#nyfa learning

Learn basic tips on how to help provide sanctuary and support to immigrant and refugee artists and colleagues.

NYFA recently held a two-hour Know Your Rights Sanctuary Training with Ravi Ragbir, director of the New Sanctuary Coalition; Abou Farman, from Art Space Sanctuary; and Geoff Kagan-Trenchard, Esq. from Anti-Violence Project. We're distilling some of the most important takeaways and encourage you to bring the Know Your Rights Sanctuary Training to your organization. To do so, please contact Abou Farman at [email protected] and Ravi Ragbir at [email protected].

The presentation contextualized a sense of urgency for the affected communities, and the conceptual work that is necessary to understand the intersectional nature of immigration matters. Kagan-Trenchard explained and showed the difference between an administrative and judicial warrant and how to recognize if you are being given a document that has no judicial significance. He provided a reminder that cultural organizations should not be asking and recording immigration status, should avoid storing such information in their database, and must certainly not share it. 

If a law enforcement officer enters your facility, there should be a designated staff member that should: 

Ask them to identify themselves (are they local police or immigration?).

Write down the full name of the officer(s) present.

Ask why he/she is there and request to see a warrant (if the officer lacks a warrant, respectfully ask that the officer leave your premises). 

It is important to be able to recognize and document whether the warrant is administrative or judicial. Try to limit interactions with the officer to specific competent individuals in the organization (counsel or director) and contact a local immigration attorney or nonprofit to advise on the situation. The designated staff member should inform all who are present that they will directly engage with the officers and issue a reminder that everyone present has the right to remain silent.

A few key points to keep in mind before an emergency occurs: 

Don’t wait until you need friends to make them.

Have a contact for an attorney and media rep ready.

Don’t wait until it’s an emergency to make a plan. 

Who is the person in charge if ICE arrives at the venue, and what are they going to say?

“You’ll need to speak with the manager” is something you can say, even if you are a manager.

You have the right to (and should) film interactions with law enforcement/ICE. It’s a good idea to have someone on staff ready for this. Don’t obstruct while filming. 

Don’t have anything to give them. 

Minimize the amount of sensitive information you have.

All social media is monitored. Act accordingly.

 Don’t be quiet about how you feel about them.

A little bit of signage goes a long way. Mark private spaces clearly. That’s where the law can’t enter without a warrant.

Best practices for supporting immigrants in your organization:

Train staff

Post notices 

Delimit public/private spaces

Be mindful of privacy & records

Create a safe environment 

Don’t require ID 

Provide resources and information 

Best practices for immigrants:

Get a New York City ID (NYC ID).

If you have valid immigration documents, show them. Always carry these with you.

DO NOT carry papers from another country: if you have these, they can be used against you in the deportation process.

You do not have to sign papers that you do not understand. Wait until you talk to a lawyer. 

Do not let anyone scare you into signing papers.

By signing something, you are saying that you read and understand the document and agree with what it says.

Emergency safety plan:

Reliable immigration lawyer’s name and number.

Someone to take care of your loved ones (especially children, elderly, and pets).

Arrange for your medical needs. 

Organize important documents in a safe place; make copies and make them accessible to a trusted person. 

Keep your Alien Registration Number (A-number) and birthdate in a place accessible by loved ones should they need to locate you. 

Community safety plan: 

Know your rights!

Develop a Buddy System and community self-defense:

Create a network of friends, family, neighbors, etc.

Put together a text tree, phone tree, noisemakers, banners, videographers, photographers, legal observers, etc.

Important resources: 

Accompaniment Training

Websites for low-cost immigration attorneys in your area:

List of pro-bono legal service providers in the USA

American Immigration Lawyers Association

Administrative Relief Resource Center

 Pro Se (Legal) Clinic

New Sanctuary Coalition Resources Directory

NYFA IAP Resource Directory - Immigrant Services

- Alicia Ehni, Program Officer 

This post is part of the ConEdison Immigrant Artist Program Newsletter #123. Subscribe to this free monthly e-mail for artist’s features, opportunities, and events. Learn more about NYFA Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program.

Images from the Top: Geoff Kagan-Trenchard, Esq., Photo Credit: NYFA; Ravi Ragbir, Photo Credit: NYFA

How to cultivate your creative practice and career where you live and beyond.

