Natalie Chapman is in her fourth year; working towards a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Commerce and a Bachelor of Science, major in biochemistry.

1. Explain the new Business of Arts Workshop?

The Business of Arts Workshop is a restructuring of the Business of Science workshop from last year. It is a weekend workshop on collaborative entrepreneurship in the arts and it brings students together from across campus. Students are assigned a specific group project in the Arts and they complete the project from start to finish with guidance from arts professionals and faculty members as mentors. There will be mini-workshops on different topics, such as pitching a project and creating a business model for the Arts sector, plus guest speakers who will talk on pursuing unconventional career paths.

2. When does the event take place and where?

Sept. 28-Oct. 1 in Tweedie Hall and Avard Dixon.

3. How can students sign up?

There are only 30 seats available and students need to register by Tuesday, Sept.26. The event is open to everyone, but is designed for those who have an interest in Commerce and Arts and want to develop their entrepreneurial and leadership skills.

Students can find out more at https://www.facebook.com/BusinessoftheArtsMTA/ and can register at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QHVHGMY

4. What do you hope students take away from this event?

I am hoping students feel empowered and they take away hard skills to use in the future, whether they want to publish a novel, create a chamber group, or start an art collective. I want them to feel like they can make creative projects a sustainable reality. I hope they feel an increase in confidence in their ability to pursue a career they value and that enables them to pursue their passions. I hope their fears and questions about working in the arts are addressed and that they are given tools to take the next step. I want them to explore outside of the box and find opportunities to apply their degree in a broader way than they thought possible.

5. What have you taken away from the experience of planning this event during your summer internship?

I learned the importance of time management and organizing all the details involved in an event like this. It’s my first time planning an event that lasts longer than one day and there are a lot of moving parts that need to fall into place. My internship was a fantastic learning experience in understanding my own capacity to function as a professional. I learned that I need to be more assertive in some situations as well as what I’m good at and the nuances of working with a broad group of people.

Bonus Question: What else are you involved in on campus?

Executive for the Feminist Leadership Conference, The Rose Campaign, and Team Fox (a Parkinson’s research advocacy group).

Photo credit: Chaoyi Liang