Please let me know what you think about the proposed Duluth Art Office
The Duluth Art Office is my proposal to make Duluth artists, musicians, actors, directors, dancers, unicyclists, squirrel trainers, cartoonists, writers, publishers, gallery owners, and etc. rich(er) and happy(ier). I’m proposing to set up shop as an advocate for Duluth’s arts workers here and in the larger world, linking them with potential clients using a database of their work, connecting them with small business assistance to set up business plans and accounting systems, helping them with grants info and writing, and doing a host of other things. Read the proposal on the Duluth Art Office blog, and please comment–I need to know what you need in order to design this thing.
Also, if anyone feels that I would be duplicating what you do– that is not my intention at all! This is meant to be a liaison service, connecting artists and arts orgs, as well. Please help me with constructive criticism.
Thanks!
Ann Klefstad
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24 Comments
mevdev
about 8 years agoI laud any help you can give to artists. This seems like a great idea. I've heard recently that springboard for the arts has extended their healthcare coverage to artists in the arrowhead region. There is a need and you are definitely more than qualified.
annklefstad
about 8 years agoThanks-- I've applied to Springboard for fiscal agency in order to get nonprofit status. They're a good organization, but the health care nut is still too hard to crack--they have addressed healthcare for artists this way: "Artists' Access to Healthcare (AAH) is a partnership of Springboard for the Arts and Neighborhood Involvement Program (N.I.P) designed to help uninsured and underinsured artists access low-cost medical care. How it works: 1) Fill out the AAH application available online (website link provided), and email it, along with your artist's statement and work samples or artist resume to [email protected], or send a hard copy to Springboard for the Arts, 308 Prince Street, suite 270, Saint Paul, MN 55101, attn: AAH 2) Within 48 hours (and usually the same day we receive your application) you will be able to pick up your AAH voucher from Springboard to the N.I.P Community Clinic, located at 2431 Hennepin Ave, in Uptown. Or you can request that your voucher be mailed to you. 3) Call and schedule your appointment at the N.I.P Community Clinic. For a list of available services and costs, see below. 4) At your appointment, present the AAH voucher and receive $40 off the cost of services, lab fees and prescriptions. Costs over $40 will be the client's responsibility, however, N.I.P. can work with you on a flexible payment schedule."
The Notorious M.R.P.
about 8 years agoIt's great what you're doing for the local scene, Ann!
Calk
about 8 years agoAnn, I get so many damn requests from people looking for a publisher, wanting information about how to go about it all. Frankly, I don't have time to give such advice. So I am thrilled, more than thrilled, even, that you are contemplating such a service to artists, and I hope you succeed at this, you would make a great resource for artists in this region in the outside world. Good luck and keep us posted on how it shakes out!
wildgoose
about 8 years agoI agree sounds great to start. Interested in hearing more about it. I'd also like to see a maybe quarterly or semi-annual half day workshop with Calk that she can refer would be writers to and then give them the juice all at once. Who knows? Maybe Tony D or other pros would do the same or similar if it was only once or twice a year. Hey, in a perfect world they could even get paid for the workshops!
annklefstad
about 8 years agoThat's a wonderful idea, and just the kind of thing that an Art Office wd be good for-- a place to make those connections. Thanks! a
annklefstad
about 8 years agoO and do check out the blog http://duluthartoffice.blogspot.com. It will give you a lot more detail.
Calk
about 8 years agoI would do a workshop with Tony D if Ann organized it. He is one of my favorite local publishers and Ann is one of my all-round favorite people in the entire world. . .
Ellen Sandbeck
about 8 years agoDuluth is a (mostly) beautiful city in a lovely location, and the tourist industry is already taking pretty full advantage of the "God given" resources in this area. However, as far as we know, God is not giving out new scenic natural resources. Therefore, the only feasible way to increase Duluth's attractiveness quotient is to help cultural workers to create more. Anyone who has visited the Twin Cities or Bayfield, WI already knows that this tactic is highly effective. Ann Klefstad has done more to help other creative people survive than anyone else I know. I can't think of anyone better for the job of creating and running a Duluth Art Office than Ann.
Tony D.
about 8 years agoI'd be happy to do a workshop like that--we can talk not only about how to get someone else to publish your book (and the importance of having the right publisher for your book) but of the pros and cons of self-publishing as well. There should be other workshops for musicians, visual artists, etc., as well.
brian
about 8 years agoI'm in.
