Whether you’re an artist, a craftsman, a shop-owner or a designer, the real scene is now happening online. Social media and online selling platforms (such as Etsy or Monoqi) are gaining ground, connecting creative entrepreneurs all over the world regardless of their physical location. In one click, people next door or in Latin America can both browse your profile, get to know your work and tell people around them. This session will explain how mastering online communication tools can provide exposure, network and marketing opportunities through case studies' analysis and group conversations. Who knows? Your success might lie in the next few clicks...

Panelists:

Joumana Ibrahim studied at the Lebanese American University and at London College of Communications (LCC). Upon returning to Lebanon in 2006, she worked as an art director at Leo Burnett Beirut, serving a vast array of leading Lebanese and international brands, and winning a number of regional and international awards. She dedicates most of her time teaching courses and workshops at ALBA (Académie Libanaise des Beaux Arts), Notre Dame University, and AUST (American University of Science and Technology). Joumana is currently working as a freelance graphic designer/art director for local and regional brands, and is teaching in several universities across Lebanon.

Elia El Khazen is a social media strategist, a community organiser and trainer in both topics. With an education spanning from topics as diverse as biology and business, Elia found his way into the digital realm through a deep interest in this topic. With experience in media and writing, Elia focuses today on campaign strategies; both online and offline. His initiatives vary from the private to the NGO sectors. His work aims to enable people to organise their power and resources to lead campaigns for change towards justice and freedom using a value-based community-organising model.

Mirko Tattarini is the founder and CEO of Lagos Design and teaches Design Strategies at ISIA, Florence.

From 16 to 24 January, GAIA-Heritage is hosting a weeklong event of activities In Mar Mikhael within the EU-funded project MEDNETA. The event includes Toolbox: a series of free workshops for artists, craftsmen and designers.

Toolbox will be happening over 3 days: 22, 23 & 24 of January.

Day 1 will expose creatives to new technologies and innovative techniques

Day 2 will provide creatives with the needed entrepreneurial, and marketing skills to create their own businesses.

After the first two days of training artists, craftsmen and designers will spend Day 3 collaborating to create products and their respective business plans and present them to a jury. Members of the jury include: Kafalat, RDCL - Rassemblement de Dirigeants et Chefs d'entreprises Libanais, UNESCO, a design market expert and a design process expert.

To participate on Day 3, creatives need to have attended a minimum of 2 workshops on Days 1 and 2 and sign up at the IGA premises by 12pm on Day 2.

By the end of 2015, these products will be further developed between the artists, craftsmen and designers of MEDNETA’s partner cities (Athens, Tunis, Valencia, Florence and Hebron) and exhibited around the Mediterranean.

inMarMikhael