Testimonials

"The value is worth WAY MORE than the tuition." - John B.

"I came for an introduction & overview of the business of art and I got it, which has helped diminish my fears alot. The openness and enthusiasm of Side Street's facilitators were very helpful, the guest lecturers were teriffic. It was a down-to-earth approach with great sense of humor all the way!"
- Francesca H.

"This class was personally useful for me as a "re-emerging" artist. This class has helped motivate me tremendously to re-claim my career as an artist. I also made a few friends and contacts that I hope to spend time with discussing work and going to shows. I miss that, and realize how crucial it is for practicing artists." - Michael Y.

"I expected to be presented with a lot of resources and to have these resources contextualized. My expectations were met and exceeded."- Jalal P.

"I really appreciated the frankness of how Karen Atkinson ‘cuts to the chase.’ After listening to my fellow classmates, it was clear that the average artists doesn’t know much about the business side of art. All in all, I’m a smarter artist and now, I’m mentoring my mentor – go figure!" - Natalie H.

"I hoped to hear ‘magic words’ that would instantaneously get my shit together. Those magic words manifested themselves in a less dramatic form than I expected… but nonetheless, manifest they did. Much of what I found so daunting in the art world sees less so now." - David S.

"I was impressed by the diversity of the group, the broad range of parties represented. That helped to keep the conversations very open. There was a lot of accrued experience in the group. It is unusual to be in a situation where artists are ‘pooling,’ rather than ‘protecting’ their knowledge. This workshop was a great model for Side Street Projects to embrace and for the artists here to pursue beyond this course. Most helpful was the discussions on fiscal receivership, discussion of granting bodies, and (of course) the opportunity to meet other artists in a genuinely supportive and productive context. Karen Atkinson’s energy, experience and generosity was invaluable. I was particularly interested in the specifics of working in LA." - Joyce C.

"Personally, I just needed a little bit of steering in the right direction, and I can take it from there – so this class was well suited for my style. Also, mixing with so many dedicated artists is always inspiring. It plants subconscious seeds… woo hoo! The class NEVER was concerned with making 'slick' commercialized artists, and I appreciate that – the idea was to talk about what it takes to survive in the trenches. Get Your Sh*t Together really helped me visualize a future for myself and helped motivate me." - Stan B.

"I think that the usefulness of this class will prove itself over the course of many years We covered so much material, much of which will become relevant as I engage in particular project in the future. The class was great as a motivational source. It was exciting to hear ideas and solutions being discussed and generated in class, and then to go home with this information to solve my own art problems. It was also really important to hear the stories and perspectives of all the artists that this class brought together." - David P.

"I somehow figured that I would transform into the hip artists i always imagine being. Alas, I'm still me. However, I have managed to conquer my fears in the 'networking' department. The sessions on applying for grants and other options for showing your work has been a real eye opener. I can't think of anything that wasn't helpful... it was all very helpful." - Stacey W.

"I was surprised at how many students were people that had been in the art world for quite some time! I was expecting more recent MFA grads like myself. My expectations about Karen were more than fulfilled. She is an incredibly generous (and gregarious) teacher. I was expecting her to be a 'pro,' and boy... is she ever! I can't say enough positive things about this class and all its practical, business knowledge that every artist needs to know. Karen just RULES! She is funny, approachable, immensely
knowledgeable, and a great artist in her own right." - Alexandria C.

"Excellent class! Karen is my super-hero, too! It is no longer a mystery as to how the art world works. With some hard work on my behalf, I will be able to find a place to exhibit my work, and present it on my own terms." - Nancy W.

"I was blown away... I never really had my art eyes opened up from so many directions." - Joel T.

"My expectations were totally surpassed! Overall, I think GYST really boosted my confidence levels and directed me towards figuring out what is best for me. Glad I did this, because I think I'll be a better artists because of it." - Jorge F.

"This class was MUCH more helpful than I expected. I felt a great sense of community in the group, which is something i DID NOT expect." - Susy K.

"I really enjoyed it and it helped motivate me. It also gave me a realistic perspective about how much work I personally need to do, and helped me figure out a realistic time frame to accomplish it." -
Jennifer G.

"It was a lot of information! I have SO much to do... but I am so incredibly grateful to know what needs to be done. It is no longer a mystery. I have nothing critical to say. I feel so lucky to have had this opportunity. I can't think of any way to make it better. Just keep doing it! Get Your SH*T Together rocks!" - Avonel J.

"In a relatively short amount of time, Karen presented a wealth of information in an engaging and entertaining manner. Having taken similar classes, I was impressed by the PROFESSIONAL as opposed
the COMMERCIAL presentation. Karen's attitude towards the art world was very refreshing and (for me) helpful. She took away a lot of the annoying mystery fostered by many "art people." - Toby C.

"My expectations were met. I had nothing other than my work when I walked through the doors. Now, I have the tools to back my work up." - Laura H.

"Oh my, after class #1 I got my money's worth. I think it has been tremendous for me and my career as an artist. So many things opened up to me since taking this class." - Katie H.

"Being an artist who has sold work for 30+ years... GYST worked for me like a big fat slap across the face to wake up and stop making the same stupid mistakes over and over again." - Jaye M.

"I thought that the class was very informative & well worth the cost, time, and energy." - Kristie M.

"It was no-nonsense. We got SO much information in such a short amount of time. The class really helped me understand that being an working artist is running a business. This was a concept that I was in deep denial about previously." Michelle P.

"I thought the class offered extremely relevant information on the business of being an artist (that you wouldn't otherwise get on your own) in such a clear, well covered way. There was information presented that I hadn't even considered." - Kathleen B.

"I have moved down the path so far that I can't remember how little I knew when I started. My expectations were met and exceeded immeasurably. Karen is the most important aspect of this class. Her wealth of knowledge and experience, her unique perspective and candor were extremely
valuable." - Laura H.

 So please come join us!