top of page
MARCH 29, 2025 TN TECH WESLEY FOUNDATION
PRESENTED BY ART ROUND TENNESSEE
ART + BUSINESS SYMPOSIUM
A professional development opportunity for visual artists and makers looking to begin or advance their creative careers.
SYMPOSIUM DETAILS:
Artwork by Matt Knieling. The Art + Business Symposium is sponsored in part by a grant through the Cookeville Arts Council.
March 29, 2025
9 am - 1 pm
TTU Wesley Foundation
Cookeville, Tennessee
Registration Cost
Students & Members of Art Round Tennessee: $15
General Registration: $30
The Art & Business Symposium is funded in part by a grant through the Cookeville Arts Council.
SPEAKERS & TOPICS:
It's All About The Hustle: Getting Your Artwork Out There
Jim Wysolmierski Artist, Educator, & Artist-In-Residence at the Appalachian Center for Craft
From Passion to Pitch: Branding, Confidence, & Communication for Artists
Heather Karellas Writer & Co-Founder of Streetlamp Creative
The Art of Cashflow: How to Price Your Product as an Artist
Chris Brown Financial Expert & Entrepreneur
Beyond the Art: Making a Living and Building Professional Relationships
Chad Morgan Animation Artist, Designer, Educator, & Owner of Old Guy Studios
Jim Wysolmierski is the Artist in Residence – Exhibitions at the Appalachian Center for Craft. He is an award- winning sculptor and arts educator who recently moved to Tennessee from Florida. He holds an MFA in Emerging Media: Studio Art and Design from the University of Central Florida and completed his undergraduate studies at the University of South Florida. His artistic practice explores the intersection of industrial and body imagery, using his work to address the understanding and healing of past traumas.
A strong believer in the power of community, Jim is committed to the idea that meaningful global change begins with local action and mutual support. He has served as a panelist at the SECAC academic conferences in 2022 and 2023, and his work has been featured in solo exhibitions as well as group shows in galleries and museums from Florida to New York and Alaska.
In addition to his artistic endeavors, Jim is dedicated to expanding access to higher education.
He is currently part of the adjunct faculty for Tennessee Tech’s School of Art, Craft & Design. This past summer, he brought college courses into the Florida prison system through the Florida Prison Education Project, providing college credit to those incarcerated.
.jpg)
Heather Karellas is the Co-Founder and Writer at Streetlamp Creative, a marketing agency that helps clients share their unique stories through print and digital materials.
Before co-launching her business, Heather led donor outreach and fundraising for creative organizations including the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta and SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design). She has also served as a Board Member for MINT Gallery and a Grant Panelist for the City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs.
With a BBA in Organization & Management from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School and certification as a CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive), Heather combines creativity with strategic thinking to support her clients. She is an active member of the current Impact Leadership class, 100 Women Who Care Cookeville, and Art Round Tennessee. She also leads the Marketing portion of The Biz Foundry's Start Up: Business Bootcamp.
Chris Brown is a financial expert who has helped hundreds of businesses manage and project cash flow over the course of his career. He loves talking about business, entrepreneurship, and finance and when he’s not building spreadsheets, you can find him ballroom dancing with his wife or at the local driving range
Chad Morgan has had over 30 years of experience and a successful career as an artist and mentor. He has had the privilege of working with renowned companies such as DreamWorks Feature Animation, Disney, ABCMouse, and PBS Kids. His work experience includes designing characters, directing and producing animation, creating user interfaces, designing logos, and other forms of media. While working with Age of Learning, he was responsible for designing, overseeing, and animating a diverse range of games, characters, and environments.
Chad is passionate about creating art and inspiring new artists. During his time at The Art Institute, he mentored young artists, teaching and helping them to grow, and encouraging them to find their creative passion.
Thank you to everyone who made the 2024 art & business symposium possible:
TTU WESLEY FOUNDATION
COOKEVILLE ARTS COUNCIL
SOUL CRAFT COFFEE
MEG'S BREAD
THE SILVER FERN
SPEAKERS: BETH ANDERSON WALKER, MITCHELL WHITE, DR. JESSE DAVENPORT, AUDRY DEAL-MCEVER, & KIMBERLY WINKLE
bottom of page