Making Social Media Work for You: Practical Tools for Artists knowledge, tools - confidence to use social media efficiently and effectivey

As artists, our studio time is precious. Social media can be an incredibly effective way of reaching new audiences, connecting with potential clients and sharing our work, but it can also feel time-consuming and overwhelming.

For our Education Day, we will hold a practical, one-day workshop designed to give creatives the knowledge, tools and confidence to use social media efficiently and effectively.

The emphasis will be on practical advice that artists can immediately put into practice — creating content, planning and scheduling posts, filming themselves and their work, and confidently sharing their work online.

The Aim

The objective of the Education Day is to help members and other creatives :

Understand how to use social media more effectively to support their practice.

Create engaging content without taking excessive time away from the studio.

Develop confidence in filming and presenting themselves and their work.

Learn practical techniques for creating short-form video and Reels.

Understand how, when and where to post and share content.

Make better use of scheduling and planning tools.

Connect with potential clients, collectors, galleries and wider audiences.

Leave with practical skills that they can continue to use independently.

Morning Session — Understanding Your Social Media

Speaker: Tara Prendergast, The Biscuit Factory

The morning session will provide practical guidance on making social media work for artists, with a particular focus on content, posting and scheduling.

Tara Prendergast

Tara Prendergast is the founder of The Biscuit Factory, Ireland’s largest independent creative network, with over 20,000 makers, artists and designers.

With 30 years as an entrepreneur and the last decade spent mentoring the creative sector, she helps creatives answer the question she couldn’t answer at 18, the question that stopped her from going to art college:

How will you make money from this?

Lunch Break

An informal opportunity for members to meet, chat and share experiences.

** Please note that the library closes from 1-2pm

Afternoon Session — Practical Reels & Self-Filming Workshop

Speaker: Jai Cairns

The afternoon will be a hands-on session where participants learn how to create their own short-form video content using equipment they already have — primarily their phones.

Jai Cairns

Jai Cairns is a visual artist and musician whose creative practice spans percussion, photography, and darkroom printing.Their photographic practice explores analogue image-making and the tactile processes of darkroom printing. They regularly facilitate photography and technology workshops for groups of retirees, encouraging creative exploration and engagement with photography. Jai has also exhibited in Treaty City, Limerick, contributing to the local arts scene. Across their work, Jai brings together artistic exploration, collaborative learning, and a commitment to making creative experiences accessible to others.

The workshop will cover:

Setting up your phone for filming.

Lighting and positioning.

Filming yourself confidently.

Simple techniques for creating Reels.

Talking to camera and introducing your work.

Creating short, engaging videos without complicated equipment.

Editing basic video.

Adding text, captions and music where appropriate.

Posting and sharing Reels.

Saving and sending video files.

Practical tips for transferring files between devices and sharing them with others.

The emphasis will be on doing rather than simply watching, with members creating their own content during the session.

GSOI Members' and participants Reel Initiative

To put the day's learning into practice, we propose inviting all participants to create and submit a one-minute introductory Reel about themselves and their work.

This will provide members with an achievable first piece of content following the workshop, while also creating an opportunity for GSOI to showcase the breadth and diversity of its membership.

Each Reel could introduce:

The artist.

Their practice and medium.

What inspires their work.

A glimpse of their studio or working process.

A selection of their work.

Where people can find or purchase their work.

The GSOI would then feature their member each week/month across its social media channels as part of a regular series.

The Bigger Picture

The Education Day is not intended to turn artists into social media influencers. Instead, it is about helping members to use social media as a professional tool — one that supports their artistic practice rather than taking them away from it.

By the end of the day, participants should feel that social media is something they can confidently manage, rather than something they have to constantly keep up with.

The combination of expert advice in the morning, practical skills in the afternoon, and the follow-on “Members Monday” initiative will allow the Edu

Description supplied by the event organiser.