The Connecticut Office of the Arts, in partnership with Oddfellows Playhouse , is offering three (3) professional development workshops for Connecticut Teaching Artists of all ages, art forms, regions and levels of experience. Participants in these workshops will have the opportunity in March 2020 to apply for up to $2,000 in funding to support Teaching Artist Mentorships between veteran teaching artists and artists 'newer to the field' to co-lead residencies in schools, museums or other settings.
 
WORKSHOP #1
Tuesday, February 11, 6 – 9 pm: What Will You Do? with Christopher Eaves
This workshop will explore the diversity of challenges that one may face in a classroom, or in making a life as a Teaching Artist and offer tools to manage those challenges. This may include dealing with non-supportive classroom teachers, classroom management, shifting expectations, negotiating fees, or a host of other things.
  • Location: Oddfellows Playhouse, 128 Washington Street, Middletown
  • Dinner will be served at 6 pm, workshop begins at 6:30.
  • The first 20 people to register will receive a $30 stipend for attending the workshop.

About the Presenter:
Christopher Eaves  is the artistic director of eavesdrop®, a New York City theatre and arts education collective dedicated to producing new American theatre and to the instruction of the arts and arts-integrated experiences for learners of all ages and abilities. He currently serves as the Connecticut Office of the Arts' Advisor to The HOT Approach. Previously, he served as Associate Director for Professional Development for the COA's Higher Order Thinking Schools program. Christopher is a Bureau of International Information Programs, U. S. Department of State speaker, a member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) and a member of the Monacan Indian Nation.
 
WORKSHOP #2
Thursday, February 20, 6 – 9 pm: Cultivating Equity and Inclusion: Reflections and Strategies for Teaching Artists with Trenda Loftin
Anchored in personal and professional reflection, participants will be offered tools for examining personal bias and structural inequity within artistic and teaching practices. This interactive, skill-building, workshop intends to leave participants with questions to ponder and strategies to integrate.
  • Location: Oddfellows Playhouse, 128 Washington Street, Middletown
  • Dinner will be served at 6 pm, workshop begins at 6:30.
  • The first 20 people to register will receive a $30 stipend for attending the workshop.
 
About the Presenter:
Trenda M. Loftin (she/her) is a black, queer performance artist and educator. As the co-chair of GLSEN-Massachusetts, and co-owner of Real Live Theatre (Sunderland, MA), she is committed to integrating artistic expression and the wholeness of complicated identities into all elements of her work. For additional information: www.trendaloftin.com
 
WORKSHOP #3
Tuesday, February 25, 6 – 9 pm: What Makes Mentorship Work? with Alice Quaresma
From the earliest days of humanity, trades have developed through mentors and apprentices, and this is just as true of teaching artists. Experience counts, but new energy is vital to the field as well. This workshop will explore the ingredients of a great mentorship, as well as help teaching artists identify mentorship partners and prepare an application for funding.
  • Location: Oddfellows Playhouse, 128 Washington Street, Middletown
  • Dinner will be served at 6 pm, workshop begins at 6:30.
  • The first 20 people to register will receive a $30 stipend for attending the workshop.

About the Presenter:
Alice Quaresma is a New York based photographer and visual artist whose work has been exhibited around the world. She has mentored many artists and is a passionate artist and teacher.

To register for any of the three workshops, email info@oddfellows.org .
Please include your name, email, cell phone number and art form(s).
MENTORSHIP PROPOSAL PRESENTATIONS
The following session is open to teaching artists who attended at least two (2) of the three (3) above-mentioned workshops.

Wednesday, March 18, 6 – 9 pm : Mentorship Proposal Presentations
An opportunity to present your partnership plan to an experienced panel of judges. Pairs will have 15 minutes to present their plan to the panel. Five (5) teams will be selected to receive up to $2,000 in funding for a residency or project that will serve the field while providing a learning experience for both artists.
  • Location: Oddfellows Playhouse, 128 Washington Street, Middletown
  • Dinner will be served at 6 pm, workshop begins at 6:30.
  • You must attend two (2) out of the three (3) workshops to apply for a Teaching Artist Mentorship grant.
BUSINESS WORKSHOPS FOR ARTISTS & CREATIVES

Tuesday, February 18 (part 1)
&
Wednesday, February 19, 2020 (part 2)
Foundry 66 CoWork Space , 66 Franklin Street, Norwich

This two-part introduction lays the groundwork for understanding small business financial fundamentals so you can temper decisions with a balanced eye toward the long term. Whether you are a visual artist, performer or educator hoping to make your passion pay the bills, the truth is you need the same knowledge as the owner of any small business.

