Artrepreneur: Story Spine Workshop

Once you know your story, the next step is structure.

This workshop helps participants begin identifying the spine of their marketing story — the core elements that hold everything together & make communication easier, clearer, & more aligned. Through collaborative exercises, participants will draft a core narrative paragraph that connects directly to their marketing language & audience engagement. The focus is on clarity, confidence, & identifying the emotional thread that makes their work memorable.

 

Using a guided framework, artists work through the Who, What, When, Where, Why, & How of their artistic story:

1. Who (innate) - as an artist, as a business owner

2. What (profound) - what makes their art remarkable & memorable

3. When (specific) - when does someone want/need their art

4. Where (relational) - who is buying their art & the networks they are connected to

5. Why (urgent) - why do people buy their art now?

6. How (compelling) - what is really compelling about how they create their art, or how their art is impactful.

 These answers form the backbone of a participant’s unique selling proposition — without forcing them into generic marketing language.

 

You’ll leave with:

• A clear core story spine you can return to again & again

• Greater confidence in explaining your work to funders, buyers, & institutions

• A framework that supports grant writing, bios, artist statements, & marketing

• Recognize how your story influences your marketing language

This workshop is especially useful for artists who feel like they “know what they do” but struggle to articulate it clearly or consistently.

 

Instructor: Tina Overbury

Tina Overbury is a story strategist, communications coach, and founder of Discover Your Story. She specializes in helping creatives, entrepreneurs, and leaders articulate the deeper narrative behind their work so they can communicate with clarity, confidence, and emotional resonance. With over twenty years of experience in theatre, writing, and narrative development, Tina brings a grounded, accessible teaching style that makes storytelling feel both empowering and practical. She has worked with artists, founders, and organizations across Canada to refine their public-facing messaging, develop compelling bios and brand stories, and build sustainable communication systems rooted in authenticity.