The Speakers
FEATURED EXPERTS
01
How To Build Your Creative Business
Constance Victory Small is a New York City-based design entrepreneur and RISD Apparel alum. She launched the bespoke handbag line, Victoire Focx, in 2007 and boasts a distinct range of high profile clientele. From 2018-2020, she was awarded for Excellence in Leatherworks and Design by India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry; and in 2019, she launched VF x VICTOIRE FOCX, a sustainable bag series sold at Free People, Scout & Molly and MARCUS. Constance Victory holds a Masters degree in Historic Architecture from New York University, and contributes to Schon! and 1883 magazine, both of which are based in London.
How To Write Awesome Contracts
Greg Kanaan is a Connecticut-based attorney who focuses on intellectual property, business law, and contract issues for artists, filmmakers, and creative entrepreneurs. On top of providing legal services and counsel to a wide variety of creative people, Greg regularly speak at colleges, non-profit arts organizations and professional associations about how the law affects their artistic endeavors. Greg routinely presents on topics such as contract formation, negotiation, fair use, copyright and trademark, and business-related issues.
Greg is the founder of the blog “The [Legal] Artist” and contributed a monthly column to MovieMaker Magazine titled “Cinema Law.” Before earning his J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law in Boston, Greg received his BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design and was a television producer for seven years, producing documentary programming for such networks as Discovery Channel, TLC, Court TV and A&E. Greg is licensed to practice law in Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts.
02
03
The Art of Licensing
Allison Cole is an artist, educator and illustrator working out of her studio in Rhode Island. She graduated with a BFA from RISD and over the years has carefully honed her creative process and enjoys teaching both the illustrative and entrepreneurial aspects of art. Her bright and colorful work can be found on collaborations with Target, Hasbro, West Elm, Badge Bomb, Galison, Faber-Castell, Little, Brown and Company and Scholastic, to name a few. On a day-to-day basis in her studio, she focuses on a range of illustration markets such as children’s illustration, editorial, fine art and licensing.
Taxes for Artists & Creative Freelancers
Presented by Hannah Cole
Artist, Tax Accountant, & Founder Sunlight Tax
Hannah is a tax expert who specializes in working with creative people and their businesses. A long-time working artist with a high-level exhibition history, the financial challenges of freelancers and small creative businesses are both relevant and personal to Hannah. And she knows that describing tax concepts in jargon-free language is always a good thing.
You can get all the clear, relevant, creative-centric money info you need on the Sunlight podcast.
04
The Sessions
FEATURED TOPICS
How To Build Your Creative Business
January 12, 2023
Branding, Unique Value Propositions and Strategic Marketing are key terms inherent to brand ownership. Such terminology, however, is not isolated to the product/service you’re selling, but uniquely applies to you, the seller and business owner. The first service you’ll ever brand, market and sell is your acumen. This webinar will empower you to identify your personal unique value proposition and the UVP of your business. You'll learn how to strategize key marketing and branding opportunities through partnerships/associations before the business launches and as it grows - all while you build sustainable relationships with buyers and clientele.
How To Write Awesome Contracts
January 19, 2023
Contracts are probably the least fun part of running a business but they’re also the most important. In this presentation, you’ll get a crash course in everything you need to know about contract law, including why having written agreements is critical for every transaction, what makes a contract legally valid versus what makes it unenforceable, when it’s okay to stop performing on a contract, and what information needs to be contained in every contract you use. Most importantly, you’ll learn some valuable tricks of the trade that you can implement when writing your own contracts
The Art of Licensing
January 26, 2023
Have you ever wanted to know more about what art licensing and surface design actually is? This presentation looks to answer all of your questions, covering all aspects of art licensing, from building your own collections to understanding contract terms and definitions to figuring out where you fit in the marketplace. Numerous real-world examples are shared, as well as tips for promoting your work, contacting companies, and growing your audience.
Taxes For Artists and Creative Freelancers
February 2, 2023
What can I deduct? Do I bring receipts to my accountant? How do I deduct my home studio? Why do freelancers have to pay taxes quarterly, and how do I do that? Hannah Cole is a tax expert who specializes in working with creative businesses and artists. A long-time working artist with a high-level exhibition history, and a tax and money columnist for the art blog Hyperallergic, the financial challenges of freelancers and creative businesses are both relevant and personal to Hannah. She will discuss the basic tax equation, self employment tax and the estimated quarterly tax system, audit concerns for the creative person, and other tax issues relevant to artists, designers and makers.
Resources
BUILDING A BUSINESS