For the Observer-Reporter

newsroom@observer-reporter.com

GREENSBORO - Second Saturday Seminars in Greensboro are attracting artists, along with the public, to come together to develop their creative streaks and learn how to market them as well.

"Working with the arts can lead to economic development, both for the artists and the communities that want to attract them as residents," Greene County Community Development Manager Darlene Urban Garrett said. "Most artists need to step away from their work and learn to develop marketing plans if they want to be successful. I can introduce them to the resources they need to grow their businesses. For artists in our area, The Foundation Center at the Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh is a good place to start."

On Saturday, Garrett will be the featured speaker of the seminar, held at the Log Cabin in downtown Greensboro. Her focus is on economic development, with an emphasis on grants available for artists, small communities and organizations.

"It's all about trying to survive within the framework of the economics of the time. The trend today is to buy locally, and be entertained locally. People are starting to shop local for everything they can find, so we need to be prepared to give it to them," Garrett said.

Across America, small communities are learning to sustain themselves by attracting artists, writers and musicians to do creative work in a small town setting.

Thanks to the marketing freedom of the Internet, creative industries can flourish in out-of-the-way places, and Greensboro is cashing in on its growing popularity as a place where artists can do business.

This summer, Pittsburgh ceramic artist Bernard Jakub will be an artist-in-residence, available for private lessons and outdoor pit-firings as he builds new kilns in the borough and prepares for pottery demonstrations for Art Blast 2008 over Labor Day weekend.

Educators, artists and community planners are encouraged to register early for the third annual Creative Communities Conference that precedes the festival on Friday. Last year's conference lead to Greensboro sponsoring Second Saturday to offer an assortment of mini-conferences and art workshops to the public.

Second Saturday is scheduled through November and sessions range from hands-on art and field trips to other Creative Communities, to arts education workshops for teachers and community planners.

Seminars run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and include lunch. Fee is $15, $5 for students. For more information, call Mary Shine 724-943-4462.

To register for upcoming seminars, Paddle on the Mon, June 15 and Creative Conferences, August 29, visit www.natgreene.org.

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