Along with the highly successful EDGE Professional Development Program for Visual Artists, Artist Trust offers the EDGE Program for Filmmakers and the EDGE Program for Writers. Artists were nominated, and inaugural programs were held in fall 2008 and in winter 2009, respectively.

And . . . ACTION!
The 2009 EDGE Program for Filmmakers was held from October 23 to December 11. Artist Trust congratulates the following 12 filmmakers who celebrated their graduation from the program by presenting their work  on December 11th at Northwest Film Forum:

Terese Cuff
Chris Diani
Brian Favorite
Sara Finkelstein
Lulu Gargiulo
Maria Gargiulo
Michael Gross
Tess Martin
Tom McIntire
Molly Norris
Isaac Olsen
Robyn Scaringi

The EDGE Program, a comprehensive survey of best professional practices in the arts, was adapted for filmmakers in fall 2008. Participating filmmakers come together for seven full-day sessions to learn many skills and tips for success, including the following:

• how to create a reel and professionally present samples of their work in motion pictures
• how to build strong business plans for their film projects
• how to promote and market their films, independently and in festival circuits
• how to find funding for their film projects through grants,  investors and other opportunities. 

Write On!
The 2010 EDGE Program for Writers will take place from February 12 to March 26, 2010. Sixteen writers were chosen to participate. Click here for information on the Artists' Final Presentations, which will be open to the public, on March 26th.

From February 13 to March 28, 2009, Artist Trust brought together a group of emerging writers in the Seattle area for the inaugural program of EDGE for Writers. The curriculum was developed and taught by local literary professionals -- Karen Maeda Allman, Wendy Call, Waverly Fitzgerald, and Angela Fountas -- who took the core components of EDGE for Visual Artists and and shaped them into tools for success for writers. These tools include the following:

• professional presentation on paper, on the Web and in live readings
• how to research and take advantage of funding resources and opportunities available to writers
• how to prepare a successful grant proposal and budget
• time management, goal setting and developing a brand as a writer
• how to identify key audiences and determine marketing directions for literary works
• financial management; legal issues such as copyright and intellectual property; and working with and as independent contractors

Congratulations to the following writers for completing the first-ever Literary EDGE Program by giving public readings and performances on March 27 and 28, 2009 at Richard Hugo House in Seattle and celebrating their graduation from EDGE with their friends, families and fellow arts supporters:

Lyn Coffin
Jennie Goode
Adriana Grant
Himanee Gupta-Carlson
Caren Gussoff
Christine Johnson-Duell
Cassie Kosty
Kate Lebo
Cienna Madrid
Lisa Orlick
Nu Quang
Juan Carlos Reyes
Betty Shafer
JT Stewart
Harold Taw
Anastacia Tolbert
Corry Venema-Weiss
Storme Webber
Jill Widner

If your are a filmmaker or a writer interested in participating in either EDGE for Filmmakers or EDGE for Writers, contact EDGE Program Manager, Nirmala Singh-Brinkman at nirmala@artisttrust.org.

For more information on the EDGE for Visual Artists curriculum, visit here.

Additionally, Artist Trust seeks to expand our services and offer EDGE to more artists in more locations. For more information on becoming an EDGE Program partner, please visit here.