Creative Economies Workshop: Networking for Artists

“What do you do?” – Networking Strategies for Artists

As artists, we are often asked to talk about our artwork and these conversations can often have direct professional consequences. Whether it be a future collaborator, curator, a visiting artist, or someone who can directly support your work, there are crippling moments where you will have to not only introduce yourself, but discuss your work. These situations can lead to the most wonderful of collaborations, friendships, and often change our career trajectories. But, it can someimtnes be more difficult than creating the work itself. How many times has someone asked you “What do you do?” and you left the conversation feeling lackluster? More people struggle with these issues than you can imagine. It’s how to thrive in those situations with a Strategical Social Confidence, and in this interactive workshop we will both share and practice some of the tools we’ve gathered along the way.

Learning Outcomes:

• How to discuss your work.
• What to say when you meet someone you admire.
• How to get to the thing (your ask, project, etc)
• Discovering and maintaining cponnections
• Dismantling ‘Networking’

This is the third in four workshop series funded by the City of Philadelphia’s Commerce Department.

Instructors:

Victor Vieira-Branco is a vibraphonist, improviser, and blue-collar composer-performer, based in Philadelphia, with much of his life spent in São Paulo, Brazil. He currently leads a trio called Bark Culture, as well as performing and contributing to other situations often. Interested in energy, abstraction, and memory.

Maia Chao is an interdisciplinary artist who works collaboratively in performance, video, sculpture, and social practice. She is co-creator of the social practice project, Look at Art. Get Paid. Chao has shown at The Shed, Tufts University, Brown University, RISD Museum, Kellen Gallery at Parsons, Haverford College, and Cuchifritos Gallery. Chao was named a 2022-23 Pew Fellow and attended the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in 2023. In 2024, she will be artist in residence with the Times Square Art Alliance and developing a commission for the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden’s 50th Anniversary. She is a member of the Philadelphia art collective and DIY space, Vox Populi, and teaches at Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). https://www.maiachao.com/