Gerringong’s Emma Veiga-Malta has worked in the creative industry for almost three decades as an artist, graphic designer and business mentor.

Her latest project - The Creative Business Summit – is one of her most ambitious and important; a conference to help creators overcome the “starving artist mentality” where a career in the arts is seen as financially unstable.

When Emma moved to Gerringong, she noticed a skills gap for artists looking for advice, and the confidence, to make money from their passion and turn their talent into a sustainable career.

So, she drew on her industry experience and years of networking and organised a conference, the first of its kind in the region, designed specifically to help creatives value their work and know their worth.

“We have been raised in a society where creativity has always been considered a soft subject, something you will never make money from, or not a real job because you are doing something you love,” she explains.

“As artists we have to value our work, because if we don’t, who else will? People wouldn’t dream of asking other professionals to do their job for free. But they think it’s OK to say to a musician ‘I'll give you some pizza if you come and sing at the pub tonight’.

“There will be no room for the starving artist mentality at The Creative Business Summit.”

The event, at The Pavilion in Kiama, will cover a range of topics including self-care, navigating social media and marketing, grant funding, pricing your work properly, gaining creative confidence and what is often the “elephant in the room” among creatives - understanding artificial intelligence.

“AI is not something we should be afraid of,” says Emma.

“People were very sceptical about the internet when it first came out, but we've realised it’s just a tool and I think AI is exactly the same.

“There are both ethical and unethical ways to engage with AI and as creatives we need to educate ourselves on it, whether we decide to use it or not, so we can protect our work and our intellectual property.”

The conference - supported by a Kiama Council cultural development grant - is an opportunity for hobbyists starting a new venture or experienced creatives with established businesses to network, learn and draw inspiration from like-minded colleagues.

“It’s important for creatives to realise they are not on their own, not the only ones struggling with the business of making money,” says Emma, who has hosted many virtual mentoring meetings and online group sessions for creatives.

“But never anything as big or exciting as this. It really gives you a confidence boost when you're in a room full of like-minded creatives.

“A lot of the magic happens in the space between speakers, when you're having a cup of tea and you realise you've made some amazing connections. It could be your next client, your next collaborator or your new creative bestie.”

Tickets are on sale for the Creative Business Summit at The Pavilion, Kiama on August 14, from 9am-5pm.