Artisan Entrepreneurship

The Artisan Entrepreneurship is a two year program that focuses on developing the skills and knowledge to be a self-employed artist/artisan. The first year of the program is the Aboriginal Art Certificate which provides the core Aboriginal art forms content as well as introductory level study in a variety of other fine art and craft media. In the second year of this program students will continue to study the traditional Aboriginal and contemporary art forms in advanced courses in painting and drawing, hide tanning, carving, sewing, footwear, beadwork, decorative arts while identifying an area of focus or interest. The program includes studio courses that provide students with the opportunity for directed study, under the supervision of instructors, in an identified area of interest and skill such as drawing and painting, printmaking, carving, digital media and other media. During this year students will also study and learn entrepreneurial skills in each Aboriginal art course by learning pricing and quality standards of products. Students will learn marketing through courses such as Introduction to Marketing Arts & Crafts and Creating an Online Business. In these courses, students will develop their own website as well as learn other important marketing skills and business knowledge such as business networking skills and potential business resources. In this program students will combine their interest and love of art with entrepreneurial skills to be well equipped to be self-employed or to work in one of the many opportunities and careers in visual arts and Aboriginal art & culture. Entry into the program (second year) will include a portfolio submission (portfolio developed in the Aboriginal Art Certificate)