Carnegie Art Center presents a series of professional development workshops for individual artists designed to provide techniques and strategies for addressing current issues faced by contemporary artists.  These workshops present topics which offer tools and skills to meet the challenges of succeeding in today's ever-changing arts and cultural environment. Each workshop has been designed to empower artists to strengthen and expand their resources as well as to provide professional networking opportunities.

Using Digital Cameras
October 8, 15 and 22, 2008
Instructor: Lisa Langer
at Pencil in the River Studio, Inc.
83 Webster Street, North Tonawanda
Wednesdays, 7-9:30 pm
Fee: $50 members of Carnegie Art Center / $60 non-members

A beginner’s class on how to use a digital camera to get the best images possible. Designed for artists who own a digital camera or those who are about to buy one. Information covered includes an explanation the many options available on cameras and how and when to use those options. Functions, menus and digital terminology are all explored in an easy to follow non-pressured environment.

Class size limited to 12 students.

Lisa Langer is owner and operator of Pencil in the River Studio, Inc. She is a multi-media professional artist with over 25 years of experience in production, traffic, and project management in advertisement and photography for business. Pencil specializes in Fine Art Giclée photography and reproductions.

(Download Registration Form)

Fundamentals of Web Design
September 27th and October 4th, 2008
Instructor: Jennifer Witkowski
at Pencil in the River Studio, Inc.
83 Webster Street, North Tonawanda
Saturdays, 9:30am-1pm
$50 members of Carnegie Art Center; $60 non-members

This class is an introduction to web design foundations directed toward those who consider themselves as expert computer users and browse the web on a daily basis. Assuming attendees are familiar with basic terms such as url, http, and www, this course will focus on simple web page design using basic HTML and CSS techniques utilizing Adobe Dreamweaver as a primary tool.

Topics covered include basic HTML and CSS, good vs. bad web design, usability, optimizing images for the web, and web hosting and maintenance. Prior knowledge of a photo editing software such as Picassa or Adobe Elements is a must. Users must also have experience using a menu-based program such as Microsoft Word.

Note: Dreamweaver will not be available for use outside the classroom unless users purchase the software or download a free, 30-day trial on their home desktops. Details will be provided on the first day of class.

Class size limited to 6 students.

Jennifer Witkowski is a web designer working in the Western New York Area. She completed her M.F.A. from RIT in Computer Graphics Design and has designed websites and interactive applications for clients nation wide.

(Download Registration Form)

Getting the Word Out: Publicity and promotion for artists and others
presented by Ron Ehmke
Associate Editor, Buffalo Spree Magazine
Saturday, November 8, 2008, 2-4 pm
at the Carnegie Art Center
Free

Making art tends to be an internal, often solitary process, and many artists are intimidated by the prospect of promoting themselves and their work. In this informal presentation, conducted by a working artist, journalist, and publicist, you’ll get a basic sense of how the publicity machine works: how to write an effective press release and assemble other promotional materials, who to send them to, and what happens after that. Our focus will be local, but the same principles apply no matter how far you’re casting your net. We’ll look at print, television, radio, and the many opportunities provided by the online world. Visual, media, and performing artists, writers, and musicians are all welcome. You may, if you wish, bring press releases, presskits, promotional photos, and other materials of your own, either finished or in draft form, for review and discussion.

Ron Ehmke is a Tonawanda-based writer, performer, and media artist whose work has been shown throughout the U.S. and Europe. He has taught classes and workshops on a variety of subjects at universities and art organizations from Rhode Island to Oregon and countless spots in between. He is currently an associate editor at Buffalo Spree, and has written for the Buffalo News and a number of national arts, literary, and music publications. From 1995-2001 he served as Minister of Communications for Righteous Babe Records, creating publicity materials for Ani DiFranco and other musicians on her label, and he continues to work in this capacity as a freelancer for musicians around the country.

(Download Registration Form)

Arts and Healing Network
This website includes a list of grants available to individual artists in a variety of artistic mediums. (Web Link)

Experimental Television Center
The Experimental Television Center provides support to electronic media and film artists and organizations in New York State to encourage creative work; to facilitate the exhibition of moving-image and sound art to audiences in all regions of the State; and to strengthen organizations with active media programs. Since 1989 we have awarded over $750,000 to organizations and artists. The program is made possible with support from the New York State Council on the Arts. (Web Link)

Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation
http://www.midatlanticarts.org
The Foundation is a regional organization of state agencies which offer programs that encourages exchanges and the sharing of resources within the region. Provides support through grants, technical assistance, and information to artists and arts organizations. (Web Link)

National Endowment for the Arts
The primary grantmaking foundation for arts organizations and individual artists in the United States. (Web Link)

New York Foundation for the Arts
NYFA serves artists with funding, information, advocacy, and fiscal sponsorship needs. NYFA Source, an on-line guide, is the most extensive national database of awards, services, and publications for artists of all disciplines. NYFA's Artist Fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis in sixteen disciplines or practices to artists in NYS. The $7000 fellowships in each discipline are available in alternate years. (Web Link)

New York State Artists Workspace Consortium
The New York State Artist Workspace Consortium is committed to making artist workspaces more visible, providing more workspace opportunities for artists, and creating a peer learning network. (Web Link)

New York Folklore Society
Self-Management for Folk Artists: A Guide for Traditional Artists and Performers in New York, by Patricia Atkinson Wells, is designed to assist traditional artists in managing and marketing themselves. You’ll find information here on writing biographical materials, assembling a press kit, starting a business, expanding your audience, as well as resources and contacts. (Web Link)

Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts
Provides free and low-cost legal assistance for artists and arts organizations state-wide. Researches and compiles data on legal issues affecting the arts community. (Web Link)

Constance Saltonstall Foundation for the Arts
The Foundation has established two main programs: Summer Fellowships at the Saltonstall Arts Colony in Ithaca, New York, which provides New York state artists and writers with month-long residencies; and the Individual Artist Grants, providing financial assistance to artists in the central and western counties of New York. (Web Link)