Calk
about 8 years agoTony, GREAT IDEA! It's esp. topical now that several traditional publishers are starting up self publishing divisions (with Author Solutions). Let's do discuss.
Tony D.
about 8 years agoCALK: Yes, let's. This isn't entirely unselfish on my part: X-Comm's imprint, X-Presso Books, is set up to serve self publishing clients....
wildgoose
about 8 years agoThat was the idea ... not to make a whole bunch of work for two people but a "for instance" about networking for multiple different arts disciplines
Calk
about 8 years agoOK, Tony we've got to pull Ann in on this, how can we promote her new venture in doing this? Ann, should we take this off PDD and talk to you about it?
Duluth Daily Photo
about 8 years agoThis is interesting. Currently I am part of a class named C.RE.A.T.E. with the Northeast Entrepreneur Fund. The goal is to for artists to learn how to manage their art as a business and make money. My first reaction is that you are duplicating services, but maybe not? Duluth IS beautiful and I believe people who live elsewhere are attracted to Duluth so this could be a growth area for us.
Tony D.
about 8 years agoDDP brings up an issue that has been on my mind: it seems to me we have an abundance of art groups, but is that just my perception? How many active groups does Duluth actually have? St. Louis County? The Arrowhead/NE Minnesota? Would these groups be more efficient/prosperous if efforts were combined? I don't know--I'm askin'.
TimK
about 8 years agoI don't think what Ann is proposing is necessarily a duplication of services. There are lots of organizations who do programming or grass roots stuff, but they all rely on what grant funding can be gleaned from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council or other funders. See- http://www.aracouncil.org/links.html Too many of us creative types lack the people or business skills to hook up with local consumers of art in a meaningful and economically rewarding way. We need an advocate who will explain to the rest of the community that we can't always do stuff for free! Less groveling! Less Groveling! Less Groveling!
davids
about 8 years agoI second Tim K!
Calk
about 8 years agoI third Tim K! THere are some brilliant artists here and I too hate to see them grovel for pennies.
ann klefstad
about 8 years agoI'm listening! I'm on a road trip right now but will be back next week, when I'll follow up on all these comments. I do know about CREATE, and it's great, but there's no budget to continue it. What I'd like to do is not to duplicate services but to connect artists, arts groups, businesses, and municipal government. I do plan on doing a lot of one-on-one talking with people who do things with and for artists so that I would not duplicate what others are doing. Thanks for these responses! a
laura zabel
about 8 years agoHi Ann (and everyone else), In addition to the Twin Cities healthcare voucher program that Ann detailed above, Springboard for the Arts worked with the Artists Emergency Relief Fund, ARAC and the Lake Superior Community Health Center to replicate the voucher program in Duluth. So, Artists Access to Healthcare-North is now up and running! You can find more info here: http://www.artistrelieffund.org/ Springboard also publishes a healthcare guide: http://www.springboardforthearts.org/Services/GuidetoHealthcare.asp And we recently worked with a physician to open a new model clinic for artists: http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/09/23/artist-doctor-sam/ If you hear of physicians in Duluth interested in a similar model, we would love to share what we learned and how this clinic works. Ann, I'm looking forward to working with you on this new organization!
ann klefstad
about 8 years agoThanks, Laura-- I'm glad to know the program is extending its reach here with the help of the Artists Relief Fund (a great resource that we put together a few years ago--an example of what working together can do). One of the things the Duluth Art Office could work on is enlisting local physicians to become involved in this program. The Office is meant to fill in the gaps left by arts orgs that are largely volunteer. Often volunteer arts groups have a great grasp of what would be good, a wonderful vision, but no time to actualize that vision. The Office can connect with these intentions, plans, and visions, and find ways to make them happen. Thanks for all these great comments--I've also been getting good detailed critique from people off-list. I'm hoping to put together some fine grant proposals based on this input, after doing more factfinding with existing organizations. again, thanks for the thoughtful comments and for all you do. ak
karen Monson
about 8 years agoThis is a wonderful idea! Art is an economic as well as a cultural boon to a community. Coordination and education are essential to bring optimal results. I can't think of a better person to do this than Ann Klefstad. I would add that this would also be an area where artists who are wanting to be active in schools need use a person who can guide them. The laws that govern access to the classroom have changed. Schools need the expertise and example of artists-and many artists see children as the hope of the future. This position would provide exceptional results.