Free virtual sessions are back! (Recordings are also available through our membership portal at only $5 month)
What would you be doing if money wasn't an issue?
Join self-worth coach, Sheryl Kosovski, as she discusses how to use tools like self-discovery, knowledge-learning, and changing your mindset to create financial security and wealth so you can pursue your creative passion. There will be plenty of time to ask your questions too! Sheryl has presented at our SEA Conferences for many years and our attendees always find her sessions very beneficial!
About Sheryl:
Sheryl Kosovski of Self-Worth.coach is a certified financial and business coach. Working with Sheryl is an opportunity to create a new vision for your life and change how you see yourself regarding money. She specializes in working with Creative Entrepreneurs, artists, designers, architects and others who love what they do but do not feel they are experts in business.
Sheryl teaches her clients how to get and stay out of debt, save, manage their money, attract more clients, make more money and create lasting financial security without depriving themselves in the process. Sheryl helps them take control and learn the skills they need to make wise financial decisions. She helps her clients see their value, so they come to believe they are worthy of more. She has helped thousands of clients see that by taking care of their money they can better take care of themselves and the people they love.
Recording now available through our membership portal
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Mental Health Conversations for Creatives:
Mike and Leanna have been around SEA a long time! From keynoting to drum circles to
one-on-one mentoring, they have always been a favorite of our attendees. Join Mike and Leanna
or an open conversation about mental health, creativity, and being a creative business owner.
About Bettermental:
IT ALL STARTED IN 2017.
Business owners Leanna Lee and Mike Veny met during a creative entrepreneurs conference.
Since then, they’ve interviewed each other, spoken at conferences together, and collaborated on
multiple projects. In 2021, they partnered up again to create the Bettermental podcast and brand.
TODAY, BETTERMENTAL IS A MENTAL HEALTH AND GROWTH RESOURCE FOR BUSINESS OWNERS.
Bettermental is committed to removing mental health and disability stigma in the workplace so that creative small business owners and their teams can work to live well. We support business and wellness strategies that put workers at the forefront, creating a healthy, inclusive environment for business owners, managers, employees, and independent contractors alike.
About Mike Veny:
Mike was determined to overcome a lifetime of serious mental health challenges to become a professional drummer and a Certified Corporate Wellness Specialist. He’s the author of best-seller Transforming Stigma: How to Become a Mental Wellness Superhero. As a 2017 PM360 ELITE Award Winner, he was recognized as one of the top 100 influencers in healthcare.
In his spare time, he enjoys weight training, meditating, and eating a good medium-rare bone-in ribeye. He lives in New York City and is addicted to buying luggage and YouTube packing tutorials. His packing checklist for business trips is one of his most prized possessions.
About Leanna Lee:
A British-American writer-journalist, strategist, and speaker, Leanna specializes in tech, the future of work, and mental health. She’s a professional member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) and a founding member of digital nation, Plumia.
Leanna has lived with PTSD, anxiety, and depression her entire professional life, fueling her interest in healthy and sustainable business practices. When not debating with co-host Mike, you’ll find her travelling the world with her husband and pet robot or reading with a cup of strong, black tea.
Recording now available through our membership site
Instagram Strategies for Creatives to Grow an Audience in 2022
Do you want to grow your reach in 2022? Unless you know about the latest Instagram algorithm updates are, you will have a hard time growing your audience. Learn what's new on Instagram and what you need to focus on in order to get the best results.
About Sergio:
Sergio Gómez is a visual artist born in Puebla and raised in Mexico City. Since 1988, he has resided in Chicago. He studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Governors State University and received a Master’s Degree in Visual Arts from Northern Illinois University.
Sergio’s work has been the subject of more than 45 solo exhibitions in the United States, Romania, Italy, Mexico and Vienna. He has participated in numerous group exhibitions in Spain, Sweden, Mexico, Austria, Italy, South Korea, England, Kairo, Belgium and the United States. His work is in several private and public collections. In 2018 Sergio was the subject of solo exhibitions at the Museum of the City of Queretaro, Mexico, Museum of the City of Cuernavaca, Mexico, Museum of Art of the City of Cluj, Romania, Museo Internazionale Italia Arte of Turin, Italy and ACS Gallery, Chicago.
Besides his studio work, Sergio Gómez is Curator and Director of Exhibitions at the Zhou B. Art Center in Chicago, Director and founder of 33 Contemporary Gallery, co-founder of Art NXT Level®, and founder of Amplified Art Network.
He has curated over 100 exhibitions in the US and abroad such as “The National Self-Portrait Exhibition”, “Get Real: New Figurative Realism in Chicago” “CelebrARTE”, “Chicago’s Twelve”, “I AM American Traveling Exhibition” and the “National Wet Paint Biannual MFA Exhibition” which has become a catalyst for emerging painters across the USA.
His weekly Art NXT Level podcast and Breakfast with Sergio video show inspires and educates contemporary artists from around the world. Sergio has curated special projects for the Chicago Park District, Chicago Garfield Park Conservatory, ArtSpot Miami International Art Fair, Sirona Fine Arts Miami, Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali of Turin, National Museum of Mexican Art, and Expo Chicago Art Fair among others.
Website: www.virtualartist.com
Instagram: @sergiogomezart
Recording coming Soon!
