The Turning Point Workshop

On March , 2010, I had the privelege of delivering a business building workshop to a group of 24 artists, craftspeople and small business owners in Cornwallis. We had a lot of ground to cover in just one day; product pricing, production efficiencies, branding and marketing on the Internet. So I talked fast! A better group of delegates could not be imagined. We had a great day where there was as much to be learned from the exchange among the audience as from the formal presentation.
One of the delegates was Flora Doehler who I regard as the queen of blogging in Nova Scotia.

Her blog is up to about 77,000 readers. Check it out and you’ll see why. http://floramary.wordpress.com  She also created the new site for the Bear River Board of Trade and in it she wrote an article about the workshop.   http://bearriver.ca/2010/03/06/enhancing-your-business-skills-workshop/
On the way home from Cornwallis we stopped in to see Larry Knox’s new Green Willow Studio in Bear River. http://greenwillowstudio.wordpress.com  He’s doing some amazing new metalwork!  A master at his craft. 

 

Next stop was Don Rice’s studio in his new house in Bear River. Don is a potter’s potter. They don’t get much better!

The following day Rob and I headed to Ontario in muh trusty truck with our dog Bronx in the back seat. The mission was to be with my stepfather whose health was declining. En route we made a few stops. First to see Judy Blake at her home and studio just outside of Fredericton. Check out her inviting sign and fabulous work.

The next stop was the Village of Gagetown, home to Maja Padrov, another incredible and inventive potter.

Bronx was a great curiosity for her pet cat…..

and dog.

We stayed the night in a lovely village just before Quebec City called St. Jean de Port Jolie – clearly an artists community with wood sculptures everywhere and some charming architecture. Great room rates too if you’re ever driving through.

We made it to Millgrove, Ontario, my stepfather’s home, on Saturday night where my son Reyn was holding vigil.  Osvald rallied on Sunday but declined on Monday. Sadly he died on Tuesday afternoon, March 9 but happily he was 102, still in his own home and in his own bed. Here’s a picture of Osvald at age 100.

The funeral was a lovely affair with lots of friends and neighbours. The best part was having my daughter Dana come home from the U of Edinburgh where she is presently studying. Reyn is still nearby to here finishing his last year at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo. It was great to all be together again.

I am presently in my stepfather’s home in Millgrove taking care of all the things that need to be dealt with after his passing. The house is a time warp from the early 1960 complete with a rotary phone. But I managed to get an Internet hook up so I am still connected to everyone. I wrote a story about him on my Facebook page for anyone who is interested in knowing more about the life of an amazing centenarian.
To all the Turning Point delegates, please don’t hesitate to contact me if you would like a copy of my business plan guide and if you need to know more about the funding programs I mentioned. It was great to meet so many new faces and to reconnect with familiar ones. Thanks again for making it a great day. And thanks to our sponsors who made it happen and provided us with a tasty lunch; The Centre for Women in Business – Kathleen D’Entremont Mooney, The Annapolis Digby Economic Development Agency – Joy O’Neill and the CBDC. Here you all are! 

 Adios and hope to see you all again soon!

The Turning Point

Dear Friends

I am leading a workshop on arts and business in Cornwallis on March 4, 2010. For more info go to Workshops at the top of this page.

PROGRESS REPORT ON ENTERPRISE ALLIANCE

Hello Friends

I’m long overdue in writing this progress report on the Arts Enterprise Alliance concept. I promised I would keep you updated so here goes.

Last December I had a luncheon meeting with Susan Hanrahan, Executive Director of the NSDCC and Karen Williams from the Industry Growth Division of the NS Dept. of Tourism and Culture. I preceded the meeting by sending them my blog. The arts enterprise initiative was not new news to them as I had floated the concept back in 2006 with a position paper and a proposal. Except this time I simplified it considerably, which may hint at why the last proposal got stalled in the NSDCC boardroom. Susan and Karen brought me up to speed on the newly formed Craft Alliance, the brainchild of Bernie Burton who heads up the ACTS (Atlantic Crafts Trade Show). Here’s a brief blurb from their website:

Over the past 32 years, the four Atlantic provincial governments have been working together to assist the craft industry in Atlantic Canada. The Atlantic Craft Trade Show (ACTS) has been the main trade activity for this purpose. Over the past 3 years the government partners involved in producing ACTS have been working on a new organizational model to more effectively involve and engage the craft industry in our region.

