Creative professionals to visit campus, share career experience with students

March 05, 2012

Six professionals from the creative industry will be coming to campus on Monday, March 12 to share their stories and explain how they've taken their skills and talents to form successful careers.

The speakers come from a variety of backgrounds in the arts, including actor Patrick Kilpatrick, sculptor Ray Kelly, television personality Jeff Engel and artists Mark James and Jana Waller.

The Creative Enterprise Symposium is designed to show students how to monetize their creative gifts after college and hear from voices of experience.

Megan Matthews, lecturer of arts management, says the creative industry has a significant economic impact in the area and has continued to grow through the economic recession.

"These individuals do what they love for a living. They're nationally known. They've figured out how to connect the dots from this creative skill set and create a value for it in the marketplace," Matthews said. "We want students to have a chance to hear how they've walked through that process."

The guest speakers will be presenting to art and communication classes during the day, and the public is invited to an open panel from 2:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. at the James R. Connor University Center in room 259B.  There will also be a reception in the Crossman Gallery in the Greenhill Center of the Arts from 4:30 - 5 p.m.