Wisdom applied to an inventive world.
The Experts Council is a diverse cohort of talented minds in multiple fields who recommend topics, formats, and luminaries to equip creative professionals with the insights needed to thrive and to foster a more robust culture. All the research and daily experience at our disposal shows that when we fortify a creative economy, we inject resilience and more effective problem-solving into our shared society. That produces a buoyant context with less conflict in which more people flourish.
Visionaries Make the Future
We are committed to a world in which creative intelligence is supplied with the intellectual and motivational tools it needs to fully engage the culture. Vision + motivation + insight = destiny.
Sofia Perez
Writing and Editing
Telling effective stories. Moving readers to action.
Emily Danchuk
Intellectual Property
Helping protect one's original works and business brand.
Angela Heath
Inspiring Self-Employment
Elevating thought leadership, impact, revenue.
Daniel DiGriz
Digital Ecology
Organic insights applied to the digital ecosystem.
Paula Mele
Brand Identity
Multi-platform creator of visual solutions.
Aletta de Wal
Making a Better Living
Foundations of sustainable art practices.
The Perfect Combination
CHF has continually asked experts to bring their professional insights to bear on the creative economy. These are just some of the amazing people who've contributed their knowledge, perspective, and sage counsel.
Carolyn Edlund
Virtualizing a Career
Mary McBride
Business Design
Arree Chung
Brand Storytelling
Dean Mitchell
Building Reputation
Maura Kehoe Collins
Creative Inventory
Aletta de Wal
Career Sustainability
Jane Robinson
Creative Motivation
Shannon Linker
Creative Communities
Ashley Longshore
Overcoming Gatekeepers
Cyndi Conn
Creative Problem Solving
Emily Danchuk
Intellectual Property
Alexis Clements
Equity & Justice
Maria Brophy
Creative Entrepreneurship
Alan Bamberger
Marketability & Muse
Dan Anthony
Creative Legacy
Steve Zimmerman
Collecting & Connoisseurship
Angela Heath
The Gig Economy
Bonnie Clearwater
Visibility & Recognition
Rachel Berg
The Corporate Market
Seth Hopkins
Relationship Building
Ron Whitmore
Achieving Renown
Betsy Ehrenberg
Continuing Education
Amy Whitaker
Creative Intelligence
Kristin Gary
Future Planning
Christina Empedocles
Financial Planning
Jenny Darroch
Brand Management
Steve Pruneau
The Sharing Economy
Catherine Futter
Career Planning
Stephanie Birdsall
Creative Networking
Mary Ann Weems
Finding an Audience
Cristina DiChiera
Revenue Opportunities
Robert C. Jackson
The Sales Mindset
Contribute a little. Gain a lot.
The commitment is light, the benefits sumptuous, and the impact profound. Perhaps the most interesting component is how council members gain a venue for engaging the culture at a deep level, creating the opportunity for real change.
Commitments
We're going to ask you to look at the programs we're running consistently and weigh in on the overall content (what it should be), the formats (how they could be delivered), and the facilitators (who they might be).
Benefits
We're committed to telling each expert's story—deepening both their professional narrative about why they do what they do and why they've committed to a flourishing creative economy, so others who share similar values to make a similar commitment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Nope. Not unless you want to help us raise money, then sure!
No. Board seats are a deeper level of commitment. This is a fairly lean relationship, where your expertise applies most directly and practically.
We'd love your feedback on our Thriving Tuesdays interview & presentation series, our salons, special courses we deliver, and similar events.
Gosh, no! We're looking for high level input, not play by play critique. We want to know what topics we should be doing, who we should be talking to as experts for those topics, and in what formats we should be delivering.
If you're interested in that, great! Let's start by looking at a possible Thriving Tuesday. We also do written and podcast interviews and, in some cases, special courses. We're open.
Of course. If you run a business or have a book, teach workshops, etc, we'll have a place on your profile landing page to feature that.
We can provide you an affiliate account/link for paid courses we offer the public, and for referrals to our virtual conferences and other paid events. It's a great way to maximize the value of the relationship.
Because a) we'll tell your story, b) it's a great way to champion a cause you care about—the renaissance of a creative culture, and c) backlinks are still the number one SEO factor for ranking a website and .org backlinks (in particular) are extremely well favored by search engines. In short, it's a boost for your brand, if you want that.
Let's talk! The Experts Panel isn't meant to limit the ways anyone can participate. It's just one simple way to lend the expert brain to a powerful cultural movement.
We'll certainly consider anyone you refer, but it's by invitation only, and the primary way we learn about council members is referrals.
Welcome to the club! 🙂 That's why we aren't doing a monthly, weekly get together. Once a quarter is enough for a substantial gathering. We aim to keep that actionable. In the meantime, email works for any arrangements, or we can jump on a quick 1:1 call if something really needs it.
You have to want to live in a world filled with creative intelligence and innovative energy, in which all participants thrive. If you'd hate that idea, that would be the catch.
Our Allies
By partnering with organizations and businesses that share our goals, we break down art-industry silos—fostering communication, sharing data, and spreading best practices—and can quickly scale up our individual and collective efforts, extending our missions and increasing the number of artists we reach and assist.
Who Was Clark Hulings?
Our namesake, Clark Hulings, was both an acclaimed master painter and an astute businessperson. After building a career as a commercial illustrator, he made the transition to fine art at the age of 40, financing the move with his own savings and applying his considerable business experience to grow his art practice.
While he continued to hone his craft well into his 80s, he also knew that, to be successful, he had to think like an entrepreneur and seize opportunities to grow his business. The nine practice areas in our Digital Learning Portal are based on our analysis of what had the biggest impact on Hulings’ career and those of his peers.
Learn more about Clark Hulings, artist and entrepreneur.
Some Words from Working Artists
From a Recent CHF Art-Business Conference
