Native artists will soon have a chance to attend a workshop to learn about navigating the arts industry.
The Citizen Potawatomi Community Development Corporation (CPCDC) has partnered with the First Peoples Fund to host the free, two-day workshop from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Nov. 7 and 8, at the CPN Cultural Heritage Center, 1899 S. Gordon Cooper Dr., Shawnee, Oklahoma. Lunch will be provided for the event.
The Native Artist Professional Development workshop will cover topics such as identifying vision and values, planning calendars, marketing and pricing work, engaging effectively with the community, developing a business plan, and growing leadership skills.
The workshop will also feature an opportunity for participants to present and showcase artwork.
To register for the event, go to formstack.io/86FD3 or contact Rachel Heberling at [email protected] or 717-220-5702.
Instructors for the workshop include Leslie Deer of the Mvskoke Nation of Oklahoma and Felecia Freeman of CPN.
Deer is an apparel designer and artist known for elegant silhouettes, vibrant color palettes and intricate appliqué work inspired by Southeastern mound-builder motifs. She began her career creating regalia and has earned national recognition, including a 2016 First Peoples Fund Artist in Business Leadership Fellowship and 2017 Best of Division and First Place awards at Santa Fe Indian Market. Her work is part of the permanent collection at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian.
Freeman, Jiqwes kwe (“Little Thunder Woman”), is a commercial loan officer and certified credit counselor with the Citizen Potawatomi Community Development Corporation, where she has helped provide more than $40 million in loans to Native entrepreneurs. She also leads credit counseling for CPN members.
For more information about the First Peoples Fund, visit firstpeoplesfund.org.