Media Release Date: January 6, 2011 Contact: Sabrina Pratt, Arts Commission, Ph: (505) 955-6707, svpratt@santafenm.gov
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE FOR ARTISTS OFFERED BY THE CITY OF SANTA FE ARTS COMMISSION Artists, artisans, and craftsmen who offer workshops and classes for the public within Santa Fe County are invited to sign up for a free consultation on Internet marketing. Consultations on creating websites and blogs, and using Facebook, Twitter and other Internet marketing strategies, are being offered free to small businesses interested in finding workshop customers through www.SantaFeCreativeTourism.org. Consultation appointments are available in January and February on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at the Santa Fe Arts Commission Community Gallery. Appointments can be made by contacting Brent Hanifl at santafecreativetourism@gmail.com or 608-792-5746. The City’s marketing of Creative Tourism is centered on the website santafecreativetourism.org. Listings are free to local area businesses that offer a hands-on workshop, class or experience. Those wishing to place a listing should visit the site and see the tab titled “Get Involved.” The website is actively marketed through a blog, a newsletter and other websites. This includes marketing efforts by the businesses listed on the website, creating an even larger reach. “As a result of listing my workshops on SantaFeCreativeTourism.org and learning about Internet marketing strategies through a free consultation at the Community Gallery, I attracted many new students to my workshops last fall.” says Jakki Kouffman, Santa Fe painter. The city of Santa Fe is continuing to work with artists and arts businesses to further develop the organization and promotion of workshops that allow visitors to experience Santa Fe in a handson fashion. Partnerships and collaborations with the hospitality industry and other entities are welcomed. This initiative was created as a result of the city of Santa Fe’s 2005 appointment to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network and builds upon the successful 2008 International Conference on Creative Tourism held in Santa Fe. ### The City of Santa Fe Arts Commission (SFAC), an agency within the municipal government of the City of Santa Fe, provides leadership by and for City government in supporting arts and cultural affairs. The SFAC also recommends programs and policies that develop, sustain and promote artistic excellence in the community. For more information contact SFAC at (505) 9556707, email artscommission@santafenm.gov or fax (505) 955-6671.