"From Starving to Striving" the Business Side of Art Offers Business Training, Coaching & Grant Funding to Artists & Entertainers

Delray Beach, FL, April 19, 2012 --(PR.com)-- After a well-received launch in January, ”From Starving to Striving” a local program that focuses on developing the business skills of artists, announces a revised 2nd Quarter Program schedule and once again an exciting list of program speakers.

A graduate and grant winner of the pilot program, Shawn Kelly, praised his experience in the program. Shawn described the program “as being enlightening and relevant.” Stating, “I enjoyed the interactions with my fellow participants and learned valuable information from the speakers that I will apply in my business.” Other graduates and grant winners were: Ioana Toader, Subbora Jackson and Nicole Persley.

This program is made possible with funding from the Love for One Another Foundation and Cousins Law Firm. The program’s foundation provides a platform where artists can learn, implement and replicate information garnered in the class room. The program assembles successful artists and industry professionals from an international platform and varied backgrounds to serve as speakers.

“From Starving to Striving” Entrepreneurship Program for Artists is a focused curriculum designed to assist individual artists of all disciplines (visual, musicians, writers, media, theater, performing arts and culinary) in expanding their foundation, strengthening their business skills, both in/out of the classroom.

A comprehensive supportive infrastructure assists both amateur and professional artist with the demands of business start-up models or business expansion challenges. The workshops teach artists to shatter the myth of the starving artist and excel at personal advancement in creating a thriving business.

The 2nd Quarter classes begin on Saturday, April 21 and ends on Saturday, May 19 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. They are held at the Global Business Development Center at 14000 Military Trail, in Suite #112 in Delray Beach. Registrants will receive in classroom and real world resources, as well as one-on-one executive coaching. Over the course of the year, 100 artists will participate in business workshops, given one-on-one coaching and compete to win over $8000 in grants. The workshops and business coaching sessions are free with a registration fee of $75.

To date the program boasts an impressive list of professional artist and industry professionals who have come on board to share not just their knowledge but their industry contacts with the program participants:

Copeland Davis Jazz & Classical Music Pianist
As a child of seven, Copeland's fascination with music began while watching a pianist on TV. He blocked out everything that was going on except that pianist. He remembers thinking that "if someone could only show me, I could learn to do that." Thus began his education with the piano. This also set in motion his roots in gospel, which he achieved from playing in church for thirteen years. This would eventually tie together with classical training to create his unique style as a jazz innovator. His ultimate influence would become Beethoven, who used the piano as an instrument to imitate the complete orchestra. The keyboard is his kingdom. He can appear as a jazz pianist, but he can send his instrument into the pop, rock or classical ends of the spectrum. What makes him outstanding is that he is comfortable in all phases. Copeland’s resume includes performances such as:

· The Tonight Show: NBC
· Good Morning America: ABC
· B.L. Stryker: ABC
· Kennedy Center of Performing Arts, Washington D.C.
· McCormick Place, Chicago
· World Trade Center, Boston
· Copeland Davis Television Special: WPBS

Thomas Cavendish World Conductor/Artistic Director
Thomas Cavendish is a PhD graduate from the Florida State University School of Music and will celebrate his 30th season as Artistic Director/Conductor of South Florida's Gold Coast Opera in 2010. He has amassed a repertoire of over forty five works for the lyric stage, including twenty two standard repertory operas. The maestro has featured many international artists with GCO including Roberta Peters, Jerome Hines, Spiro Malas, Dominic Cossa, Pauletta deVaughn, and television stars Don Stewart and Ron Raines of Guiding Light fame. In recent years the maestro has conducted operas at several European festivals including the Janacek Festival in the Czech Republic, the Verdi Centennial Festival in Romania, and the Silesian Opera Festival in Katowice Poland.

Vincent Ward, Actor & Philanthropist
Vincent M. Ward II, is a larger than life Actor, Producer, Writer and Philanthropist who has been working in Hollywood for over ten years. He made his on-screen debut back in 2000 when he landed a role in the hit blockbuster film Traffic and has since then appeared in other box office favourites such as Oceans 11 and Bringing down the House. Ward has also secured an impressive roster of TV credits that continues to grow. This resume coupled with the nationwide launch of his production company V.M.W. Productions, has solidified his place in Hollywood.

