City introduces Artist Career Training Program

The city of Austin wants its artists to learn how to make a living doing what they love. That’s the focus of a new six-week training program put on by the Economic Development Department. The press release states that “(l)ocal arts professionals and subject matter experts” will lead the Artist Career Training Program, along with city staff, and promises that graduates will gain “a better understanding of City resources, business canvas, goal setting, budgeting, tax law, protecting their intellectual property, marketing best practices, project proposal outline and a professional peer network.” In addition, the whole thing caps off with a “Proposal Pitch Competition with an opportunity for cash awards.” The program will run on Tuesday evenings, 6:30-9:30 p.m., from Mar. 27 to May 1, and the 24-member cohort will be selected through a “competitive application process … reviewed by a panel of community arts leaders and artists representing a range of artistic disciplines.” It is free to apply; registration in the program is $150. The department is holding information sessions on Dec. 7 at 1 p.m. and Dec. 12 at 2 p.m. at the Entrepreneur Center of Austin and on Jan. 10 at 1 p.m. at the Museum of Human Achievement.