ACES // Artists of Color Expo & Symposium 2023

My lecture presentation/workshop is an entreaty to bring belle hook's notion of marginality as " the site of radical possibility, a space of resistance.... as the central location for the production of a counter hegemonic discourse that is not just found in words but in habits of being and the way one lives." Bringing a soul centered approach to art marketing that values the long game in which we don't become widgets.

This clear-eyed look at the art marketplace looks at the latest research which discloses that despite lip service to the contrary marginalized voices still face significant barriers to entry. Given these actual barriers we can't buy into the marketing and branding strategies that reflect the dreams of a predominantly white, European, male protagonist. We have to come from our marginality not as a place of deprivation, as belle hooks wisely advises, but as a strength.

To do so we'll face the market as it is, not as it's painted or as we wish it to be. We must define what success REALLY looks like to us and our communities based on our heart/soul needs, not based on the values lauded by a capitalist system that is crooked and intent on keeping us out. Perfect exemplars of this approach are local artists Aramis O. Hamer, Humaira Abid, George Rodriguez, and arts administrator thought/leader Brian Carter.

We'll look at actionable steps to set up our own systems. Systems that support our creative practices.
- identifying segments of the marketplace for potential income streams.
-the basic online kit for visual artists
-different social media sites cater to different audiences
-why your email list is your best asset
-daily marketing tasks
-weekly marketing tasks
-monthly marketing tasks
-quarterly marketing tasks
-yearly marketing tasks

Lastly, we'll look at holistic approaches for sharpening the saw with the primary question being, "How can we juggle day jobs, family responsibilities, economic and health pressures and not burn out?"

All participants are also given access to my ongoing ACES page for continuing support after the conference: http://tatianagarmendia.com/ACES/

This is a 55-minute Powerpoint presentation. It can also be run as an 85-minute workshop, as I have worksheets that folk can use to begin the process of crafting their supportive systems. If run as an online workshop, we would use Zoom breakout rooms for timed discussions.