Artisan Entrepreneurship Diploma Portage College

Program Description

Our program is structured on the knowledge and appreciation of traditional Aboriginal art forms. It is taught utilizing a traditional indigenous teaching style, which relies heavily on oral and visual instruction in a hands-on learning environment. The Artisan Entrepreneur Diploma is a two-year program that focuses on developing the skills and knowledge to be a self-employed artist/artisan. The first year of the program is the Aboriginal Art Certificate which provides the core Aboriginal art forms content as well as introductory-level study in a variety of other fine art and craft media. In the second year of this program, you will continue to study the traditional Aboriginal and contemporary art forms in advanced courses in painting and drawing, hide tanning, carving, sewing, footwear, beadwork, and decorative arts while identifying an area of focus or interest. The program includes studio courses that provide you with the opportunity for directed study, under the supervision of instructors, in an identified area of interest and skill such as drawing and painting, printmaking, carving, digital media, and other media. During this year you will also study and learn entrepreneurial skills in each Aboriginal art course by learning pricing and quality standards of products. You will learn marketing through courses such as Introduction to Marketing Arts & Crafts and Creating an Online Business. In these courses, you will develop your own website as well as learn other important marketing skills and business knowledge such as business networking skills and potential business resources. You will be able to combine your interest and love of art with entrepreneurial skills to be well-equipped to be self-employed or to work in one of the many opportunities and careers in visual arts and Aboriginal art & culture. Entry into the Artisan Entrepreneurship program (second year) will include a portfolio submission developed in the Aboriginal Art Certificate.

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