Art gives people the space to explore, create, and express themselves. Throughout my career, I’ve dedicated myself to supporting arts programming in every role I hold, whether I’m teaching at the loom, managing studio operations, programming courses, or designing the flyers and guides that bring people through the door. Below are examples of how I use visual storytelling and marketing to build community around the arts.
Visual Marketing & Outreach at the Cary Arts Center
Before a student ever steps into the studio, their journey often starts with our printed program guide. Marketing our community arts programming at Cary means turning a complex schedule of classes into an inviting, easy-to-navigate publication. Behind every spread shown here is a hands-on production cycle: coordinating class schedules, selecting photos that capture the energy of our spaces, and writing clear, engaging descriptions that inspire people to try something new. I review and proof physical layout drafts to ensure every detail, from course times to imagery, presents our arts programming in its best light.
Once the season's lineup is set, that story moves seamlessly into the digital space. Just as with print, a great web experience begins long before someone logs into the site. Updating our webpages is a process I love because it lets me combine visual staging with clear digital communication. I stage photoshoots in the studios to capture real, engaging creative moments, write easy-to-read content that demystifies class processes, and use the town’s web builder to keep our pages fresh and intuitive. Whether someone is checking class times or exploring new studio offerings, I ensure our website provides a clear, inviting doorway into our arts programs.
(Visit the Cary Arts Center Website to see our current digital touchpoints.)
Of course, reaching our audience means meeting people wherever they are, whether scrolling on social media, browsing the web, or walking through local town facilities. I create custom promotional flyers using Canva to build excitement around upcoming courses and drive enrollment. By maintaining a clean, inviting aesthetic across both digital graphics and physical print flyers, I help ensure our studio offerings are actively shared with community members of all ages.
When students and patrons arrive on site, the visual communication continues. A well-run studio relies on clear communication to foster a welcoming, supportive environment. To support our daily operations at Cary Arts Center, I create customized in-studio flyers designed to keep our creative community informed and our spaces organized. From visual storage and workflow guides to timely announcements about holiday closures and schedule updates, these print materials ensure that patrons have all the information they need, right where they need it.
Social Media Outreach & Personal Art Practice
My Instagram, @weavin.leeman, serves as a space where my work as a textile artist, instructor, and community builder intersects. Through tailored posts, story series, and reels, I market upcoming workshops and local market appearances, keeping prospective students informed and excited to participate. A central element of my social media strategy is celebrating my students by sharing photos of their completed tapestries and behind-the-scenes moments from class, which builds supportive online engagement while providing authentic social proof that inspires new enrollment. Alongside class promotion, I use the platform to share my own evolving studio practice, documenting creative processes and finished fiber pieces that tie directly into my professional art portfolio.
Beyond social media outreach, I maintain a dedicated professional portfolio website (weavinleeman.myportfolio.com) to archive and showcase my personal art practice. This platform provides galleries of completed tapestries, high-resolution details of intricate fiber work, and a comprehensive overview of my creative trajectory for curators, students, and community partners.
Public Art Marketing & Community Engagement
Community art projects rely on clear, inspiring communication to bring people together. In collaboration with the City of Raleigh, I helped design and lead the Resilience Cords Project, an interactive public art installation centered on community strength and shared creative reflection. To market the project and guide participants through the interactive activity, I used Canva to design compelling informational flyers that broke down complex project concepts into approachable, visually engaging promotional materials.
(Explore the City of Raleigh Resilience Cords Project Page for full project details, and watch our Project Video Feature to see the installation and reception in action.)
To market our public art collaboration with the City of Raleigh, the Resilience Cords Project, I created a series of informational flyers designed to build awareness, explain the story behind the art piece, and guide participants step-by-step through the hands-on creation process. By combining custom illustration in Procreate with design and layout tools in Canva, I built visually engaging promotional materials that translated big community concepts into clear, inviting guides. I love using Canva for marketing collateral because its versatile toolkit makes turning creative ideas into polished, professional print and digital materials both intuitive and fun.