We recently connected with Trina Slade-Burks and have shared our conversation below.
Trina, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
The mission for the No More Starving Artists Foundation is to help primarily Palm Beach County artists be sustainable personally and professionally by providing opportunities and services. This started because artists in the county were struggling to get the respect and recognition from local businesses, municipalities and organizations. They were not getting opportunities that of county and out of state artists were receiving. We wanted to build the legacies for artists from Palm Beach County.
Trina, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
In 1992, I created the company ATB, Burks Graphic Designers, (now known as ATB Fine Art Group Inc.) with my husband Anthony Burks Sr.. We were known for creating art, designing corporate identities, and teaching art. In 2006 we started curating art exhibitions and pop ups. Often times we would fundraise to help support the events. In 2011, we went through a personal financial crisis. Because of all the opportunities we had provided other artists within the county, the artists came to our aid. At that moment with the assistance of my business attorney who specializes in copyright laws, the No More Starving Artists Foundation Inc. was established in 2018. The organization helps primarily artists from the county both professionally and personally.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
The lesson I had to unlearn is that art of all disciplines is not only created for arts sake. It is a profession. It is a business. It helps enhance so many areas in life. And no artist needs to starve to be part of the art world. It is imperative for them to thrive. Artists and art as a whole are story tellers of our history.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
My biggest discovery to growing clientele is building relationships no matter their industry. There is always an opportunity to meet, nurture and expand long term business relationships.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nmsaf.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nmsafpbc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nmsaf/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nmsaf/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/nmsafpbc_
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPTMjw_Mb7uTQ3nHpLr8_4Q
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nmsaf/
Image Credits
Omni Krome, Durga Garcia Studios, Annette Meyer, Adriano Ficarelli