Native Artists Gather for Professional Arts Development
LINCOLN, NE – Native artists from Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota gathered in Lincoln Aug. 24-25 for the 2024 edition of professional development workshop hosted by Native360 Loan Fund.
Wyoming artist Robert Martinez led the training on behalf of First Peoples Fund of Rapid City, S.D. Participants received a comprehensive handbook that included information on a number of topics including budgeting, scheduling, marketing, exhibiting and applying for grants.
The two-day session took place in the Resonator Gallery at Turbine Flats, a cooperative community of entrepreneurs and artists not far from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The facility is home to artists and entrepreneurs and hosts a makers’ space that houses 3D printers, laser engraving and computerized embroidery machines and other equipment. The facility also includes a podcast studio, photography and video studios as well as The Reactor, a coffee shop that allows local artists to sell their wares.
Pete Upton
“This is a great, welcoming space and we were really pleased that so many artists were able to travel here from so many distant locations,” said Native360 Executive Director Pete Upton. “This is our fourth in-person event. Zoom is great, but there simply is no substitute for getting together in person and sharing experiences and working through the wide range of challenges Native artists face.”
The workshop is designed to give artists real-world tools and detailed resources to navigate the arts industry and become successful entrepreneurs. A two-day program, it is intended for artists at any stage of entrepreneurship and helps develop the knowledge, tools, and confidence to navigate professional careers.
The event also included a mini workshop on artificial intelligence that included an overview of prompt based tools like ChatGPT, Co-Pilot, Adobe FireFly and Imagen 3 from Google.
Comments from the artists:
“The Native Artist Professional Development Training was an incredible experience,” said Savannah Anderson, a graphic designer and Winnebago tribal member from Sioux City, IA. “The venue and the lunch were excellent and the speaker was outstanding. It was refreshing to have a program specifically tailored to artists, offering valuable insights that have greatly impacted my growth. I left feeling empowered and better equipped to navigate the creative industry.”
“Thank you for hosting such an exceptional conference,” said Yana Reid, a member of the Rosebud Tribe from Boone, IA, who specializes in pottery and ceramics. “The markers of any good learning experience are those that both affirm knowledge and gently inform participants of their blind spots. Native communities need more educational opportunities like this.”
Shatice Jones, a graphic designer from Lincoln and Ogallala Sioux member, said she attended to learn more ideas to reach her audience and learn about email marketing. “Thank you for hosting a great event.”
Maria Scott, a Winnebago member from Emerson, NE, said she looks forward to applying the training to her quilting, sewing, beading, finger weaving and other creative tasks. “I really enjoyed the workshop. I learned a lot of things and feel comfortable in moving forward with the art I do. Still scary, but now I know what I’m missing. The hospitality was great … I hope to be in more contact and hope I can contribute in some way to help.”
Native360 Loan Fund provides affordable credit, capital, technical assistance and related programs to help build strong and self-sufficient Native American business owners. A Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), the organization serves members of all tribes in its Nebraska, Iowa and southeast South Dakota service area.
