For Immediate Release
February 11, 2008
 
Contact: Nirmala Singh-Brinkman, EDGE Program Coordinator
nirmala@artisttrust.org, 206/467-8734 x20; toll free 1/866/218-7878  

ARTIST TRUST ANNOUNCES 2008 EDGE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR VISUAL ARTISTS

:: :: ::
 
Application Deadline: March 28, 2008

Artists who reside in Washington State are encouraged to apply to participate in the 2008 EDGE Professional Development Training Program for visual artists.
 
The EDGE Program provides artists with a comprehensive survey of professional practices through a hands-on, interactive curriculum that includes instruction by professionals in the field as well as specialized presentations, panel discussions and assignments. The EDGE Program focuses on providing artists with the relevant and necessary entrepreneurial skills to achieve their personal career goals, as well as to develop peer support and exchange among the participating artists.
 
The EDGE Program is open to emerging or mid-career visual artists. Applicants must be residents of Washington State but cannot be graduate or undergraduate students enrolled in a degree program. Applicants must commit to completing the entire 50-hour program. 
 
Artist Trust will offer two cycles of EDGE for visual artists in 2008. Artists can choose to participate in one of the following cycles: 

Seattle: June-July, $250
Meets on two Fridays and six Saturdays.
 
Port Townsend: August 23-30, $400
Week-long Intensive. Fee includes food and lodging at Centrum in Fort Worden State Park.
Limited financial assistance and travel stipends are available.

EDGE Applications and Guidelines are available at the Artist Trust office, on the website (www.artisttrust.org/services/edge), or by sending a self-addressed, stamped, business-sized envelope to: EDGE Application, Artist Trust, 1835 12th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98122-2437.
 
Completed applications may be mailed to the address above or hand-delivered to Artist Trust at 1835 12th Avenue and East Denny Way in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle by 5:00pm on March 28, 2008. Mailed applications must have a US Postal Service postmark dated on or before March 28, 2008.
 
Other EDGE Opportunities!

• Artists may also consider attending the professional development workshops offered by Artist Trust at this year’s Cultural Congress in Leavenworth, April 28-­30. The conference, presented by the Washington State Arts Alliance, is open to artists of all disciplines. Fee varies and includes materials, food and lodging at Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort. For workshop descriptions and information on scholarships (applications due in early March), visit www.wsartsalliance.com/congress.htm.
• The EDGE Program for visual artists will also be offered in the Fall of 2008 through our partner, ArtsNow at Edmonds Community College. This program is first-come, first serve and the tuition is $475. Visit www.edcc.edu/artsnow to register.
• We are working on expanding the EDGE Program in 2008, including several more programs for visual artists in the South Sound, North Sound and Eastern Washington. If you are interested in learning more about the partnership opportunities to co-host an EDGE cycle in your community, please contact us.
• We are assembling advisory committees to adapt the EDGE curriculum to the needs of literary and film artists. If you have expertise to bring to this new initiative, please let us know. 

Artist Trust is a not-for-profit organization whose sole mission is to support and encourage individual artists working in all disciplines in order to enrich community life throughout Washington State. Find out more at www.artisttrust.org.
 
:: :: ::