Frank Juárez
On April 24th, Dane Arts hosted its 4th annual Business of Art Conference (BOAC) in Madison, Wisconsin, centered on the theme of Artists At Work. Over 200 attendees from across the state attended the 3-day conference.
The business side of art is a major area in maintaining a creative practice. I realize that many may not have the skill set and/or strategies needed to advance their art careers to the next level. This is why it is beneficial to attend a future business of art conference or any type of professional development. Presenters and panelists come to share best practices, are accessible, and share the same passion we feel when we engage in creating a better creative economy that impacts our professions and communities.
When I started my journey in 2010, I had no idea what I was doing. All I knew was where I wanted to be – to live an art life. I was fortunate to have had someone believe in what I was doing as an artist. I was invited to speak about my art to a group of artists. This person was the late Tony Rajer (first row: bottom right). This experience sparked my curiosity to want to learn more about the business side of art and motivated me to figure out how I could become the creative person I wanted to be.
Last year, I was invited to present at BOAC III. I shared some of my favorite business practices in art that have shaped my art career. As a result, I met artists with whom I have stayed in touch since. One of the pillars of BOAC is networking. This comes naturally since the kitchen table has been set.
This year, I returned as a presenter. I shared my personal story of how I built Artdose magazine. 2019 was another pivotal moment in my life. I wondered what my calling is. Besides art education, what else am I passionate about? I made the choice to close the doors to the Frank Juárez Gallery to continue to invest and grow Artdose.
A series of workshops and panel discussions took place at the Arts + Literature Laboratory and Starting Block Madison.
Sessions to highlight were The Government, Arts, and Community – A Panel Discussion with George Tzougros, Christina Dollhausen, Anindita Anaam, Dena Wortzel, and Jennifer Garrett; Contract Basics for Small Business with Eli Woyke, Artist Next Steps: Gallery Exhibition – A Panel Discussion with Margaret LeMay, Emilie Heidemann, Stephance Barenz, and Theresa Abel; Crafting Your Own Story with Jen Rubin and Danielle Hairston Green; Time to Speak Up for Wisconsin’s Creative Economy with Anne Katz; Artist in Education: Why We Teach – A Panel Discussion with Ceara Yahn, Emily Popp, Phillip Salamone, Steph Hagens, Angelica Contreras, and Angela Johnson; De-Colonizing Creative Movement with Constructivist Methods with Erica Pinigis; and The Art of Innovation: Applying Design Thinking to Your Creative Practice with Holly Anne Burns.
This [art] world that we continue to build is a lot smaller than you think. Social media allows us to connect, so let’s continue to build those relationships IRL.
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Frank Juárez brings over two decades of art education and arts management experience, organizing local and regional art exhibitions and community art events. He presents on art education at the state and national level, supports artists through grant programs, and offers professional development workshops for artists. Juárez is at the forefront of promoting Wisconsin artists and attracting regional, national, and international artists to collaborate and exhibit in Wisconsin. Juárez’s projects include Artdose magazine, the 365 Artists 365 Days Project, the Midwest Artist Studios Project, and the Indiana Green Invitational.
Juárez is the art department chair at Sheboygan North High School, editor-in-chief of SchoolArts magazine, and publisher of Artdose magazine.
FRANK JUÁREZ 