The 20th Annual Self-Employment in the Arts (SEA) Conference came to a close last February after a two-day immersive series of back-to-back and overlapping sessions. Over 375 emerging visual, performing, literary, and media artists from across the Midwest attended the pre-COVID event, marking one of the largest turnouts in SEA’s history. Participants engaged in various activities from workshops, panel discussions, and mentoring sessions to a juried college art competition and business plan pitch challenge, all designed to help them become career creative professionals.
Organizers of SEA then began planning the 2021 conference knowing it would need to take on a much different look. Instead of an intensive two-day in-person forum, a smaller online summit was created and will feature live streaming programs Fri., March 19 through Sun., March 21. Attendees can participate in industry chats, mentoring, networking, and small group discussions as they relate to this year’s theme, Graduating with an Arts Degree During/After a Pandemic.
Also included is a resume review wherein career development, human resources and creative professionals evaluate students’ curriculum vitae and provide written feedback for improvement. To jump-start the event, pre-recorded presentations featuring industry-focused content will be launched on Fri., March 12. All activities are available free of charge. Registration opens in early February at selfemploymentinthearts.com.
Strategies were also set into motion to devise a multitiered plan that would expand offerings throughout the year. First, weekly Zoom coffee breaks were established to address the ongoing needs of the audience. Each free session features a guest creative professional or business leader who focuses on a new and relevant topic each week. Virtual boot camps are also on the horizon and will help nascent creatives begin their career paths in the arts.
SEA is hopeful for returning to its in-person conference and for continuing its collaboration with Columbia College in February 2022. In addition, SEA will maintain its current virtual programming and build ArtCareer365, a fee-based membership platform that provides resources such as one-on-one mentoring sessions, peer-to-peer networking opportunities and access to a growing video library to help members navigate their futures.
About SEA: Housed at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois, and funded through private donations and grants from the Coleman Foundation and Illinois Arts Council, SEA offers a variety of programming including conferences, workshops, panel discussions, webinars, competitions, mentoring, virtual coffee hours, and so much more. For more information, go to selfemploymentinthearts.com.