New York City has a wealth of resources for artists and creative consumers alike, yet there are also challenges associated with being a working artist here, including a high cost of living and limited opportunities for affordable workspace. As much as we love our city (New York Foundation for the Arts’ office is in Brooklyn, after all), for the purposes of this post, we’re focusing our lens outside of city limits to examine how you can best cultivate your creative practice and career.

Develop your goals as an artist.

We talked to three artists who have exhibited widely both within their local communities as well as internationally: Jan Harrison (Recharge Foundation Fellow ’19), who after living in Cincinnati for many years settled in Kingston, NY, two and a half hours away from Manhattan, and Kim Bishop (IAP Mentor ’19) and Luis Valderas (IAP Mentor ’19), who in addition to being artists, co-founded the 3rd Space Art Gallery in San Antonio, TX.

Bishop and Valderas emphasized that it is important for working artists to “have a clear vision of your goal as an artist, then be ready, and be professional.” Artist-centered professional development and entrepreneurial training programs can help you define your artistic vision as well as short and long term goals. In addition to reaching out to your regional or state arts councils for opportunities, several national organizations offer both in-person or remote learning options, including NYFA Learning and the nonprofit organization Creative Capital. Harrison also echoed the need for artists to be proactive about finding opportunities and cultivating their careers, “Find your own way; don’t just try and fit within an established art world. Be creative about how you are going to exhibit your work.”

Be involved in your local arts community.

As a working artist, be involved in your local arts community where you can find like-minded artists and creative professionals to share resources, exhibit work, and learn about new opportunities. Outside of New York City, arts communities tend to be smaller and tight-knit, yet they are often more accessible to new artists. Harrison suggested that artists “go to local openings and studio visits as much as possible, and find connections that aren’t necessarily in the arts, but that have shared passions.” As you discover artists and organizations nearby that you respect, sign up for their mailing lists, follow them on social media, and participate in their programming as much as possible.

“Be prepared to share your knowledge through mentorship or teaching because you have to show how art is valuable to your community,” emphasized Bishop and Valderas, “Be active in the development of art policy in your city.” Search Americans for the Arts’ Arts Service Directory to find your local arts agencies; Americans for the Arts also lists an advocacy toolkit for individuals and information about current legislation affecting the arts on their website.

Be part of the broader arts community, too.

Arts writers and collectors tend to be clustered around international arts centers, such as New York City and Los Angeles, so seek out opportunities to develop connections in those places while still living and being active in your local arts community. Stay up-to-date with industry-related news in your discipline, including reading local and international arts and culture publications and following artists you admire on social media. Develop a strong digital presence, including a website with professional-quality images of current work and previous projects, and maintain active social media accounts. Harrison explained that some of her exhibition opportunities in the United States and in Europe came from relationships that started through various forms of communication, including global environmental and animal activism, as well as social media. She also maintains many personal and professional relationships in New York City and beyond.

In addition to a strong digital presence, Bishop and Valderas recommended that artists develop relationships with academic institutions, join professional associations and participate in their conferences, and apply for residencies to make connections outside of their geographic region. They also advised that artists can “develop your network outside of the community by traveling as well as hosting.”

Find open calls online on NYFA’s Opportunities & Services page, NYFA Source, the Alliance for Artist Communities Residency Directory, and discipline-specific resources such as Common Field, Poets & Writers, and Theatre Communications Group. National visual, performing, and literary conferences that artists and industry professionals both attend include convenings by the Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP), Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP), and the College Art Association (CAA).

As an artist, find opportunities to channel your creative energy both within and outside your local arts community to raise your visibility, learn from peers and mentors, and build lasting relationships across the diverse populations of arts enthusiasts in this country and abroad. “Think locally, regionally, and globally,” said Harrison, “You can do all three.”

- Maria Villafranca, NYFA Coach

You can find more articles on arts career topics by visiting the Business of Art section of NYFA’s website. Sign up for NYFA News and receive artist resources and upcoming events straight to your inbox.

Arts administrators from all disciplines within commuting distance to New York City are encouraged to apply by February 3, 2020.

