Join us for our latest Artist Capacity Building Clinic, a multi-part workshop for artists looking to boost their media profile!

About the workshop:

During two two-hour evening workshops on Zoom, we will cover how to represent yourself in the media space. As you build your reputation as an artist and make announcements about your creative work, you will need to master some basic skills to maximize any opportunities involving interviews or coverage of your work. This might be the release of a new book or streamed music, a vernissage and/or exhibit of your visual art or photography, or your performance in a drama production or musical, to name a few examples. This workshop will guide you through four key areas: when and how to write a news release about your creative work and how to issue it; how to get a publication, online or print, podcast or other type of media to feature your work or do an interview with you (also known as pitching a story); how to prepare for an interview by developing key messages and a thorough preparatory question-and-answer (Q&A) document to guide you; and how to practice for the interview through role-play.

One-on-one mentoring following the workshop:

All workshop participants are welcome to apply for up to two hour-long one-on-one mentoring sessions with Carolyne. Twelve session slots will be offered in the first two weeks of December. Sessions will focus on one of the following key areas covered in the workshop (your choice): developing key messages, writing a news release, preparing for an interview with a journalist with a comprehensive Q&A, or pitching a story to a specific journalist or media outlet. The goal of these sessions is to provide you with some basic tools to help you manage your own representation and reputation in the media space. Having these tools in your repertoire will do three main things: 1) ensure you get the right messages out to your publics; 2) help reduce your fear if you are intimidated; and 3) help you get the coverage you intend for your work as an artist from the media outlets that matter to you.

About Carolyne Van Der Meer

Carolyne Van Der Meer has 30 years of experience in public relations and communications, more than 10 of which were spent in media strategy and media relations. She was an official spokesperson for several years, and has trained executives to speak to the media. Carolyne has also worked extensively as a journalist. In addition, she has promoted her work as an author; she has five published books: Motherlode: A Mosaic of Dutch Wartime Experience (Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 2014), Journeywoman (Inanna Publications, 2017), Heart of Goodness: The Life of Marguerite Bourgeoys in 30 Poems | Du coeur à l’âme : La vie de Marguerite Bourgeoys en 30 poèmes (Guernica Editions, 2020); Sensorial (Inanna, 2022); and All This As I Stand By (Ekstasis Editions, 2024). She runs a small consultancy practice in PR and communications.