05/26/2026
✨ FACULTY SPOTLIGHT: Lauren Martin
Lauren Martin is the founder of Cool Aunt Creatives, a Guelph-based events company focused on bringing play, creativity, and connection back into adult life. With a background in landscape architecture and experience designing public spaces, Lauren recognized a gap in opportunities for adults to engage in meaningful creative and social experiences — and built a business around solving it. Through workshops, markets, and large-scale events, she has worked with hundreds of artists and makers, developing a deep understanding of what actually helps creative entrepreneurs grow sustainably. Her approach focuses on practical, accessible strategies that help artists adapt to changing trends, diversify their income, and build businesses without losing the joy of their craft.
Come learn from Lauren at the Guelph Artisans Expo — a 2-day business intensive for artists, makers, and creative entrepreneurs.
📅 May 30–31
📍 Guelph, ON
☕ Coffee + light brunch included
👩🎨 Small group (limited spots)
🎤 Session: Beyond Markets — Building Sustainable Income Streams as an Artist
This session explores how artists can move beyond relying solely on markets and begin building multiple, sustainable income streams as creative entrepreneurs. Lauren will walk through real examples of how makers can expand their offerings through workshops, digital products, DIY kits, wholesale opportunities, and online sales — without overcomplicating their business. The goal is to help attendees identify what makes sense for their skills, audience, and lifestyle while creating a more stable and scalable creative income.
You’ll walk away with:
✨ At least one new income stream idea aligned with your current business and audience
📦 A clearer understanding of the pros, cons, and entry points of different revenue streams
🚀 A practical first step to begin testing a new income stream within the next 30 days
🎟 Tickets available now in bio
