September 25, 5 pm ET
Our guests are potters Jan Richardson and Robert Briscoe, well known in the artist community not only for their fine work but their generosity in developing opportunities for other artists.
Living in rural Maryland Jan developed the Valley Craft Network in 1982, a tour that continues to bring buyers from nearby Baltimore and Washington, DC, into the region to visit studios.
After a move to Washington State about six years ago she found few opportunities for selling her work and since then has worked in her community with the Peninsula Arts Association to create the Peninsula Artists Studio Tour and the Peninsula Clay Artists annual Clay Show, also bringing in guest artists and hosting workshops to promote the arts.
Robert Briscoe has been exhibiting his functional beautiful pottery at art festivals since 1970. In 1992 together with 7 of his friends they started the St. Croix Valley Pottery Studio Tour, which has become a national pottery phenomenon.
It started as a simple idea: bring together a group of potters to create an event that would be larger in scope than any individual's studio sale. In its' 22nd year it has grown to include 50 potters (43 of them invited from elsewhere).
The studios are within an hours' drive of Minneapolis. Collectors and pottery lovers come from all over North. America to enjoy the celebration and collect this fine handmade work.
Can you do this in your community? Can you bring others together to benefit not only yourselves but to promote tourism? Listen to these veterans as they teach you how.
Comments
This was a terrific episode. Jan and Bob have not talked the talk, they have walked the walk and know the art fair business inside and out as well as being accomplished potters who are recognized for their skills throughout that medium. If you are even thinking about how else you can earn money listen to this episode and be inspired.
She has been a real advocate for other artists, starting events, opening gallery shows and mentoring many people in this business. She has lots to share -- Bob Briscoe is cut from the same cloth. Between the two of them they have helped many people in our business.