The EDGE Professional Development Program for Visual Artists is a comprehensive survey of professional practices offered through a hands-on, interactive curriculum that includes instruction by professionals in the field as well as specialized presentations, panel discussions, site visits and assignments. The EDGE Program focuses on providing artists with the relevant and necessary entrepreneurial skills to achieve their personal career goals and the opportunity to develop peer support and exchange.

:: Read about the latest accomplishments of our EDGE graduates! ::

In 2008, through a panel review process, 32 artists were selected to participate in the 50-hour training program. The following two cycles are offered in 2008:

Seattle :: June-July, 2008 :: $250
Port Townsend :: August 23-30, 2008 :: $400

:: Other EDGE Opportunities ::

• Professional development workshops were offered by Artist Trust at this year’s Cultural Congress in Leavenworth, April 28-­30, at Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort. The conference, presented by the Washington State Arts Alliance, was open to artists of all disciplines. For workshop descriptions and information on the conference, visit www.wsartsalliance.com/congress.htm.
  
  
• Our partner ArtsNow at Edmonds Community College will offer EDGE in the Fall Quarter of 2008. The program will start on Friday, October 3, then run six Saturdays from October 4 to November 8, with final presentations on Friday, November 15. The ArtsNow Gallery will host a show of the 2008 EDGE artists from January 15 to March 13, 2009. This program is first-come, first serve and the tuition is $475.
  Visit www.edcc.edu/artsnow to register.
  
  
• EDGE will be offered in Fall 2008 (dates TBD) in Bellingham by our partner, the Bellingham Technical College. For more information please contact: Kathy Eaton, Assistant in the Continuing Education Dept. at keaton@btc.ctc.edu or 360/752-8447, or contact Therese Williams, Associate Dean at twilliams@btc.ctc.edu or 360/752-8316.
  
  
• We are solidifying plans to offer EDGE in the South Sound and Eastern Washington later this year. Stay tuned!

::

LEARN MORE ABOUT EDGE, including details about the curriculum, past instructors, the 2008 schedule, "Cycle B at Centrum," tuition and tuition assistance.

Application Deadline
The 2008 deadline has now passed. The next deadline will be in March 2009. All 2008 applicants will be notified by Friday, May 2.

Application Tips
Please visit Professional Development for application tips including: preparation of slides, digital images, resumes, as well as general grant writing tips.

How to Receive an Application
(Available two months prior to the deadline date)

• Artist Trust members can receive an EDGE application by mail. Send a request for an application (include your mailing address) to nirmala@artisttrust.org.

• Non-members may request forms and guidelines by sending a self-addressed, stamped, business-sized envelope to:

• Online applications are available in PDF* format. To be notified when applications are available, please subscribe to (re)Source.
  
• Or visit Artist Trust's office to pick up an application.

• The applicant must be a practicing emerging or mid-career visual artist. (A practicing artist is defined as one who is dedicated to producing artwork on a regular basis.)

• The applicant must be a Washington State resident prior to the application deadline and throughout the duration of EDGE.

• The applicant must commit to completing the entire program.

• The applicant must NOT be a matriculated student enrolled in any degree program.

• The applicant must NOT be a member of the Artist Trust Board, staff, or consultant, or immediate family of any of the above.

Click here to learn about the 47 artists selected to participate in the 2007 EDGE Program!

Click here for a report of the 2007 EDGE Program and the 75 participants. 

History

In summer 2002, Artist Trust was approached by the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation (www.tremainefoundation.org) to develop a professional skills training program for visual artists. With their generous support, Artist Trust created EDGE and in 2003 and 2004, Artist Trust piloted the program with guidance from an advisory committee of visual arts professionals and artists. During that time, participants were selected through a closed nomination process. Participation now follows an open, competitive application process.

To date, 182 artists have successfully completed the program. The response from those artists has been extremely positive and below is what a few have to say:

"The main benefit I received from the EDGE program is a series of goals. These goals are directly influenced from the EDGE program. Prior to EDGE, I had little knowledge of setting up a business license, how to approach a gallery or even know how to take my work to market. In taking EDGE, I now have an achievable plan for my self sufficiency."
Bob Park, Cycle A, 2003

"The most important thing for me was the connection with others in my field. Meeting other artists, curators, gallery owners, and other art related professionals really helped me by seeing where others are, what works for people and what doesn't. The feeling of not being alone in my endeavors as an artist is invaluable."
Jennifer Howard Kicinski, Cycle B, 2003

"I would absolutely recommend EDGE to other artists, without a doubt! Because of what it offers to participants in the way of community, inspiration, motivation, guidance, and insight. Also for the instant community that develops between artists taking the course together. Michele Barkley, Cycle C, 2004

Questions?

If you have questions about the EDGE program please contact Nirmala Singh-Brinkman, EDGE Program Coordinator, 206/467-8734 x20 or nirmala@artisttrust.org.

*Many documents on the Artist Trust website are published using Adobe's® Portable Document Format (PDF). To display or print these documents, you must download the free Acrobat® Reader. The Acrobat® Reader allows you to view, navigate, and print PDF documents. If you are having problems downloading or navigating a PDF, please visit the Adobe website.