Through the support of American Express, New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) is pleased to announce the sixth session of its Emerging Leaders Program, a free initiative that provides leadership training for arts administrators over nine months. NYFA believes an investment in the cultural infrastructure will benefit the entire field, building stronger links and shared knowledge between artists and arts administrators.

More than 125 arts administrators have participated in the program since its inception. They come from a diverse range of arts and cultural organizations, and serve a wide variety of disciplines and constituents. Visit the following links to view our alumni from the inaugural cohort and 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2019 programs; all affiliations listed are from the time that they took part in the program.

NYFA is seeking applicants who are committed to the arts with clear long-term leadership goals that are willing to engage in self-reflection and step outside of their comfort zone to learn new skills. We integrate creativity into the program with a flexible and adaptive approach that adjusts to the needs of the cohort throughout.

Our core objective is to help arts administrators discover, identify, and develop their personal motivation and individual competencies as leaders while exploring the attributes and themes of arts leadership through an examination of traditional and contemporary leadership models. Arts administrators of diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. 

Selected participants will benefit from:

An exploration of your individual leadership attributes through concepts such as world view, emotional intelligence, vision, mission, and values.

Individual and group activities that focus on discovering and better understanding your individual strengths and challenges in a leadership context.

Exploration of leadership in multiple settings with the goal of identifying the elements of success that are unique to arts leadership. 

Development of an individual learning plan for each participant that addresses at least one critical leadership challenge you currently face.

A cohort-learning model that relies on shared experiences to explore and develop a greater awareness of your personal leadership style.

Access to alumni network and dedicated alumni advisors for individual guidance and support.

A peer cohort of 24 arts administrators.

Case studies, guest speakers, panel discussions, and group exercises that focus on purpose-centered leadership, including diversity, equity, and inclusion; negotiation skills; and decision-making frameworks.

Group and individual exercises that challenge and track individual progress and understanding of your actual and/or desired leadership attributes and roles.

Technical workshops and panels related to management, strategic planning, fundraising, and board development.

Exposure to key influencers within the arts and cultural communities.

The 2020 program will be facilitated by nonprofit trainer and consultant Gilles Mesrobian. Mesrobian is on the faculty of Bard College’s MBA in Sustainability, where he teaches Personal Leadership Development. His credentials include over 30 years of senior management experience in the non-profit arena, with over 20 years as an Executive Director. His consulting experience covers a broad range of organizational work in the nonprofit and philanthropic sector, including governance training, organizational assessment, leadership development, executive leadership transition, executive search, strategic planning, retreats, and trainings.

The program structure includes a five-day intensive with a rigorous blend of presentations, formal lectures, and break-out groups. Additionally, it includes half-day check-ins, an alumni mixer, final sessions, and a follow-up reunion event.

Application Deadline: 

Monday, February 3, 2020, 11:59 PM (EST) 

Eligibility:

Mid and senior level administrators in full-time employment by nonprofit arts and cultural organizations with budgets over $250,000.

Executive Directors from non-profit arts and cultural organizations with budgets under $250,000.

Commitment to mandatory attendance to all sessions.

Open to participants from the five boroughs of New York City and Metropolitan area within commuting distance of New York City. 

Program Schedule:

All sessions are mandatory and will take place at New York Foundation for the Arts at 20 Jay Street, Suite 740, Brooklyn, NY 11201, unless otherwise noted. Please check your calendar before applying.

Thursday, March 12, 2020 Intro Meeting: 10:00 AM -12:30 PM

Monday, March 23 - Friday, March 27, 2020 Five day intensive: Monday and Friday, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Tuesday - Thursday, 10:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Wednesday, May 13, 2020 Check-in: 10:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Wednesday, June 17, 2020 Check-in: 10:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Wednesday, July 15, 2020 Alumni mixer: 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Wednesday, Sep 16, 2020 Check-in: 10:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Tuesday, November 10 and Wednesday, November 11, 2020 Final sessions: 1:30 PM - 5:30 PM

Wednesday, February 10, 2021 Reunion: 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Application Guidelines:

For the application, we ask you to provide:

Organization information.

Why you are interested in applying to this program and a list of goals relative to your leadership career path within the next 2-5 years.

Your current role and responsibilities.

