Findings from the Business Acumen for Artists Programme

20 August – 12 November 2007

Elaine Rumboll

Background to the Programme

NO more PRO BONO

26 ARTISTS

16 DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES

Delegate Profile

Musician Filmmaker Ceramicist Graphic

Designer Music Producer Fine Artist Illustrator Physical Theatre Maker Visual Artist Glass Maker Graphic Artist

Multimedia Artist T-shirt Designer Radio

Producer Animator Jeweller Writer

Drama Teacher Painter Theatre Director

Singer Clothing Designer Fine Artist Toy Maker

Blog

Critical Design Elements through

the lens of Value Creation

• Making and Implementing the Business Case

• Active Listening Skills – Generating Possibility

• Pitching Ideas, Negotiations and Closing Deals

• Value Based Project Mgt• Using Web 2.0 for Marketing• Entrepreneurial Finance and Tax• Mentors

Findings

Initial deep Suspicion around how ‘Business’ works

Findings

No Perception of Cohesive Strategy in Sector

Making the Business Case – Value Creation a Powerful Lens

Understanding the Language of a Different Sector can be very Empowering

Active Listening Skills, Negotiation Skills, Financial Acumen critical

http://elainerumboll.com/

Recommendations

• Upskill Artists in the Language of Business

• Art Management & Representation a Massive Skills Gap in SA

• Run Workshops on Tax Directives

• Create Genuine Places for Communities of Practise

• More Collaboration Between Disciplines Needed in Sector to Change Perception

Recommendations for the Film Industry

1. Easier access to funds – Human face

2. Faster responses on acceptance and rejection of funding.

3. Forum for registered film makers to better understand and have access to information surrounding NFVF, tax rebates, funding etc.

4. Access to development funding for projects that need to be developed further before production

5. Assistance from government in finding distributors

6. Film foundations & dti - give clear, easy documents and requirements for filmmakers to understand how to apply for money.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, concerned citizens

can change the world. Indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.

- Margaret Mead