A speedy brush up on networking skills
Photos by Crosby Ignasher
Written by Gracie Wachtel and Amy Stoltenberg
Art creators and art consumers gather on the second floor of Ampersand for the first Brush Up session.
On Wednesday night, artists gathered on the second floor of Ampersand, one of MLK’s newest social scenes, for the Brush Up networking event. The artists mingled over drinks while waiting for the “speed dating” icebreaker activity to commence.
“What we are going to be doing is networking speed dating style. Everyone will sit down facing across from each other and they’ll have three minutes to say hey and exchange business cards, talk about what they’re doing,” said Lauren Flotte, president of the Board of Directors at Art Rise Savannah.
The event was hosted by Art Rise Savannah, a nonprofit organization that works to promote economic and creative opportunities for local Savannah residents.
“Art Rise Savannah is a nonprofit art organization,” said Clinton Edminster, executive director and interim secretary of Art Rise Savannah.
“Speed Networking,” a quick and fast-paced style of networking similar to speed dating.
Various focuses of the art world, including visuals, theatrics, literature and music, filled the room.
“We came tonight for a little meet and greet, some art networking and to see the art that other people are making,” said Savannah resident and SCAD painting alumnus Juliana Peloso, who attended the event with her friend Kelley Hagemez.
“It’s just about the promotion of arts in Savannah and networking and how it’s all connected,” said Peloso. “We just came to sort of have a presence, see what people are working on and get any tidbits that we can from the art community.”
Lauren Flotte and Clinton Edminster welcome everyone to the event.
“The idea is that we require both producers and consumers, and that’s what this whole thing is about, is bringing those two groups together,” said Edminster.
“Speed dating, as it is originally done, is male across from female. The dichotomy that I was looking for at this particular speed dating activity was art producers versus art consumers,” said Edminster.
“I’m a SCAD alumni and one of the most beneficial parts for me was being engaged in the community on a deep level that was outside of the SCAD realm,” said Flotte. “Savannah is lacking connectors between the peer groups they are a part of and SCAD students are definitely a part of that.”
“My hope is that during that activity an art creator will meet an art producer and one creates what the other wants to consume,” said Edminster. “That creates value. If that happens just once, it’s been a success.”
Future plans for the event involve presentations by community members showing more practical and professional development.
“This is our inaugural event for Brush Up. We just waited for the right moment to launch it,” said Flotte. “It’s going to be monthly on the second Wednesday of the month from 7-9 p.m. on the second floor of Ampersand.”
All members of the community are encouraged to attend these events.
