I wanted this workshop to be accessible to everyone, so I planned a few different projects that people could do that would match different skill levels. One was straightforward, yet very easy to customize and have fun with. The others were more complex and required more thought and planning. I found that most people were drawn to the easier projects. I think that people were just really eager to start putting things together, so they didn’t want so much instruction. The projects I chose were things that I thought people would actually use and want to keep, such as fridge magnets, drink coasters, brooches, and key chains. I also thought that they would make for good giftable objects, especially since you can personalize them.
For supplies, I was careful to do my research and source out the best prices for things like resin and molds. I was able to save some money by borrowing some supplies from friends, such as UV lights, as well as hosting the event at my local library, which has a meeting room that was free for me to book!
Something that I have learned after hosting a few of these community art events is that you should always advertise and promote the event at least a month or two ahead of time. If you advertise on Facebook or use EventBrite its good to be aware that even if for example 10 people have responded that they will be going, it does not necessarily mean that those 10 people will show up. So best not to assume that you know how many people will be there on the day. It’s also good to send out little reminders and updates on Facebook to keep people updated and engaged, as well as to keep checking on any posters that you have up on community bulletin boards, as they do get covered up with new posters over time.
Also, be careful when you pick your date for your event so that there are not any other big events going on at the same time that may draw people away from your event.
