Artists co-operative: A plan for self employment

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A training opportunity is available for Aboriginal artists that will give them ownership of a co-operative business and will allow for cultural exploration through the arts. The program is called the Aboriginal Youth Artisan Self Employment Program.

"Here's an opportunity for Aboriginal artists to create their future through a co-operative business that combines their culture and western economic business experience," said Wayne Gorman, co-ordinator for the program.

The program is 33 weeks long and financial assistance will be available to participants and includes start up money for art supplies.

The 12 participants must be 18 to 30 years old and have developed their art form to some degree. The youth artisan program is still accepting applications from interested Aboriginal artists.

"We are looking for people who have produced some pieces already. We are not looking at raw talent that needs to be totally developed," said Gorman.

Potential participants of the youth artisan program are not restricted to financial criteria like employment insurance benefits or social assistance, said Gorman. However, at least three people must be from the Treaty 6 area.

"We are using coaches with experience in art forms, and facilitators with the knowledge of the legal aspects involved in a co-operative business. We want people to be successful," said Gorman.

The program will bring Elders into the program to work with participants.

"We need to have the constraints people have placed upon themselves lifted and replaced with empowerment, self-esteem and confidence. That's part of the role of the Elders. To learn more about who we are," said Gorman.

In the objectives of the program, a co-operative business model will be used. Participants will research and write a full strategic business plan that is culturally acceptable.

The program will assist the artists to start and successfully meet the monthly financial goals of the business that comes out of the plan.

"Once they put their plan together for the co-operative, after 33 weeks they are in business. This is not a course and then maybe you'll get a job kind of program. They are not just thrown out there," said Gorman.

In the outline, the program promises to be intensive, but the financial assistance available to participants will allow them to focus entirely on getting their business plan together, their art pieces developed and their co-operative business up and running.

Financial assistance will also be available for the start up of the co-operative business. The subsidy will be available to the business in the first few months of operation. It will not be a cash grant, but will be provided on an as-needed basis for expenses. Expenses will approved by the program co-ordinator.

While most of the curriculum is developed, Gorman feels there is still room for input from the participants to be part of development of the entrepreneurial training program.

"It will be built by the students. This isn't mine. This is theirs. We are just here to guide them and give them the tools," said Gorman.

The program co-ordinator is hoping to have enough participants for the program to start by the end of March.