Spotlight on Quidi Vidi Village Artisan Studios’ & Ulnooweg Foundation’s Craft Your Business program
When people and organizations work together in the spirit of collaboration, great things can be achieved.
A recent partnership between Quidi Vidi Village Artisan Studios (a project of the Anna Templeton Centre) and the Ulnooweg Indigenous Communities Foundation (a charity that strives to strengthen ties between Canada's philanthropic sector and First Nations communities in the Atlantic region) is a perfect example.
Recently, the two joined forces to offer young Indigenous artists mentorship, and the opportunity to network and build business skills, as part of the Craft Your Business program.
Young Indigenous artisans from across the province participated in an Indigenous Makers Market at Quidi Vidi Village Artisan Studios in May (as part of the Craft Your Business program).
Funded by Ulnooweg Indigenous Communities Foundation’s EleV Program (a partnership with Mastercard Foundation), the Craft Your Business program was offered online over the course of 10 weeks and brought together young Indigenous makers from around the province to connect, learn and grow their creative practice.
Ten youth participated, including Isabella White (Dawn Land Dreams), Kyla Johnson (Shattered Beads), Megan Sheppard (Blue Spruce Beadwork), Emily Best (Emspired), Jordin Burden (Burden's Beads), Shaia Davis (Shaia's Designs), Alexis Cooper (Craftsbylex), Juliette Onalik (Tuttuk Creations), Kate Forest (Forest Beads NL / Kate Forest Art), and Sabrina Muise.
The program focused on a range of skills essential to running a craft-based business - everything from pricing, point of sales systems, product presentation and photography, to web design and online sales, marketing and market prep.
Customers check out artwork from Emily Best (Emspired) during the Indigenous Makers Market.
But what better way to gain knowledge than by learning from those who've been there? By connecting youth participants with established local artisans, the program also provided a personal touch and deeper view into what it takes to run a successful craft business.
"We invited some craft-based Indigenous entrepreneurs to join some sessions and chat about their business models and offer advice to the group, including Kelsey Street (Moss & Needle), Megan Samms (Live Textiles), Kayla Stride (Red Fire Ceramics) and Jessica Coffey (Bespoke Poke)," says Jane Walker, Interim Manager at Quidi Vidi Village Artisan Studios.
Jordin Burden (Burden's Beads) is one of the artisans who participated in the Indigenous Makers Market.
The program officially wrapped in May, with Craft Your Business program participants travelling from across the province to attend a three-day networking event and Indigenous Makers Market at Quidi Vidi Village Artisan Studios. While there, they got the chance to put their lessons into practice as they chatted with customers and sold products like beaded earrings, art prints, pottery and more. Walker says it was a resounding success.
"It was fabulous. It was our busiest day at the Artisan Studios since our Merry Makers Markets in December." And while there are no plans for any summer markets, she notes, "we intend to have another Indigenous Makers Market in the fall and will invite all participants of the program to attend if they are interested and able."
Earrings by Megan Sheppard of Blue Spruce Beadwork were also on display at the market.
As for the Craft Your Business program, Walker says while there are no firm plans in place, "We would love to run the program again in the future."
"This was the first project that we collaborated on with Ulnooweg, but in my opinion it was a great success and we would love to partner again in the future on a similar program, or something else that suits the needs of the Indigenous craft business community."