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

PRS 110Professional Identity and Online Presence

Writing Your Professional Biography

Write short, medium and long bios plus an artist statement that sound like you, stay factual and fit every place they will appear.

In developmentDraft content

About this course

A bio is read in seconds and reused for years. This course takes the identity work from Building Your Artist Identity and turns it into a set of bios at standard lengths (about 25, 75 and 200 words), first- and third-person versions, and a short artist statement. You'll learn what to include, what to cut, how to keep every claim verifiable, and how to adapt a bio for a gallery wall, a conference programme, a client pitch or a social profile.

Who it’s for: Artists and designers who need bios for websites, submissions, social profiles or press. Works best after Building Your Artist Identity, but stands alone.

You will be able to

  • Write a bio in three standard lengths in both first and third person
  • Write a short artist statement distinct from the bio
  • Check every factual claim in a bio against a verifiable record
  • Adapt a bio for at least three specific contexts

Studio project

A master bio file: fact sheet, three bio lengths in two voices, an artist statement and a context-adapted version ready for submissions and profiles.

To complete this course

  • Complete every required lesson.
  • Have the assignment “Bio set and artist statement” accepted by an instructor.
  • Records of completion are issued only for courses whose content has passed instructor review.

Part of

Syllabus

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

  1. Module 1: What a bio is for

    Bios, statements and 'about' pages do different jobs.

    1. 1.1Bio, statement, about pageReading · 20 min
    2. 1.2Reading bios criticallyExercise · 30 min

  2. Module 2: Gather your raw material

    Facts first, then voice.

    1. 2.1The fact sheetExercise · 40 min
    2. 2.2What to leave outReading · 15 min

  3. Module 3: Three lengths, two voices

    Short, medium and long, in first and third person.

    1. 3.1The 25-word bioExercise · 30 min
    2. 3.2The 75-word bioExercise · 30 min
    3. 3.3The 200-word bioExercise · 40 min
    4. 3.4First and third personReading · 15 min

  4. Module 4: Artist statement and adaptation

    A short statement, and bios fitted to real contexts.

    1. 4.1A short artist statementExercise · 45 min
    2. 4.2Adapting for contextExercise · 30 min
    3. 4.3Keeping bios currentReading · 15 min

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

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