Yesterday the Imperial Cotton Centre for the Arts’ Cossart Exchange ran an “e-Commerce for the Artistically Minded” workshop, located in their Jackson Square office in Hamilton, Ontario. The open event had guest, author, technophile, and Personal Computer Museum curator Syd Bolton, discussing the various means by which an artist or artisan can go about making a living (or at least generating some measure of monetary return) off their works/crafts.
Pointing out that, for many, e-commerce marketplace participation can be a full time job, Bolton illustrated how sites such as eBay, Etsy, iStockphoto, and Lulu can be important tools in the effort to both make a name for oneself, and make some coin off one’s passion. Additionally, that greater usage and participation in social media facets, such as facebook, twitter, digg and blogs, can bolster this awareness and transform the aforementioned marketplace sites into electronic check-out counters.
The commercial potential of digital media/marketplace platforms is increasingly recognized, yet, despite this, participation, particularly from those for whom independent success and low overhead costs would be of great benefit, is still not what it could be. Such participation is often still portrayed in popular media as a novelty. What is important to recognize is that, in an increasingly globalized culture, a creative-entrepreneur’s audience and prospective customer may be on the other side of the world. Therefore, participation on such electronic platforms enhances potential awareness and bridges that commercial gap.
The Cossart Exchange, overseen by program director Steph Seagram, functions as an incubator, specifically aiding creative industry entrepreneurs, artists and other innovators in transferring their ideas from theoretical interests/hobbies into creative sector careers. For more Cossart events click here.
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