program Manager at stephaniedraker@workinculture.ca.
COMPLETED COHORTS
Cohort 3: Planning Your Projects
September 15 to November 24, 2022
The third Growing Creative Careers cohort was focused on how to build creative projects and programs, from idea to execution, for artists and arts professionals. The training series covered how to create a project plan, structure roles and responsibilities, build a contact network, create a budget and understand funding sources and grant applications. Special attention was also paid to embedding collaboration and partnership development throughout the planning process.
For details about this training series cohort, read the FAQs and Cohort 3 Schedule.
You can also watch a recording of the information session.
WATCH INFO SESSION RECORDING
Cohort 2: Building Better Boards
January 27 to April 7, 2022
The second Growing Creative Careers cohort was aimed at supporting, growing and sustaining healthy boards of directors in Windsor & region's local arts and culture organizations. The training series covered board structures, effective recruiting, roles and responsibilities, policy and planning, and more.
For details about this training series cohort, read the FAQs and Cohort 2 Schedule.
You can also watch a recording of the information session, and read an interview with a participant from the cohort.
WATCH INFO SESSION RECORDING
READ COHORT 2 INTERVIEW
Cohort 1: Windsor & Region
April 26 to June 30, 2021
The first cohort was designed for arts professionals in the early or emerging stages of their career and covered training on articulating an arts or creative practice, CV writing, building online presence, financial management, grants and more.
For details about this training series cohort, read the FAQs and Cohort 1 Schedule.
You can also watch a recording of the information session, and watch an interview with a participant from the cohort.
WATCH INFO SESSION RECORDING
WATCH COHORT 1 INTERVIEW
Growing Creative Careers: Windsor & Region is funded by:
