PDF version of program is available here
The first idea to be looked at--and the focus of Friday’s panel--was the potential for organizations to use the art created at Art Enables as the “product” to be sold by other people with developmental and mental disabilities who are interested in having retail experience.
Marta Bohorquez, job developer at Community Services for Autistic Adults and Children (CSAAC) launched the morning by describing how she came to think of using the Art Enables’ holiday cards to help train her protégé Tony Sampson whose dream it was to be a salesman.
Tony Sampson himself then took the floor with tips for the successful marketer: stand tall, smile, be persistent, remember that you are selling yourself and... “work the crowd”! And then he did just that: he had brought his “line” of AE cards with him and was sold out by the end of the morning!
Reverend Brian Hamilton, co-pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church, gave a fascinating review of the history of urban development--and destruction--in southwest Washington and talked about the vision and mission of Southwest Renaissance CDC, the nonprofit he founded. As a former sociologist and active stain-glass artist, Reverend Hamilton sees small-scale but commercially viable artisan-based industry as the ideal modern vehicle for a renaissance of the spirit of “neighborhood”.
Lynn Skynear is the marketing genius behind Skynear, Inc., in Adams-Morgan, a store reknown as the place to find the perfect interior design element which is NOT sold in every other store in town. Lynn took the audience behind the scenes in retail, sharing tips on how, exactly, to get someone like her interested in your product, what business systems have to be in place to deal with retailers, how to promote your product and effective use of the media.
For groups who might like to sell artwork at one of the area’s many outdoor markets, Patti Schwartz presented a slide show and visual tour of what she discovered as she cruised markets in the area about putting together an eye-catching and effective booth. She also provided, in the conference packet, a list of information about local markets and their house rules, web sites and where to buy display materials.
Maureen Ward of Make Piece/Make Peace and Deborah Goins and Janet Alvandi of Melwood joined the speakers in a roundtable discussion and question and answer period concluding this first Art Enables forum on disabilities and the arts.
"The Artist and the Salesman" was made possible by the generous support of the District of Columbia Commission on Arts and Humanities.
Brian Hamilton, Lynn Skynear, Patti Schwartz