A particular challenge in your current organization that participating in this program could help you address.

A narrative bio of your professional career.

Contact details of your supervisor and confirmed permission to participate.

How to Apply:

Applicants can apply via Submittable. First-time users will need to register with Submittable to access the application portal.

Applications are reviewed by alumni of the program and outside executive professionals.

Notification: 

Applicants will be notified on or before February 19, 2020.

Questions?

Contact the NYFA Learning team at [email protected] with “Emerging Leaders Program” in the subject line. We understand that arts organizations can be structured in a variety of ways, so please contact us for eligibility clarifications.

Testimonials:

The Emerging Leadership program is a growing network of peers and colleagues that encourages me to grow. Connecting to folks in dance, museums, and theatre creates more solidarity with issues that we share - both positive and negative. We are able to advise each other and engage with an elder generation of leaders. Thank you! - Eva Mayhabal Davis, Independent Curator, Eva Mayha Projects

This program provided a strong leadership development framework that prompted much self-reflection and a resulting increase in confidence to initiate and build change. Learnings from workshops validated my previous experiences and incited a call to action in my life. 'Operational Excellence' is a theme that really stood out to me and is what I aim to implement in all of the spaces in which I perform. - Sade Falebita, Associate Director of Youth Programs, Downtown Community Television Center

NYFA’s Emerging Leaders Program is made possible with the generous support of American Express.

“Without seeing yourself and your stories reflected around you, you do not find the freedom to pursue your true identity and calling.”

Born in India and raised in the United States, Ambika Samarthya-Howard is an artist, film producer, and also a mentor in our Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program: Performing and Literary Arts and Head of Communications at WITNESS, where she combines her passion for film and social change. She received her MFA in Film at Columbia University and has done art and media projects in Japan, Bollywood, and West Africa.

NYFA: You said once that “visibility is the first stepping stone to justice.” How does this advice relate to artists who are immigrants, international, or multicultural?

Ambika Samarthya-Howard: While I had always been drawn to the arts, I veered towards international affairs and legal studies as a means for social change. It was only after a study abroad program in London, where I was exposed to the British Asian arts scene, that I felt inspired to make art that reflected my interests and identity. I created a theatre company when I returned from the United Kingdom in the Bay Area, Arth, and when we sold out our first show to 400 people, I realized the audience was there. People were interested in my stories. That’s when I decided to pursue a career in film.

I think without seeing yourself and your stories reflected around you, you do not find the freedom to pursue your true identity and calling.

NYFA: Can you share with us some ways in which you have collaborated with other multidisciplinary artists? Were these collaborations important in furthering your career as an artist?

ASH: I love collaborating across disciplines, and find it profoundly rewarding both as an artist and as a professional. I had the opportunity to work with multi-media artist Monica Bose in filming her performance art in Miami, and I really feel part of a larger community when I get to work across disciplines. I’ve been trained in Indian classical dance and love incorporating dance into my film work. I also really enjoy writing and sharing about the process behind documentary creation.

I think people from different disciplines have a way of seeing the same content in a different dimension and that gives additional depth to the work.

NYFA: Do you have any advice for artists who are looking to share their personal story in the hopes of inspiring large social change but who do not know where to start?

ASH: I think the hardest part of sharing your personal story is that when people reject it, it feels like they are rejecting you. This is true if you are a writer or a video producer or a painter. Art is always hard because it’s a reflection of your identity in so many ways, but it’s even harder when it’s a personal story that’s already fraught with vulnerability, like stories of trauma.

My advice is to first step back and ask yourself if you want/need to tell this story. I’ve often found telling my story to be key to personal growth and very cathartic and so whether it’s accepted in a film festival or publication, I was happy to tell it.

Second, do you want to put this story out there? Artists can have personal projects that they don’t share and I think it’s worth asking especially with sensitive subject matters if it makes sense to put this out into the public. How would a public critique or rude comment on YouTube make you feel?

Lastly, connecting to community and other artists can often make this process easier and help through the journey of not only producing the work, but also the much harder process of sharing it and finding the right channels for distribution.

NYFA: Tell us about your role at WITNESS. What projects are you working on?

