A collection of business and visual arts professionals will present a morning of expert insight into the
business side of professional art careers on Wednesday, November 12.
business side of professional art careers on Wednesday, November 12.From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) Ralph L. Gray Alumni Center, participants will have the opportunity to hear from art and business professionals from the region as they discuss opportunities and career challenges for artists. MSSU design students will also have an opportunity to participate in a separate breakout portfolio review session afterwards.
Presentations this year include:
Kent Kidwell – Owner, artist, and sculptor of Sparta Bronze Fine Art Foundry, Purcell, MO. Kidwell is a master mold maker and fine art portrait sculptor with over 30 years’ experience in a range of sculpture related endeavors, including work in the movie, historical replica, and monumental bronze industries. Recently relocated from Arizona into a former school building, Sparta Bronze Fine Art Foundry is a full-service art foundry offering mold making, laser scanning for precise adjustments, wax chasing or lost-wax processing, bronze pouring and applications of patina for works ranging from monuments, home decor, or public art pieces.
June Pham – Art Director, Saatchi and Saatchi X, Springdale, AR. Pham has over 10 years of creative experience and a lifelong passion for art and design. For the past six years, she’s been part of the Saatchi & Saatchi X team, creating thoughtful, engaging work for brands like Old Spice, Native, Olay, and Wendy’s. Before that she was a creative coordinator at Hobby Lobby and an associate art director at Stone Ward. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Graphic Design from the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith.
In addition, the event will include:
– “A Recent Graduate’s Perspective”, Jaclyn Kidd is a graphic designer with experience in brand development, visual communication, and creative strategy. She currently works at Leggett & Platt, a global manufacturing company, where she designs impactful corporate materials and supports brand initiatives. Jaclyn’s career includes roles in higher education and nonprofit marketing, as well as freelance work specializing in logo and identity design. She holds a BFA in Graphic Design from MSSU and has received multiple awards and exhibition honors for her work.
– A Networking Luncheon serving as an opportunity to meet and mingle with the presenters and representatives from local arts organizations.
– Design Portfolio Review, at the conclusion of the event as a break-out session in the Fine Arts Complex, a portfolio review opportunity for MSSU design majors will be held with June Pham.
According to Professor Frank A. Pishkur, chair of the department of Art and Design, “The symposium is a service designed to expand our professional development efforts for our majors, highlighting some of the resources, issues, and concerns that artists need to navigate as they plan to pursue and/or continue their professional practice. It also allows us to cover topics that sometimes do not fit neatly into our already established curriculum, while providing a networking opportunity for our students.”
The Nanette Philibert Business of Art Symposium is held each fall and is a joint venture by the MSSU Department of Art and Design and the Missouri Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at MSSU.
This program educates artists and other creatives how to approach the business side of building a career around their talent. The topics surveyed any given year include starting an art business/career, initially developing a presence in the art world, learning to sell their work directly to the public or finding suitable representation, connecting to exhibition and performance opportunities, marketing work, expanding networks through residencies or other opportunities, information on intellectual property and copyright laws, and more.
About MSSU's Department of Art and Design
The MSSU Department of Art and Design integrates a university liberal arts education with professional training in art. We develop artists who then become designers, teachers, and studio artists. The department serves as a creative and cultural hub for the greater Joplin metropolitan area as well as the four-states region by providing relevant educational experience through quality teaching, experiential learning, and mentorship.
About Missouri Small Business Development Center at MSSU
The Missouri Small Business Development Center at MSSU is part of a nationwide network of SBDC programs and is affiliated with and supported by The Robert W. Plaster College of Business Administration. Our local center was established in April 1987. The SBDC provides existing and start-up small businesses in Jasper, Newton, Barton, Vernon, McDonald, Cedar, Dade, and Lawrence counties with consulting and training.
The Missouri SBDC at MSSU is a University of Mo. Extension Partner. Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Programs are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact the Missouri SBDC at MSSU at sbdc@mssu.edu or 417-625-3128.
