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Isaac Katzoff has always leaned more towards his creative side but knew he needed to focus on his entrepreneurial side too, so joined ART Venture to help turn his glassblowing work into a viable commercial venture.

"My education and my working experience since university has been focused almost entirely on the creative process. To spend a year focusing on the management and financial aspects of our business has been invaluable."

* The call is out now for entrepreneurial creatives in Auckland to put forward an Expression of Interest to join ART Venture in 2016. See more details below.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your creative work:

I am a glassblower. I own a glassblowing studio in Arch Hill called Monmouth Glass Studio with a friend of mine; Stephen Bradbourne. We make functional glass that is intended to be used every day such as pendant lights, cups, glasses, decanters and carafes. That production work enables us to have the studio time and space to pursue our more creative ideas. I exhibit my personal glass work at Masterworks among other places. My work lately has been more sculptural, exploring the value of everyday objects.

What aspect of your creative practice gives you the biggest thrill?

Successfully transforming an idea into a finished glass piece is very satisfying. Basically everything I make from glass begins as a puddle of molten glass.

What's your number one business tip for surviving (and thriving) in the creative industries?

Simplify. The creative/design process in any medium is so complex. The hardest thing, I think, for a creative to do is to pick one thing out of the infinite, isolate it and understand it in a commercial way completely.

You are an established creative entrepreneur so why did you need a business development programme?

I am an established creative entrepreneur, I suppose, but I was definitely leaning more to the creative side than the entrepreneur side. My education and my working experience since university has been focused almost entirely on the creative process. To spend a year focusing on the management and financial aspects of our business has been invaluable.

As a result of being on ART Venture

• I’ve gained: A confident understanding of what is required to run a healthy business, some friends and a great website (due to launch in February).
• I’ve connected with: The rest of the creative community. I tend to associate with other visual artists and craftsmen.
• I’ve built: Lots of stuff!!!

What has been the enduring impact - professional and personally?

I think for me the two have been quite similar; clarity. Through all the ups and downs of last year what stands out to me is the need to be very clear and specific about immediate and long term goals and sticking to them.

Why would you recommend other creative entrepreneurs apply for ART Venture?

I think any creative who is trying to turn their work, or an aspect of their work, into a viable commercial venture will benefit in a huge way from ART Venture. And, as a bonus, will have the opportunity to meet other creatives doing the same thing in other creative disciplines.

What’s your big idea for 2016?

I have a lot of ideas. I have a couple of exhibitions coming up this year. Some of them will hopefully take shape there. And this will be an exciting year for Monmouth. We have a couple of really interesting projects at the beginning of the year.

About Isaac Katzoff

Isaac is co-director of Monmouth Glass Studio, a small collaborative glass studio in Auckland that is dedicated to hand making the glass things that people need and that they use everyday - the things that are valuable in their function and necessity. 

Isaac graduated from Southern Illinois University (USA) with a BFA (majoring in painting), and the University of Auckland with a postgraduate diploma in art history (focus: the history of studio glass blowing in New Zealand). He also served as the vice president of the New Zealand society of Artists in Glass (2010 – 2012). 

About ART Venture

ART Venture is for entrepreneurial practitioners, producers and leaders who are serious about accelerating their skills, projects, organisations and businesses, while also contributing significantly to Auckland through their creative talent, public-good focus and business innovation. 

Now in its seventh year, the programme is an initiative of Arts Regional Trust Te Taumata Toi-a-iwi (ART) with delivery partner, The Big Idea | Te Aria Nui. 

ART Venture Expressions of Interest for participating in the 2016 programme are open now and close on Wednesday 24 February 2016, 5pm. 

Experience A Taste of ART Venture to find out if it’s for you on Monday, 15 February 2016, 5.30 – 8.30pm at Q Theatre, Auckland.