PASSIONATE PROFESSIONALS

The Queens World Film Festival, New York Women in Film and Television, Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, The Gaia Zine and Epicenter – NY proudly announce PASSION in ACTION, a day-long mentoring event to bring high school and college students together with Passionate Professionals in the Arts, Sciences, Finance, Women’s Sports, Nonprofit Sectors and More.

The morning session of this day long event will concentrate on developing personal professionalism related to the arts including developing a mission statement, compiling ideas on how to promote your work and creating your back pocket networking tool kit. The afternoon is devoted to a round robin speed networking event so that all attendees have the opportunity to spend 30 minutes with 3 different Passionate Professionals.

The morning will concentrate on developing personal professionalism related to the arts with the afternoon devoted to a round robin networking event so that all attendees, have the opportunity to spend 30 minutes with 3 different Passionate Professionals.

Thank you to Amy Allure for being one of our Passionate Professionals!

Amy Allure

Gallery Owner: Allure Art Studio

Amy Simon is an educator, artist, activist, curator, and gallery owner of ALLURE ART STUDIO in Hollis, Queens. Her passion with art started at 11 but it took her almost 20 years to actually call herself an artist and share her art with the world. After doing so, many opportunities found her. Her artwork has been featured in 13 art shows throughout NYC including an exhibition at the Kings Manor Museum and during The Fearless Artist Exhibition at Miami Art Basel. Amy was also an artist chosen to paint the Black Lives Matter mural on Jamaica Ave and has since merged her love of art, teaching, and activism to create her own lane as an ARTrepreneur.

As a native of Queens, Amy realized there was a strong need in the Jamaica community for a local art space for creatives. During her time as an elementary school teacher, she started planning how to make this happen. She attended a number of art events, created a detailed business plan and in April 2019, with the help of her father, opened ALLURE Art Studio, a creative arts space where people go to learn, be inspired, and network with like minded creatives.

Since opening the studio, Amy has been featured on PIX11 News, and the Queens Courier and QNS news site for her work impacting the Queens art community. Currently, she hosts paint events and art classes for kids & adults at her art studio and in various schools throughout NYC. Amy also curates themed art shows to provide a platform for other artists to get their work seen, shared, and sold. Her mission is to nurture creativity, confidence, and culture in everyone through art, curate art events that impact and uplift the community, and to inspire others to confidently walk in their own ALLURE.

Question & Answer

What is a personal character trait that you have leaned on in your career?

Discipline! As your own boss, you need to have discipline to be a self-starter and trust your gut to make executive decisions. It’s important to create a realistic schedule for yourself and truly stick to that schedule, even when you don’t feel like it.

You will also need discipline in managing your finances! Your income will change month to month, and you have to be prepared to sustain your finances in any situation. The stability of a traditional 9-5 is out the window and you end up having slow months where you need adequate savings in order to still pay the bills. It’s also important to have a good business foundation with an accountant, bookkeeper, and business mentor.

What is your best advice for young creatives who are thinking about college?

Follow your passion. We are sometimes led to focus on “stable” careers but forget about our passion. When you put energy into focusing on what you’re passionate about then the money will come.

What is your best advice for young creatives who are beginning their careers?

Keep going, even when hard times come. There will be times when you feel like giving up but perseverance is the way to the top.