Gaetano D Espinosa-Classical Music Conductor
Music critics across the globe consider Gaetano d’Espinosa to be one of this generation’s supreme talents in the realm of classical music D’Espinosa served as First Concertmaster at the Staatskapelle Dresden from 2001 until 2008 when he resigned to focus on his conducting career, taking on the role of musical assistant of Fabio Luisi. He also premiered his Concerto for violin n°1 under the baton of Christian Arming. During his time in Dresden he worked with some of the world’s preeminent conductors and singers.

James Bearden, Attorney
Mr. Bearden is a graduate of the University of Detroit and of the Howard University School of Law. Mr. Bearden has extensive experience and strong capacity in the negotiation, preparation and administration of a wide range of contracts with Internet companies, entertainers, television networks, communications companies, boxing promotions, sporting event sites and venues.

Mr. Bearden holds memberships in the Federal Communications Bar, the Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association, and is also an agent/signatory of the Writers Guild of America, East and West. Mr. Bearden is admitted to practice in the State of Florida, the District of Columbia, and before the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, the United States of Appeals for the District of Columbia and the United States Court for the District of Maryland.

Mr. Bearden also held the position of Associate General Counsel at Don King Productions, Inc. in Deerfield Beach, Florida and of counsel at the law firm of Akerman, Senterfitt & Eidson in Miami, Florida. Currently, Mr. Bearden is a partner at the law firm of Bearden, Lewis & Thomas, LLP in Boca Raton, Florida.

William DeBilzan, Caribbean Artist – Art Gallery Owner
Bill spends time in his garage painting. It started out being more just for the fun of it but soon he became so passionate about his painting, he couldn’t wait to wake up and start at it -- all over again! His love of painting began to blossom! DeBilzan paintings are his passion but never in his wildest dreams did he realize he was going to make a living at it and never in wildest dreams did he think he would actually own art galleries. He has had as many as three art galleries. One in Santa Fe, New Mexico, one in Laguna Beach, California and one in Delray Beach, Florida.

He lets his art reveal human emotions and feelings. It's something everyone can relate to. Bill DeBilzan art has been on television shows like Frasier, Spin City, L.A. Doctors, Just Shoot Me, and C.S.I. Miami.

Dr Joseph Ferrer
Dr. Joseph Ferrer owner of Sunset Entertainment Group, has a long history of producing shows in a diverse arena of world-class stages. He promotes dreams and makes them come true, whether it be concerts that entertain and enrich, or concepts that inspire and share the course of events. As General Manager and Executive Vice President for the Palm Beach Pops for three seasons and President and CEO of the Boca Pops (1992-94), Mr. Ferrer developed season lineups. In each case, he more than doubled the seasons' subscription sales. During that time, he developed audience relationships and frequent sellouts from the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach to Bailey Concert Hall in Davie, Florida.

Patrick Cousins, Attorney
Mr. Cousins founded his law firm in 1994, after working for a large international law firm representing Fortune 100 corporations, automobile manufacturers, and the Federal Government. Cousins Law Firm provides legal services in four main areas: Entertainment Law, Business and Personal Legal services, Lemon Law, and Personal Injury.

Mr. Cousins has been instrumental in the funding of this program. He also represents the foundation funds donated by an intentional performing artist who is currently requesting that his identity remains anonymous.

About The Partners

The Florida Sunshine Pops Inc. is committed to enrich and entertain audiences of all ages and musical tastes. The goal is to provide popular music highest quality attainable, in a format in which the collective efforts of professional musicians, guest artists and conductors complement their individual pursuits of excellence. Please visit www.sunseter.com for additional information.

Rainbow Marketing Inc. DBA. Global Business Development Center is a one stop shop boutique firm specializing in services for public and private organizations, small businesses and entrepreneurs looking to establish grow or improve their profit margin. Please visit www.globalbusinessdevelopmentcenter.com

For additional information.

Cousins Law Firm, P.A
The Firm provides legal services in four main areas: Entertainment Law, Business and Personal Legal services, Lemon Law, and Personal Injury. The Firm’s goal is to provide full service and satisfaction to each client during every step of representation regardless of their area of need.

Please visit www.cousinslawfirm.com for additional information.

Please e-mail us at info@globalbusinessdevelopmentcenter.com to obtain a program registration form. The form is also available on our website: http://www.globalbusinessdevelopmentcenter.com/images/Business_Side_of_Art_Second_Quarter.pdf

Please call us at 561-894-4500 with any questions.