Art business workshops — you may have heard mentions of them before but figured you didn’t have the time, that you could learn on your own, or that your art business was doing just fine.
But, these workshops can provide the boost you might need for your business. Imagine an event designed specifically for artists to learn, grow, and connect — a place dedicated to helping you and your art business succeed. It accelerates the learning process to spend a weekend (or even just a few hours) focused on your business!
So put your doubts behind you. Check out just how much an art business workshop can do for your career:
1. Professional Development
If you’re not constantly learning and growing, then you’ll always be stuck in the same place. That’s why developing new skills and knowledge is exactly what artists need to bring their art businesses to exciting new levels.
And, art business workshops, complete with speakers and demos, are the perfect setting to learn.
Depending on what professional development workshop you attend, you can learn everything from successful marketing and pricing strategies to important insights about the evolving art market.
These events give you access to knowledgeable professionals who can answer your art business questions and can guide you to the right strategies to base your career on, erasing some of the guesswork that comes with being an entrepreneur.
2. Priceless Connections
What’s more, tons of people from the art community are in attendance at these events. Of course, you’ll have the chance to network with influential people in the art industry, get their advice, potentially show off your work, and learn what artist associations you should join.
But artist connections can be invaluable as well. You have the opportunity to make friends with fellow creatives who understand exactly what you’re going through. And, you’ll see how other artists are strategizing for their careers and hear about the processes they use to save time and stress.
Need some recommendations?
Keep an eye out for art business bootcamps throughout the year sponsored by:
Image courtesy of The Arts Business Institute
The Arts Business Institute
This year on April 1st and 2nd, The Arts Business Institute is partnering with Bridges to Sante Fe to host the Santa Fe Art Business Summit, a two-day professional development event for artists. Tons of presentations will be made, including talks on the changing marketplace, pricing for profit, marketing strategies for artists, copyright protection, wholesaling, art licensing, and the corporate art market.
NYFA Bootcamp For Artists
The NYFA Bootcamp for artists is designed to teach artists the fundamental blocks of sustaining a career as an artist — the the ultimate goal being profitability. With leaders from nationally and internationally recognized art institutions and classes on finance, marketing, law and fundraising, check back on the New York Foundation for the Arts for their upcoming bootcamp dates and see how to apply.
Self Employment in the Arts
The SEA is a program geared towards helping emerging artists “gain the resources and connections they need to be successful self-employed artists.” They hold an annual conference with panel discussion, mentoring and “an improved idea pitch” session for artists. If you have missed the conference for this year, don’t worry. SEA also has regional events help by successful entrepreneurial artists as well as a series of webinars.
Center for Cultural Innovation
CCI provides entrepreneurial training programs to enhance the business knowledge and career prospects of working artists. Their low-cost workshop offerings around California include the signature eight-week Business of Art Bootcamp, plus a variety of subject courses on grant writing, marketing, social media, tax tips, and time management. Learn what events are coming up by checking their event calendar.
Image by Ben Fractenberg, courtesy of CAA
The College Art Association
The CAA has an annual conference that is the largest international gathering of professionals in the visual arts. While the five-day program is filled with a wide range of events and topics, you’ll have the opportunity to join sessions on strategic planning, finances, marketing, grant writing, teaching, networking, the application process, public speaking, budgeting, and more. Keep an eye out for the 2018 conference in Los Angeles, February 21-24, and check out the CAA website for resources like magazines, scholarships, and other programs throughout the year.
Rhode Island School of Design
RISD’s Career Center hosts an event every year to help students, alumni, and artists in the community pursue their entrepreneurial interests. Last fall, they held an Art of Business bootcamp with a slew of workshops from branding and selling art online to tax and legal issues for creatives. This event switches every year with MindShare, a TED-style speaker event with alumni entrepreneurs planned for late October.
Image courtesy of The Abundant Artist
The Abundant Artist
The Abundant Artist Cory Huff and his team are making their way across America with their art business workshops where you'll learn how to make sure your art matters. Learn from artists who have found success selling art, including topics like branding, social media, email, licensing, commissions, writing and speaking about your art. Plus have the chance to network with and join a community of artists. Check out this schedule for events in your area.
Then, don’t forget about these workshops! Keep track of all of your important dates on your Artwork Archive schedule.