Legal "CPR" with arts attorney, Elizabeth T Russell
When we learn "regular" CPR as citizens, we learn two things: how to identify when a person is in distress; and how to keep them breathing until help arrives. Nobody expects us to do the job of first responders or hospital medical professionals. And in fact, if we try; bad things can happen. It's the same, with our legal issues as creatives. The most valuable skills we can develop are knowing how to spot these issues; and having a plan for resolving them safely. Don't miss this very popular topic and session!
About Elizabeth:
Elizabeth Russell helps businesses protect their most important assets by providing thoughtful, thorough counsel in the fields of copyright, trademark and digital business law. A photographer and musician, she also maintains a vibrant arts law practice.
Here's why so many of our SEA attendees have spoken so highly of Beth's sessions over the years:
(From Beth's website - www.erklaw.com)
Lawyers like to tell you what they’ve done. I would rather tell you how what I’ve done, can help solve your problems.
Doing What’s Right: I represented the New York State Museum in negotiations leading to the repatriation of twelve sacred wampum belts to the Onondaga Nation.
Being Creative: My undergraduate degree is in music, and now I’m a photographer. My photographic interests, at the moment, are street and events photography (on Instagram: @e9tusu). I’m also doing a nationwide five-year photo/video project, finding out what people think about the 27 amendments to the United States Constitution. It’s called the 27 Project. Please visit its sites and, if you are so inclined, help spread the word.
Writing and Teaching: I take complicated issues and explain them in understandable terms. I am the author of Arts Law Conversations: A Surprisingly Readable Guide for Arts Entrepreneurs and a companion volume, Copyright Conversations: What Estate Planners Need to Know. My books have won national awards and are used in many college classrooms. They also serve as daily references for creatives and the professionals who serve them.
I wrote the curriculum and taught Copyright Management at Madison Media Institute; Law for Artists at the State University of New York College at Fredonia; and Legal Issues for Artists at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. I offer a two-day, one-credit class that any college could host, either in person or virutally. Ask me about it!
Professional Credentials: I earned my law degree from New York’s Pace University School of Law, where I served as a member of the Pace Law Review. (Law Review, by the way, is not an enjoyable experience.) I am admitted to practice law in the states of New York, Connecticut and Wisconsin.
Early in my career I represented New York’s Commissioner of Education, successfully, in litigation before the United States Supreme Court. I have been a solo practitioner since 2000. I focus my practice on what interests me: copyright and trademark (as they apply to all industries); and the arts. That’s it. That focus keeps me interested and engaged, which in turn makes me a better practitioner.
I am the Past Chair of the Sports and Entertainment Law section of the State Bar of Wisconsin and a member of the Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law section of the New York State Bar Association.
Personal: I am originally from Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York. I make frequent trips to New York, where I continue to work with clients and present to schools and professional groups.
I am remarkably fluent in plain English.
Recording available soon!
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Art Fairs & Markets - Do's and Don'ts
Do you want to sell your creative work at a local art fair or market? Join Debbie, John, and SEA Director Amy Rogers as they discuss everything you need to know to get started from selecting the right type of event to preparation and day of tips as well as post-event tips that will help you build on your success.
About Deborah:
As director of Arts DuPage, Deborah Venezia works to raise the visibility of the arts in the region for the betterment of DuPage County and its residents. In partnership with the Arts DuPage Advisory Committee, Venezia leads the effort to support, promote, and advocate for the arts by building connections within the arts and culture sector, stimulating community engagement, and providing capacity-building workshops to artists and arts leaders. Additionally, she maintains artsdupage.org, an online guide to arts and entertainment, and oversees Arts DuPage Month, an annual county-wide celebration of the arts.
Prior to joining the DuPage Foundation, Venezia served as the Naperville Art League's executive director. During her 15-year tenure, she increased the organization's revenues, secured grants funding and sponsorships, facilitated workshops, classes, and exhibits, and coordinated all aspects of the Naperville Riverwalk Fine Art Fair, a role she still holds today. She also founded and currently directs the After Hours Film Society, a 1,200-plus member not-for-profit organization established in 1989.
Venezia serves on several committees for organizations including DuPage Children’s Museum, DuPage Convention and Visitors’ Bureau, and College of DuPage’s Motion Picture/Television professional advisory committee. In addition, she is a columnist for Positively Naperville.
Venezia holds a bachelor of arts degree from Rosary College (now Dominican University) in River Forest and is a resident of Naperville.
About John:
John is a designer, illustrator, sculptor, muralist, educator and speaker. He studied special effects make-up under Oscar winner, Dick Smith (The Exorcist, Amadeus, The Godfather). That skill set translated to a successful career in toy and product development (Wilton, Huffy, The Bradford Group, Big League Chew, Thomas the Train, Disney, Lamaz), product presentation and marketing.
John began his career as a t-shirt airbrush artist and, after earning $11,000 in one month at age 20, he decided a career as a creative entrepreneur was the only way to go. Airbrushing led to a decade long consultancy for Badger Airbrush Company.
John has created a number of large mural commissions, including the Downers Grove Public Library’s very own ’Soaring’ in the Junior Room. John’s speaking presentations encourage artists and entrepreneurs ‘they can do it, too!’ John teaches artists how to design and illustrate as well as how to make the transition to creative professional.
Follow John on YouTube and Instagram (@john_mcdavitt_art).
John also hosts The Breakthrough Creative show on YouTube and as a podcast discussing ‘the business of art and the art of business’ with his guests.