ASH: I currently lead communications at WITNESS. It’s incredibly exciting to work with a team of like-minded people globally who are using video for social change. The role of video and tech has changed so much over the last few decades, and it’s both fun and challenging to be on top of the wave.

I’m currently working on designing and drawing more attention to our reports and research on deepfakes, misinformation, and AI. I’m also excited to be working with the Equal Voice Network in the Rio Grande, to film stories of activists in the border community. As an immigrant, it’s work I’m quite interested in, but also an area of the country and immigrant history I am unfamiliar with so I’m learning a lot. So many of the issues people in those areas face have nothing to do with being an immigrant but are issues of people in neglected areas in the country that have had one-dimensional media attention. So rather than just talking about visas and deportation, there are very deep historic injustices around education and housing that particularly affect those border communities. I am excited to learn more and share with you in the future.

- Interview Conducted by Alicia Ehni, Program Officer at NYFA Learning

About Ambika Samarthya-Howard Ambika Samarthya-Howard is a video producer and currently Head of Communications at WITNESS. She was formerly the Head of Communications for Praekelt.org. She worked as a senior producer in community television in Brooklyn, with the BBC Media Action in Nigeria as a broadcast TV Trainer and with UNICEF as a Communications Specialist. She led the content curation and writing for the Medium Publication Mobile For Good, and has spoken about social good projects and inclusivity at a range of conferences globally, winning best poster at the recent University of London’s Behavior Change Conference. She co-authored two chapters in the recently published book Affordability Issues Surrounding the Use of ICT for Development and Poverty Reduction.

This interview is part of the ConEdison Immigrant Artist Program Newsletter #117. Subscribe to this free monthly e-mail for artist’s features, opportunities, and events.

Photos from top to bottom: Behind the scenes shot of Jalobayu during Art Basel-Miami Beach, Photo by Peter Samarthya-Howard; Courtesy of Ambika Samarthya-Howard

Learn about the intricacies of choosing a creative career from the comfort of your home, studio, or anywhere with internet access.

The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) is pleased to announce its next Online Learning initiative to provide professional development workshops to arts administrators and arts professionals nationally and internationally through a webinar platform.

Arts professionals in all disciplines, organization types, and sizes can now explore the principles of working in the arts industry from anywhere with an internet connection. As many of our professional development programs are focused on building community, these online sessions also provide virtual networking opportunities to registered participants.

The “NYFA Online Learning: Creative Careers” series is curated by Mara Vlatković and is designed to guide you on the ins and outs of being a professional in the arts industry. Whether you're just starting out, have been in the midst of it for years, or are looking for new challenges or opportunities, you'll find great advice and inspiration in this series. You can register for all the workshops in a row as they build off of each other, or attend the one that speaks to your current situation and needs.

Each session in this series costs $25. Registration starts six weeks prior to the workshop date.

April 30 Finding a Job in the Arts Presented by Adrienne Stortz, Director of Special Projects, Arts Initiative & Miller Theatre, Columbia University Registration: Please register for the program here.

Are you new to job hunting in the arts? Or are you looking for new opportunities but haven't been a jobseeker for a few years? The arts world can be challenging to navigate: what does “networking” mean in an age of social media, how do you determine which jobs you want, where do you find job postings, and how do you make your resume really stand out? This workshop will take you through the process of finding a new job, including searching, applying, interviewing, and negotiating an offer. You will come away with a clear roadmap of how to land your next dream gig in the arts.

May 21 Arts Administration: Defining Roles Presented by Andrew Taylor, Associate Professor of Arts Management, American University Registration: Please register for the program here.

Arts Administration and Arts Management are broad terms that contain a multitude of roles and functions. What’s the best fit for you, and how do you find and grow into the work you’re most connected to? This session will explore the many parts and players that transform creative inspiration into fully realized artistic work—from production and management to marketing, development, operations, finance, education, and more. If you’re thinking of switching or extending your work in the arts, or hoping to connect your strongest skills with the art-world’s greatest needs, come learn about the individual pieces and the whole that make the arts and artists thrive.

June 18 Navigating Office Politics Presenter to be announced.

