Oh, the semester is ALMOST OVER! Along with wrapping up grading and advising, my presentations, facilitations, and trainings are nearing completion as well. Last Thursday and Friday, I facilitated a day and a half virtual training for the City of Paducah along with their Creative and Cultural Council entitled “Creative Business Bootcamp”. It went well - see testimonial to follow - and I got to spend time with some really wonderful artists and creatives.

“Jennifer made the process of planning and hosting our Creative Business Workshop easy and enjoyable. I appreciated the thoughtfulness and organization she brought to the planning stage and the insight and experience she brought to the curriculum. Her program development and course facilitator skills were invaluable in creating and hosting our course for creative entrepreneurs.”

Lindsay Parish, City of Paducah

Also in the works - since people are asking for it - I am beginning an adventure in artist/artisan/creatives and arts administrator coaching. This is a part of my business I’ll be investing in soon with a certification.

Finally, this afternoon I present my last big talk for the semester for the Society of Arts Entrepreneurship Education on the topic “Making the Art Work: A Review of Professional Practices in the field of Creative Entrepreneurship for Adult Learners in the US”. This is kicking off my “research lane” (stay in your lane!) for my tenure track faculty position at UNC-G. This presentation does an overview of the active sector of training across the country, and then does a closer look at three programs I have participated in as a facilitator/coach: Creative Lauchcamp at Launch Greensboro, Kauffman’s FastTrac Program through the Mountain Association in Berea, KY, and the AIR Institute’s Evolve Program.

I have a huge whiteboard in my office/dining room. It is so satisfying to cross off my larger commitments for the semester. The Piedmont Arts Strategic Plan should be approved in early December so here’s hoping that gets crossed off too!

Over the holiday break, I will be intensively working on a journal article - slogging down the path to tenure! - and enjoying some creative time in my studio.