42 | INNOVISION MAGAZINE ENTREPRENUERSHIP IN THE ARTS PANEL The Entrepreneurship in the Arts Panel allowed students to ask questions on how KU Alumni started a business from their passion and specialties. The panel included Keri Shultz, President of the Reading Musical Foundation (RMF), a non-profit company providing funds to over twenty different music-based organizations within Berks County. Although not a musician herself, Shultz has been Executive Director for the past thirteen years, starting her business journey there right out of college. Next on the panel sat Jacklyn Downing, who began her own small business, Jacklyn Downing art + design, as a side project. The small business has since grown allowing this “Jackie of all trades” to offer her services of interior design, renovations, textile art, fine art, and more. The final panelist, Emily Hammel-Shaver, started Lumos Communications where she and her team offer all aspects of website creation from the business strategy to branding and visual architecture. ‘How does one balance their artistic passion with the skills needed to run a business?’ was asked of all panelists, leading to an interesting discussion about learning and doing. Downing found that prior jobs, both before and during the start of her business, enabled her to learn and gain perspective as she runs her business. “All of those things come together” she explained, “you just don’t understand [at the time] how it all applies.” Hammel-Shaver admitted, “I think it’s easier to do things well when you’re doing things you kind of like.” Through the help of internships, she was able to discover this while learning the skills that would ultimately lead her to creating Lumos Communications. “That is why it is important to say, ‘yes’ when starting out,” Shultz said, following up on the other’s words, “and to say, ‘no’ recognizing moments where you’re being asked to devalue yourself.” Regarding value, panelists were asked ‘how does one put a price tag on their passion and artistic work? “I could talk for hours about pricing,” Shaver-Hammel said laughing. “It’s time, energy, expertise, technical skill set, knowledge, and unique ability; essentially, it’s your genius,” she continued. If someone doesn’t value that, it’s not a good customer for her. Downing took an interesting approach while starting out by offering three low to no cost projects to people she knew to gain experience. “I got to figure out how long it took me to do the work,” she explained, and it opened dialogue to gain feedback, while also leading to referrals. “Artists by nature are generous and sometimes can be taken advantage of,” Shultz cautioned, “and although the end product is tangible, the process is not always, causing clients to have an inaccurate perception on the value of art.” “Is there anything that you wish you knew starting out?” a student asked from the crowd. “I wish I would’ve known that what I start will change and that’s okay,” Hammel-Shaver offered. Downing followed with, “Evolution is what you want because you will keep getting better and happier by choosing what’s right for you.” She expressed that there are a lot of artists in the world, but “there’s a unique thing that you do, which makes it yours only, and that is what people are interested in.” Hammel-Shaver continued, that perfecting your story is important and sometimes it’s hard to know the magical thing about oneself, so it’s good to always ask for testimonials and find the pattern. “You don’t have to do everything yourself, Shultz advised, “and if you do, you’re going to stretch yourself so thin that everything starts to fall apart.” Shultz had the opportunity of working with great people starting out who truly wanted her to succeed. “Find some trusted advisors that you can lean on for support and that’s going to push you to where you want to go.” Keri Shultz, Jacklyn Downing, and Emily Hammel-Shaver Jeff Wehrung (Associate Dean), Keri Shultz (Reading Musical Foundation), Jacklyn Downing (Jacklyn Downing art + design), Emily Hammel-Shaver (Lumos Communications), and Anne Carroll (Dean)
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