As a result, a new trade association has been formed to further develop the Atlantic Craft Trade Show and begin the process of government and industry partners working together on a pan-Atlantic basis for the benefit of all craft related organizations in Atlantic Canada.

For more information see http://www.craftalliance.ca

We had to wait for Christmas to pass before I could meet with Bernie which I did in early January. He’s busy preparing for the ACTS Show that takes place February 6, 7 and 8 but was good enough to take time to talk to me. After tossing around some possibilities we agreed that I would submit a proposal that he will present to his Board when they meet again in March. In the meantime I will explore other structures and possibilities. Then last week I had the pleasure of hosting Peter Guildford who is also with N.S. Tourism and Culture. He was in town to meet with GAPACC, our regional arts council. Peter was a wealth of information and cited some other models to consider – an independent not for profit society or even a cooperative and he gave me some good examples which I will explore.  As a not for profit entity we can access public and private funding which is why this is the best avenue to pursue.

Naturally the main challenge will be funding and with such scant funds designated for the cultural sector we have to revise our approach so as not to compromise existing fuding. Given that crafts businesses in particular straddle both categories of cultural and consumer products, we have a case to present to the powers that be in Nova Scotia Economic Development. I have always maintained that our government would be far better off supporting the growth of several hundred small creative businesses than issuing large chunks of money as incentives to call centres and outside interests that often pull out once the funding dries up. Also if one business exits it doesn’t cripple the entire region. Our strength, as a sector, is sustainable decentralized small businesses with great potential for creating employment throughout Nova Scotia and increasing our GDP through exporting.

So for now I am continuing the journey to determine the best way to proceed with the Arts Enterprise Alliance (working title). Any suggestions, comments, critiques, letters of support – all are welcome.

In the meantime if you would like to activate aspects of your business such as a business plan, professional development, export prospecting and project funding here are some links to programs that could be of interest to you.

Just some eye candy to accompany my message

1. The Nova Scotia Department of Tourism, Culture & Heritage, Culture Division provides funding for a series of programs and activities.  http://www.gov.ns.ca/tch/culture_funding.asp
2. The Nova Scotia Business Development ProgramThe Nova Scotia Business Development Program will help small business get started and existing businesses expand. This program will encourage business start-ups and provide help through qualified consultants for business operators to review and assess their practices and develop new approaches to ensure success. https://www.gov.ns.ca/econ/nsbdp/
3. Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Business Development Program This ACOA program is designed to help you set up, expand or modernize your business. Focusing on small- and medium-sized enterprises, the program offers access to capital in the form of interest-free, unsecured, repayable contributions. http://www.acoa-apeca.gc.ca/English/ImLookingFor/ProgramInformation/Pages/ProgramDetails.aspx?ProgramID=2
4. The Women in Business Initiative provides financial support to non-profit business organizations in Atlantic Canada who in turn provide women business owners with the resources they need to improve their growth and competitiveness. These resources include financing, training and advice to help strengthen their management capabilities and business skills, to improve their access to capital and business support services, to encourage them to explore international markets and to develop innovative ways to do business. http://www.acoa-apeca.gc.ca/English/publications/FactSheetsAndBrochures/Pages/WBINS.aspx
5. Nova Scotia Business Inc. Export Prospector ProgramThe export prospector program offers you the unique opportunity to participate in a trade mission designed specifically for your schedule, your market interests and your products or services. You choose the destination and dates of travel. http://www.novascotiabusiness.com/en/home/Grow/exportandtrade/exportprospectorprogram.aspx

 I’d be happy to help navigate you through some of these programs. Call or email anytime or leave a comment at the base of my blog. More to come soon I hope.

IMAGINE A BETTER BUSINESS…..

IMAGINE…. An arts business centre dedicated to artists across the board accessible by everyone in every region. You can call anytime with a question about pricing your product on consignment or your HST return. OR you can go the full distance and get someone who really understands your business to help you with your business plan.

Then on a regular basis, say monthly, a new workshop will be offered in your region that might address topics such as Internet Marketing or new accounting and bookkeeping systems for artists. If you miss it because of another commitment – no worry – because you can catch it at another location or on its next cycle. You can book an experienced consultant who understands your business to visit you in your studio for a few hours or maybe even the full day to discuss your business and how you can move it forward.