What you’ll learn in this course:
  • Paths to success in the world of art
  • Why artists don't want to learn the art business (but why they should)?
  • Why is financial management important?
  • Important financial attributes of successful businesses
  • Why do some businesses succeed and some fail?
  • Small business best practices
  • Who does the work of bookkeeping, accounting and tax preparation?
  • Learning the language of accounting
  • Forms of business organization
  • A little more accounting than you might want to know
  • The chart of accounts
  • How long you have to keep various kinds of business records
  • Which entities collect taxes from a Connecticut business
  • The two most common small business mousetraps
  • Why financial reports are necessary tools for measuring success
  • The accounts that appear in an income statement
  • How an income statement is structured
  • Basic ratios that can be used to evaluate an income statement
  • The accounts used in a balance sheet
  • How a balance sheet is structured
  • Basic ratios to evaluate a balance sheet
  • About those words “cash flow”

The workshop will be led by Frederick Welk , a business advisor and director of education and communications at the Community Economic Development Fund . Mr. Welk has spent more than 30 years in specialty retailing and franchise development, operating his own company for 23 years.
Contact: Tamara Dimitri for more information about the workshop or for ADA accommodations. Email: tamara.dimitri@ct.gov Phone: (860) 500-2377
2020 ARTS WORKFORCE INITIATIVE
A Call For Host Organizations

The Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA) is seeking host organizations for its Arts Workforce Initiative (AWI). AWI is a paid apprenticeship program that provides Connecticut college students, emerging creatives and military veterans an opportunity to gain high-level professional work experience with non-profit arts and cultural organizations throughout the state.

A host organization must provide a hands-on and engaging learning opportunity that allows an individual to gain relevant skills and work experience in the arts.

Selected host organizations will be granted $3,750 per apprentice to be used to pay an hourly rate of $15. Selected participants work 25 hours a week for 10 weeks for the selected host organization. Participants receive payment from the host organization where their apprenticeship will take place.

To be eligible as an AWI host organization, an organization must submit an Intent to Apply and must be:

  • a not-for-profit Connecticut arts/cultural organization;
  • able to provide an professional opportunity within the following categories:  arts administration, arts presenting/curating, media arts, performing arts, visual arts, arts education and literary arts;
  • able to provide a hands-on and engaging learning opportunity that allows an individual to gain relevant skills and work experience;
  • in alignment with and display an understanding of COA's READI framework;
  • able to accommodate an apprentice(s) between June 1, 2020 - September 30, 2020; 
  • committed to ensuring that the apprentice(s) complete(s) the required 250 hours;
  • able to provide a dedicated work space; and
  • able to pay an individual as a contractor.  

Deadline to submit an Intent to Apply is Friday, February 28, 2020.

General Information for Host Organizations: WATCH NOW
Dos & Don'ts for Host Organizations & Supervisors: WATCH NOW
ELIZABETH L. MAHAFFEY
ARTS ADMINISTRATION FELLOWSHIP
Money for Professional Development

Are you, or do you know of, an arts administrator who needs money for professional development? If your answer is yes, take a moment to learn more about the Elizabeth L. Mahaffey Arts Administration Fellowship . Applicants may request up to $2,500. Funds may b e used for registration fees for conferences and workshops and travel, working with a career coach, and much more!

To be eligible, an individual must:

  • be a Connecticut resident;
  • be employed at a Connecticut non-profit arts organization at time of application;
  • be employed at a Connecticut non-profit arts organization at time of professional development activity; and
  • have a minimum of two (2) years and no more than ten (10) years of experience in the arts field.

Deadline to apply is Monday, March 30, 2020 before 5:30 pm.
The Connecticut Office of the Arts is the state agency charged with fostering the health of Connecticut's creative economy. Part of the state's Department of Economic and Community Development, the Office of the Arts is funded by the State of Connecticut as well as the National Endowment for the Arts .