Artists Take Business Crash Course At Z Space

This blog post is provided by Cristóbal McKinney, Z Space's Administrative Director.

If you ever get a chance to join a Creative Capital Workshop, do everything you can to take it. This last weekend, Z Space hosted the latest Creative Capital Workshop in the bay area, offering 24 artists (including Deborah Slater, who’s dance group will perform at Z Space this weekend - Click Here For More Info), several observers, and a team of Creative Capital leaders a space where they can come together and develop the business and organizational skills that will springboard the rest of their careers. I was one such lucky artist who participated, and the event has changed my life.

As an artist, I have never been taught practical skill sets for managing the development and distribution of my own art. Creative Capital changed that. Even for artists who rebel at the idea of embracing commercial models, the workshop offered invaluable skill development in universally applicable areas such as contract negotiation, how to turn rejections of one’s work into opportunities, and an overview of popular marketing models.

And beyond the skill sets developed at the workshop, there was the amazing opportunity to spend a weekend with 24 artists doing exciting, interesting work. Just talking to other artists in the morning inspired me and energized me.

Most people may not think about what happens behind the Z Space doors when a show isn’t performing. What happens here, whether it’s advertised or not, is the development of art. I’m proud to work at a space that helps provide a home where art and artists can grow.