What will this cost? Because you’re such an important contributor to the economic growth of the region we will ensure that the costs are nominal. Let’s say you become a member of the Arts Enterprise Alliance at an annual fee of $75. Your membership places you on to an online collaborative community with other artists where you can discuss mutual needs and experiences i.e. should I participate in the New York International Gift Show? OR What is the best way to insure my shipments to the USA. Virtual networking is enhanced with face to face networking opportunities quarterly or monthly as need dictates. There you can mingle with other producers who share your interests and concerns.

There would be small fees for services and events. For example, business counseling might cost you $5.00 an hour. Or maybe if that’s still prohibitive we can design a plan that allows you to contribute your work – at full retail value – in exchange for the professional fee. Maybe these creations can be collected and auctioned off at an event to the government agencies that support the Alliance to ensure that our artists are seen and appreciated in those office environments. In 1996 I started the NSCAD Student Art Store. That year our best customer was The Greater Halifax Partnership that purchased $10,000 of student art work that graces their Purdy’s Wharf offices to this day, creating a fabulous environment for workers and visitors alike while it promotes the art college.

Another piece of the Alliance I would love to see is an annual conference for Arts and Business that features the best guest speakers who can present on current topics of interest to our members such as state of the art technology and new trends on the Internet for artists. How about if the conference concludes with a gala dinner and art auction that features the best from the Alliance?

Through the Alliance we are connected with other important organizations for small and arts based businesses. I’m thinking of the Cultural Human Resources Council in Ottawa, the Canadian Federation for Small Business, the ACOA Women in Business Initiative, the Network for Entrepreneurs with Disabilities, local Chambers of Commerce, regional arts councils and of course the Cultural Federations; NSDCC, VANS etc. We would also be linked to federal and provincial trade initiatives and programs designed to increase exports.

Together we could lobby for things such as broadband connections for remote communities (where artists congregate) and incentives for artists in urban and rural development/renewal projects. We can all benefit by creating greater incentives for tourists and visitors from around the province. When artists band together they can do a lot to attract visitors who contribute to the local coffers. Our municipalities need to get on the bandwagon of this reality.

Together we can explore many offbeat marketing opportunities such as renting art to realtors. I met a woman/realtor at a workshop I delivered recently on “How Art Informs Business” who told us that she regularly rented art to place on the walls of the homes she was selling to enhance their appeal.

We can band together on projects in the publishing industry that can lead to more sales and profits for our arts based businesses – books, calendars, boxed  greeting cards are obvious examples but when creative minds come together crazy wonderful ideas are formed.

Here’s a thought. What if a group of producers come together to design a full line of products under a singular theme “the sea” for example. With that kind of oomph we can attract some of the top sales agencies to carry the line and sell it into major North American markets.

What about some of the brilliant and retired artists/producers who might be thrilled to share their expertise and mentor someone like you? Through the Alliance we create the critical mass required to make some of these things feasible. And speaking of critical mass, we could have some clout with the powers that be. With a collective voice we can impact political decisions and government based initiatives. Artists have long been sidelined as a curiosity – an entertainment not to be taken seriously – despite all of the economic impact studies that prove our economic worth. Time to end all of that.

Consider the new talent that is coming out of NSCAD and the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design and the NSCC system. The Alliance can take these young artists under its wing providing them with an incentive to stay in Atlantic Canada to continue our rich cultural traditions. That’s our succession plan! This generation will also do a lot to connect us to the leading edge of social networking and marketing that’s becoming essential to our businesses.

In the past we’ve been spoken to – now we are spoken with and more so we’re part of a dialogue. As such we have new opportunities to engage and wiki our knowledge and experiences. Who knows better for example, the proponents of the trade mission you are being sold, or the artists that went on it previously?

Individually we can get ahead but collectively we can really prosper!

I plan to move this wish list forward into a formal funding proposal to the powers that be: the Nova Scotia government, ACOA and potential private sponsors. It would be great to get your input so that we can make the Arts Enterprise Alliance a reality in the very near future.

