Celina Zisman (they/she) is a small business strategist working alongside makers, musicians, and creative solopreneurs within Austin's arts ecosystem.
Through one-on-one sessions, lectures and workshops, they empower artists across disciplines with the tools to establish, grow, and maintain a business, all while developing professional best practices.
Celina has been an active member of the Austin arts community since 2008, having worked in non and for-profit galleries, as well as a nationally recognized craft academy.
They serve on the board of SAGE Studio (a studio and gallery for artists with disabilities), and as the Chair for the City of Austin's Arts Commission.
Celina is also the recent recipient of the First Annual Oliver Franklin Award. An annual recognition that celebrates a woman leader in the arts, established by Big Medium and the Friends of the Elisabet Ney Museum.
“As a small business myself, I bring a bold enthusiasm and compassionate approach in working with my clients.”
// Community //
HAAM Day, Health Alliance for Austin Musicians, 2024
Talent Booker and Coordinator
HAAM Day is an iconic celebration of community and live music, raising awareness & critical funds for HAAM. The event offers more than 200 FREE live music performances across greater-Austin.
Arts Commission, City of Austin, 2019 - Present
District 8, Chair
Advise and promote close cooperation between the City and all private citizens, facilitate communication between arts organizations; and foster and assist the development of the arts in the city.
SAGE Studio, 2020 - Present
Board Member
SAGE Studio is a non-profit studio and gallery space in east Austin that provides artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities the materials, space, and support to produce, exhibit, and sell their artwork.
CreativeMornings, 2020 - Present
Music Coordinator and Volunteer
CreativeMornings is the world’s largest face-to-face creative community. Every month, we gather in 225 cities across 67 countries, for free.
Austin Poet Laureate Committee, 2024
Committee Member and Juror
Inaugural year of Austin’s Poet Laureate Program presented by the Austin Public Library
Central Texas Food Bank’s inaugural Feeding Creativity Art Competition, 2024
Consultant and Chair of the Judge panel
Feeding Creativity Art Competition is for young artists (K-12) with bright imaginations, and aims to seed creativity and hope for a brighter future through art.
New York Jewelry Week, 2022
Moderator (Bicultural Reality Panel)
NYCJW is an annual week-long celebration that invites a global audience to experience the world of jewelry in NYC. Our hybrid program blends in person experiences with virtual engagement and programming, and is free and open to the public.
Latino Art WKND, _OFCOLOR, 2022
Curator, Talent Buyer
Recognizing and appreciating the diversity within the Latino cultura, Latino Art WKND celebrates a curated selection of visual artists, including a variety of Latino makers and creatives offering food, goods, music, and dance.
HIGH CRAFT Art Market, 2016-2020
Producer, Curator
HIGH CRAFT is an interactive art market showcasing contemporary artists and makers from the Austin community. The show highlights craftsmanship across all media, bridging the worlds of fine art and fine craft. For four years of Big Medium's annual art tour, we opened our doors and invited the community in to our artful home to experience the work outside of the traditional white box gallery. The women selected for this annual exhibition demonstrated a mastery of their medium and a dedication to their craft.
EDUCATION
University of Texas Austin, Center for Professional Education, 2016
Business Success Skills Certification
California College of the Arts and Crafts, 2004-2008
Bachelor of Fine Art, Sculpture High Honors
Memberships
Queer Vinyl Collective, DJ, 2021 - Present
Society of North American Goldsmiths, 2016 - Present
Exhibition in Motion, SNAG, 2017-2019
Committee Co-Chair
Exhibition in Motion is a live fashion show and fundraising event for the annual SNAG conference. The show features models wearing large scale cutting edge jewelry and wearable sculpture.
At Home
Celina is a parent to a rowdy four-nager and is an avid vinyl collector. They enjoy spinning all their favorite songs at community events, and sometimes when the moon is up.
A special thank you to Lucero Photography for all the beautiful images used on this site. <3