SANDERS COUNTY – A new opportunity for local artists has been presented to help artists market their work.

The Montana Antrepreneur Program offers a series of workshops that teaches participants how to create a business and marketing plan. The program is going to be held in Sanders County for the first time.

Crystal Kingston, coach and organizer of the workshop, said the workshops provide a perfect opportunity for area artists to learn how to become self-sustaining in their art.

“It’s to help Montana artists market their work and be able to support themselves with their creativity,” Kingston said. “It helps really ground you in reality about what your expenses are to make your art.”

Kingston explained that many people who go through the program later increase the price of their artwork because the workshops allow the artist to get a better handle on what their actual cost is to produce their final product.

“One of the things that artists always think is that real artists are poor, but that doesn’t have to be true,” Kingston explained.

According to their website, the Montana Antrepreneur Program helps address the isolation of rural artists by forming networks throughout the state.

“The program focuses on developing a critical mass of market-ready artists through the work of cohorts (groups) of artists,” states the website.

Kingston explained that when she first moved to the area, one of the biggest problems she faced was the separation many of the artists experienced.

“The first thing I noticed is Montana artists work in isolation a lot. I really miss the contact that I had with other people and all the networking that we did,” Kingston said. “(MAP) really helps us establish a network, which is helpful.”

Executive Director Cindy Kittredge developed the curriculum and will be presenting at the first workshop, which will be held at the Wild Plum Studio in Dixon on March 29-30.

The series of workshops will run until mid October. Kingston explained there is a two-month break in between the workshops where more informal meetings will take place. The interim sessions are to touch base and network.

The program will include a mentorship program with a like-minded professional as well as a trip to the Western Design Conference in Jackson Hole. The final event will take place in November and the artists will head to a show in the Bitterroot to set up and market their fares.

Typically workshops are from six to ten people. Currently Kingston has five students and needs another one to bring the workshops to the area. Scholarships are available for those in need.

By bringing the workshops into Sanders County, Kingston hopes it can help mold the region into more of a cultural tourism area.

After the initial workshop in Dixon, the classes will most likely be moved to a more central location like Plains.

More information can be found at www.art.mt.gov/folklife/folklife_business.asp. Anyone with questions is encouraged to contact Crystal Kingston at 246-2787.