Welcome to the Atlantic Arts Enterprise Alliance

As many of you know, I have been active in the business and arts arena in Atlantic Canada for the past fifteen years. In that time I have initiated business courses for artists at NSCAD and StFX universities, delivered hundreds of workshops throughout the Maritimes, visited your studios, worked with you on trade missions, written dozens of business plans and way back in the late 90’s some of you acquired apprentices through the Heritage Skills Apprenticeship program that I initiated at StFX during my tenure there as director of the Enterprise Centre. Way back then and still today, I am an evangelist promoting the importance of business skills for artists in all fields. I’m sure we share a frustration with the lack of consistency in programming, funding and availability of resources to help you advance in your arts based businesses. To date you have had to search and navigate your way through a plethora of programs that can be helpful but are often led by individuals who aren’t trained or qualified to meet your needs. A whopping 53% who were surveyed agreed with this statement. It’s true that artists think differently and often are not familiar with conventional business vernacular of practices and their training has left them with little business foundation on which to build business skills. But when presented in terms that we understand, the whole notion of business is de-mystified and accessible. My lack of small business skills (I knew the corporate world) led me to a colossal business failure back in the mid 80’s – which I managed to self correct – but not before losing my life savings. It was this experience that has turned me into the evangelist I have become.

Today many of your needs are still unmet. We have wildly talented artists in Atlantic Canada but a large number are still living under the poverty line – this, despite the fact that they work around the clock and manage to sell most of what they make. And we all know some of the casualties – extraordinary artists who have just given up and gone into unrelated jobs they despise, or they have just left the region for greener pastures elsewhere – like Alberta. I won’t say that an education in business skills will cure all, but it sure will help create a more level playing field for artists in the business world.

Many of you, 35 out of 90 to be exact or 39%, took the time to complete the survey that I initiated back in early November. A big thanks to all of you! I have tallied the results and now here they are for your viewing pleasure. But it doesn’t all stop here. Stay tuned for my next blog where I will tell you about my dream plan which I want all of you to be part of should you want to be. In the meantime, happy reading with the survey results.

HOW CAN WE HELP YOU?

QUESTIONNAIRE TO SUPPORT A PROPOSAL FOR FUNDING FOR

ATLANTIC  ARTS ENTERPRISE ALLIANCE

_______________________________________________

Respondents:

A total of 90 surveys were sent out commencing November 7, 2009. A total of 34 artists (37%) completed the survey. I would like to thank all of those listed below for their valuable input.

1. Marylin Rand
2. Alan Syliboy
3. Colin Cameron
4. Deborah Nicholson
5. Donna Hiebert
6. Ellen Agger
7. Janet Doble
8. Jay LeBlanc
9. Joan Bruneau
10. Joanne Schmidt
11. Julie Balish
12. Justine Kerr
13. Kate Church
14. Margot Metcalfe
15. Dawn McNutt
16. Susan Malmstrom
17. Tim Wilson
18. Tim Worthington
19. Ann Rogal
20. Christie Chaplin Saunders
21. Damien Lidgard
22. Deb Kuzyk
23. Dorothee Rosen
24. Mindy Gallant Zwicker
25. Pam Frail
26. Rob Buckland Nicks
27. Larry Goldstein/Laurie Swim
28. Carol Kennedy
29. Flora Doehler
30. Pia Skaarer Nielsen
31. Valerie Hearder
32. Michique: Michelle Newcombe and Monique Delisle
33. Ann Camozzi
34. Pamela Swainson
35. Marion Thompson

Type of Business/Practice:

56% of the respondents work in fine craft, 38% are visual artists and 6% are in the “other” category. It breaks out as follows”

Fine Craft

Textiles…………31%

Glass…………….11%

Jewellery……….21%

Pottery………….32%

Food………………. 3%

Visual Art

Painters………..34%

Mixed Media…15%

Photography….31%

Sculpture………23%

Other

Film……………..3%

Publishing…….3%

Date business/practice was established:

Of the 25 responses we have established the following:

1975 – 1990…………………………….36%

1991 -  2000……………………………32%

2000 – 2009…………………………….32%

Annual Revenues

Of the 14 who responded the results are as follows:

Under $5000…………………………21%

$10,000 – 15,000………………..14%

$15,000 – 20,000………………..29%

$21,000 – 50,000…………………7%

$51,000 – 100,000……………..21%

Over $100,000……………………..7%

Do you want to expand your business/practice?

90% – Yes    10% – No

____________________________________________________________

What services do you need to help you expand?

