Client Stories

The Art of Business

Art by Annie

Annie Bergen has always been a painter. At 17 she did her first mural, and that’s where her interest in mural art began. “I loved the scale of it,” she says. Bergen graduated with a degree in history from the University of Winnipeg. Her intention: to become a teacher.

She chose instead to combine her love of art with opportunities to work with kids and others. “The murals are something the kids are proud of in the community.” In addition to working in schools, Bergen has worked on numerous exterior and interior wall murals around the city.

Bergen enrolled in the Build a Business program in 2008. She attended classes three days per week for eight weeks. Her focus since has been on developing and promoting Art by Annie.

“I’ve been a mural artist for about 10 years. I didn’t have the brain for business aspects. I heard this program would help me with all that. I learned how to do long-term planning rather than work from commission to commission,” she says.

Bergen feels more confident now, no longer intimidated by the financial side of business. She is grateful for the time with her business counsellor and credits the Build a Business program with being where she is today, running a growing mural art enterprise.

I think it’s really been the catalyst from getting by as an artist to becoming an entrepreneur.

“I think it’s really been the catalyst from getting by as an artist to becoming an entrepreneur. I’ve come a long way to being more business-oriented. I really feel like the program staff really wants to see me succeed.”

Bergen has several mural projects lined up and offers a unique service doing touch-ups on other murals for the West End Biz.

“I now approach businesses with proposals. I’ve learned to be bolder. I definitely recommend the program to my friends who are considering starting a business.”

Annie credits SEED’s Build a Business program with being where she is today – running a growing mural art enterprise.