More Than 120 Attend 'Business of Art’ Seminar

The Town of North Hempstead and their Business and Tourism Development Corporation welcomed more than 120 small business managers and community leaders to ‘The Business of Art” Breakfast Seminar Thursday.

The Aug. 8 event was produced in partnership with the Long Island Development Corporation’s Long Island Small Business Assistance Corporation Division and the Amsterdam at Harborside, a Port Washington senior life care retirement facility where the seminar was held.

The seminar was designed to educate local businesses about how art can be used as both a marketing and community revitalization tool.

“The concept of this event falls directly in line with my administration’s goal of using art to stimulate the economy and engage communities,” North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman said.

Examples of that in the Town include the recent ArtsBuild in New Cassel which has placed permanent functional “street furniture” and life-like sculptures in the community’s downtown area, as well as the Town’s partnership with the Great Neck Arts Center for the Gold Coast Film Festival that has brought famous filmmakers, actors and directors to the Town for special screenings of independent films.

Caroline Sorokoff, Associate Director of the Great Neck Arts Center, spoke at the seminar and agreed that arts can be used as a community revitalization tool.  She also emphasized the necessity for young people to be educated in the arts. 
“Today, universities, governments and corporations are realizing that in order to develop the kind of workforce that is most productive and effective they need people with solid arts backgrounds,” Sorokoff said. “Education in the arts teaches and encourages skills that not are not easily taught  like creative problem solving, self-confidence, collaboration.”

Charlee Miller, Executive Director of the Art League of Long Island, spoke about using art as a marketing tool for businesses of all kinds.  “Art can help you build market share, enhance your brand and reach new customers,” Miller said.  “Art also speaks to diverse populations and creates an environment that blends backgrounds, ethnicities and cultures.”