Access to capital – 38%

Business planning – 56%

Product pricing: ___Understanding profit margins – 38%

___Calculating labour costs – 15%

___Calculating materials costs – 15%

___Preparing price lists – 26%

___Wholesale vs. retail pricing – 24%

Financial management:

____Reading and preparing financial statements – 35%

____Creating cash flow statements – 24%

____Budgeting – 32%

____Accounting – 35%

____Taxation: i.e. HST, tax returns – 24%

Marketing:

____Internet promotions – 50%

____Trade shows – 24%

____Development of marketing materials – 38%

____Public relations – 18%

____Developing new markets – 56%

____Advertising and promotion – 38%

Sales management:

____Finding sales agents/showrooms – 38%

____Establishing terms of sale i.e.consignment,                                                    payment terms, shipping costs etc. – 24%

____Contracts and agreements – 41%

Production Efficiencies:

____Controlling labour costs – 15%

____Sub-contracting – 15%

____Hiring staff – 12%

____Managing high volume orders – 18%

Product Development:

____Creating a line – 26%

____Expanding product offering i.e. Visual art                                                         and reproductions – 21%

Exporting:

____Trade Missions – 32%

____Border crossing – 35%

____Shipping – 29%

____Cash flow for large orders – 26%

____Assessing markets – 35%

Retailing:

_____Setting up a retail operation – 15%

_____Business taxes – 15%

_____Merchandising and display – 12%

_____Retail trade shows – 9%

Comments:

• To know these things is pertinent to any business at an affordable price. Knowledge is power.
• Unfruitful trade missions to Boston, Scotland
• Would like to have an agent arrange for new galleries and locations for sales.

___________________________________________________________

Have you ever received business assistance from a government funded agency?  71% Yes  26% No

If yes which agency (agencies)?

33% – ACOA

25%- Community Business Development Corp. CBDC

58% – NS Tourism, Heritage and Culture

13% – NS Business Inc.

21% – Canada Council

17% – Other: Please describe:

Ont. Arts Council, ECBC, Nfd. Culture

Do you agree or disagree with the following statements. Leave blank if you have no comment:

Agree  Disagree

I have difficulty locating services that can help my business.  50%      21%

Business counselors don’t understand my type of business.    53%      9%

I am overwhelmed when I research government programs.    56%      9%

I am intimidated by export trade missions.                                     47%      9%

Government assistance programs available

are not pertinent to my arts based business                                    44%      9%

Based on the premise that free services are often not valued and that funders would want to see some level of support from the constituents, we are proposing that the Arts Enterprise Alliance is a member based organization with an annual fee of $25 – $50. Members will have access to business counseling services at a rate of $5.00 per hour. The organization would be subsidized through government economic development channels. The Alliance would set up an online presence that consists of a library of reference materials and a blog function enabling members to dialogue with each other.  In addition, regular business building workshops would be held around the province and regular email notices would be sent to members apprising them of current opportunities for business expansion i.e. trade missions, shows and exhibits etc. Do you agree with this model?

82% – Yes        0 – No   Not Sure or unanswered – 18%

Comments:

• Sounds fabulous!  Sign me up!

• I THINK ONLINE COMMUNICATION REALLY NEEDS TO BE THOUGHT OUT SO THAT A NETWORK CAN REALLY BEGIN TO DEVELOP

• We keep finding that we seem to be “outside the box” with our work; not allowed to sell in many venues because we’re not the artisans, yet the work is handcrafted by skilled artisans in other countries. Always looking for new ways to find markets. Not successful on the internet yet, although we put tons of time into that.

• I learn what I need as I go along….The idea of a councilor when I require help, at a price I can afford, is much to my liking. I hope to be using some of the services proposed. I really cannot be more specific at this point – I am hopefully at an expansion phase, but need to breath before deciding in which direction-It is already helpful to have the model proposed NO MORE REGULAR E-MAILS PLEASE – BETTER A WEB SITE TO CHECK INTO. THANKS, AND ALL THE BEST IN YOUR ENDEAVOUR.

• It sounds like a great service. Could it become a branch of the NSCCD or NSDCC so the NSDCC membership would include the service?

• I believe that everyone needs assistance at some point in the business.  An extra set of eyes looking at financials, or marketing, or helping to access programs that are out there. Often we are too busy doing our own craft to look and see what else is out there.

• Great!

