• Try “portfolio”, “ink”, “branding” or a code like “PRS 101”.

PRS 250Professional Identity and Online Presence

Building an Online Creative Community

Grow a small, engaged audience you own: newsletters, member spaces, live sessions and community guidelines that keep it healthy.

Planned

About this course

Followers on a platform can disappear with an algorithm change; a community you host is more durable. This course covers the difference between an audience and a community, starting an email newsletter with free tools, choosing whether to host a group space, running recurring events such as studio sessions and critiques, writing community guidelines and moderating fairly, and protecting members' privacy, including getting clear consent before emailing people. It complements Building a Consistent Social Media Presence.

Who it’s for: Artists and designers with some existing audience (any size) who want closer, more reliable contact with the people who follow their work.

You will be able to

  • Explain the difference between an audience and a community and choose a goal for yours
  • Set up a newsletter with a clear sign-up promise and an explicit consent step
  • Plan a recurring community event such as a monthly studio session or critique
  • Write community guidelines and a moderation plan

Prerequisites

Studio project

A launched newsletter sign-up with a first issue, plus a community plan with a recurring event, guidelines and moderation process.

To complete this course

  • Complete every required lesson.
  • Have the assignment “Community launch plan” accepted by an instructor.
  • Records of completion are issued only for courses whose content has passed instructor review.

Syllabus

Working titles: they may change as the course is written.

  1. Module 1: From audience to community

    Decide what you're building and why.

    1. 1.1Audience vs communityReading · 20 min
    2. 1.2Who it is forExercise · 25 min

  2. Module 2: A newsletter you own

    Email is still the most direct line to people who care.

    1. 2.1Choosing a newsletter toolReading · 20 min
    2. 2.2Consent and sign-upReading · 25 min
    3. 2.3A newsletter format you can sustainExercise · 35 min

  3. Module 3: Spaces and events

    Places and rhythms for members to meet.

    1. 3.1Choosing a space, or notReading · 20 min
    2. 3.2Recurring eventsExercise · 30 min
    3. 3.3Running a live sessionStudio · 45 min

  4. Module 4: Keeping it healthy

    Guidelines, moderation and privacy.

    1. 4.1Community guidelinesExercise · 30 min
    2. 4.2ModerationReading · 20 min
    3. 4.3Member privacyReading · 20 min

Sources

Author: Ricketts University curriculum team (draft for founder review) · Not yet reviewed

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