Aquinnah Cultural Center, in partnership with First Peoples Fund, is pleased to announce that we will be hosting a free 2-day workshop on January 15 and 16 from 9:00am to 4:30 pm (ET). This event will be located at the Aquinnah Town Hall (955 State Road, Aquinnah, MA 02535), and lunch will be provided.

This Native Artist Professional Development workshop will teach emerging and seasoned Native artists how to navigate the arts industry and be successful entrepreneurs. The topics covered are Vision & Values + Artist Calendar + Marketing + Pricing + Community Engagement + Business Plan + Leadership. Artists will learn how to identify their vision & values, plan a calendar, market and price their work, develop a business plan, engage with the community and assess their leadership skills. They will also have the opportunity to present their artwork in a showcase and elevator pitch.

Instructors:
Leslie Deer (Mvskoke Nation of Oklahoma) 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.

David “Waabigekek” Fleming Sr. (Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe) is a Native economic development professional with deep experience in CDFIs, small business lending, and Tribal entrepreneurship. He currently serves as Tribal Liaison for the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and has worked with First Peoples Fund for over a decade as a business coach. David also helped develop the bachelor’s in business program at Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University and continues to create mixed media artwork.

To register, please complete this form or contact Rachel Heberling, info below:
Registration form: https:/ /formstack.io/41923

Questions? Please contact:
Rachel Heberling, Native Artist Professional Development Program Manager, First Peoples Fund at rachel.heberling@firstpeoplesfund.org or (717) 220-5702

Or Tysonnae Aiguier-Bolling, Program Coordinator, Aquinnah Cultural Center at programs@aquinnah.org or 617-792-6461


First Peoples Fund is a national values-based organization that honors and supports the Collective Spirit of First Peoples artists and culture bearers. By supporting artists and culture bearers, First Peoples Fund helps Native communities heal and thrive. Collectively, we approach our work with rootedness, intuition, listening, humility and deep relationships. For further information about First Peoples Fund, please visit www.firstpeoplesfund.org or contact us at info@firstpeoplesfund.org