• For me, business counseling would work best if I were dealing with a person rather than a website

• I am benefitting now from investment of time, money and energy for the past 30 years, I feel.

• I am well acquainted with existing online services and professional associations dedicated to serving digital media producers.  But online advice can only go so far. The part of this AEA business model that is most interesting to me is the personal and specific business counseling service, but even that would only make sense if the counselor is completely up to speed on current developments in the staggeringly fast-changing world of digital content delivery, e.g. producing movies for iPhone, where physical product — a DVD — is rapidly being replaced by “vapour,” i.e. intangible, ware.

• Hope the project goes well for you.

• This seems like a good model, though I think I might find the expense even at $5/hr difficult to find. I can see that it would most likely be money well spent, though I think that there is a problem with being able to define well enough what the issue is, to be able to bring it to a business counselor effectively. I really like the concept of enabling members to connect through a blog or forum function.

• Is the proposal for a regional or provincial organization?  Is this related to the recent formation of the Craft Aliance organization?

• My business needs to grow up.  It’s as if I had a beautiful painting but no hammer or nail to hang it up with! This is a fantastic idea!! I would definitely take advantage of such a thing, especially the $5/hr business counseling services! The concerns mentioned above on this page are EXACTLY what I need help with. I am often so busy making work that I don’t have time to even research where to get help … if I had ONE PLACE to go to, which is specific to my location and my type of business (which is unlike the majority of small businesses out there), it would be wonderful. It is almost impossible to find accounting software which works for artists, especially on a Mac-based platform, which is what most artists use!! And it’s even more impossible to find a book keeper who can deal with it. I have been trying to work this out for years now, and am still struggling.

• I would use this service if it were available.

• VANS , NSDCC, CWB, have all been very helpful over the years. Government is accessible if I ask. A specific councilling service for business finance and marketing would be very useful. Local online or community  business groups to encourage and be accountable to would be very positive reinforcements.

• I need to dialogue with  a professional from the specific area of Business and Artistic Endeavors. How as a cohesive group we might negotiate special arrangements ,say for example, shipping and insurance or perhaps Printing

• A workshop about government funding would be great. Although this has been done in the past by VANS, the workshops themselves are not online and the information is not diseminated as effectively as it could be. I’d like to see online workshops or podcasts of workshops that we artists in the nether-regions could access.

• I think this is a useful, fantastic idea that is not only much needed, but can help Atlantic based artists compete in the local and global markets. I would certainly support and join such a group. These services can only help artists become more effective business persons too.

• Networking with other artists can have spin off effects that are impossible to predict. Internet communities help all kinds of people to share information, expertise and to garner inspiration and support and this feature would be a wonderful way to bring the Atlantic artists closer together. Perhaps this could be a partnership with ARCAC and NSADC and NSCAD?

• I took the time to read over your attachments and it all looks very exciting and interesting.

• I’d be willing to pay membership fee on the lower side and a higher hourly counseling fee. $5 fee per hour is a token, really. I’d like advice on how to expand and grow my business. I need advice on pricing and how to position my products in the market place. I need to expand and develop my on-line sales with a strong gallery retail presence. I really like the idea of being able to access counseling at various stages of my business. I like the idea of meeting with other business on a quarterly basis to share information and contacts and leads. The Crafts community is traditionally very sharing and supportive.

• To know these things is pertinent to any business at an affordable price. Knowledge is Power. All these things are what our business needs.

• Good idea. Good luck.

• I am disabled and have been struggling because I need to create, ship, sell etc. and this adds a totally different cost to everything I do. I have not been able to access any help through disability networks. It’s easy to be overwhelmed.

• My current challenge is to expand my market both in my near geographical area and beyond. I do not currently have gallery representation but am not sure it is the route to go. I am interested in accessing “arts related” funding and support. My concern is the Internet base. Many of us still do not have access to broadband internet which makes it basically inaccessible now. Support groups where we meet face to face – may be mall 2 – 4 people? With similar goals to “check in” with. Accountability etc.

• This would be one more organization to join that in some respects duplicates the services of other groups. I do realize that it is art and craft oriented , but I have found quite a bit of help from existinggroups. That is not to say that I wouldn’t join in the future if I could seesome benefit to my business. I currently belong to 5 arts organizations.

Thank you. Your contribution is valuable for proposing a new path to support arts and business.