There is no workplace without office politics. Water cooler conversations, favoritism, micromanagement, work friends—they're all part of a larger structure that informs your day-to-day work experience. Learn how to navigate and use the organizational framework of your workplace to advance and excel in your career. Small changes and adjustments can have a large impact and can make everyone's work day easier and more comfortable. Identify new ways of managing up or down and how to grow in organizations that might lack support, professional development, or good HR practices.

How It Works:

Each session lasts for 90 minutes, including the lecture and Q&A.

Each session will take place from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM EST.

Creatives from around the world can join workshops through our webinar platform or international call-in numbers.

Participants will have access to the presenters during the live sessions, and also to the program materials and recordings after the workshops as long as they register before the session starts.

Registrants will have access to the recordings for six months following the session.

This program is part of NYFA Learning, which includes professional development for artists and arts administrators. Sign up for NYFA’s free bi-weekly newsletter to receive updates on future programs.

Explore the fundamental principles of sustainability in the arts from the comfort of your home, studio, or anywhere with Internet access.

The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) is pleased to announce its new Online Learning initiative to provide professional development workshops to artists, arts administrators, and arts professionals nationally and internationally through a webinar platform.

Creators in all disciplines can now explore the fundamental principles of sustainability in the arts from anywhere with an Internet connection. As many of our professional development programs are focused on building community, these online sessions also provide virtual networking opportunities to registered participants.

The first series of online workshops will expand on NYFA’s newly-revised second edition of The Profitable Artist (Allworth Press, 2018), and will cover related topics, including strategic planning, finance, law, marketing, and fundraising. Each session in this series costs $25.

How It Works:

Each session lasts for 90 minutes, including the lecture and Q&A.

Each session will be offered on the third Tuesday of each month from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM EST.*

Creatives from around the world can join workshops through our webinar platform or international call-in numbers.

Participants will have access to the presenters during the live sessions, and also to the program materials and recordings after the workshops as long as they register before the session starts.

Registrants will have access to the recordings for six months following the session.*

* Unless otherwise noted.

Save the Dates of Our “NYFA Online Learning: The Profitable Artist” Series!

September 25:  Fundraising workshop with Peter Cobb, Co-Editor of The Profitable Artist; learn more about the workshop and register here to participate.

October 16:  Marketing workshop with Mara Vlatkovic, contributor to the marketing chapter of The Profitable Artist.

November 20: Legal workshop with Elissa D. Hecker, contributor to the legal chapters of The Profitable Artist.

October and November registrations will start six weeks prior to the workshop dates.

This program is part of NYFA Learning, which includes professional development for artists and arts administrators. Sign up for NYFA’s free bi-weekly newsletter to receive updates on future programs.

Comprehensive “how-to” guide to being a professional and profitable working artist now available for purchase.

While all art is unique, the challenges artists face are shared regardless of background, experience, and artistic medium. With decades of experience training and helping artists worldwide, the expert staff of The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA)—in conjunction with outside professionals—have compiled a best practices approach to planning and organizing an arts career.

In The Profitable Artist: A Handbook for All Artists in the Performing, Literary, and Visual Arts (Allworth Press, 2018), NYFA has identified common challenges; examined specialized areas of strategic planning, finance, marketing, law, and fundraising; and distilled these topics in such a way that readers can digest them and apply them to their own experience and practice. This newly-revised edition has made considerable updates to reflect changes in the legal and financial landscapes, the vast shift in the tools and culture of both social media and fundraising, and proven planning methodologies from the startup community. 

The invaluable guide, which is edited by Peter Cobb, Felicity Hogan, and Michael Royce, appeals to artists in all disciplines of the literary, media, performing, and visual arts—from recent art school graduates to established artists undertaking new arts businesses, to artists seeking more from their careers at any stage.

Retail Price: $24.95 NYFA’s Price: $20.00 (plus shipping)

Click here to purchase. For more information and international shipping costs, please contact [email protected]. If you encounter technical difficulties when purchasing the book, please contact [email protected].

The Book Includes:

●    Techniques for planning your career ●     Innovative fundraising tips ●     Best practices for marketing and selling your work to new audiences ●     Networking strategies for a digital world ●     Budgeting and financial basics made clear ●     Legal requirements and terminology in plain English

Online Learning Initiative

In conjunction with the second edition of The Profitable Artist, NYFA has launched a new Online Learning initiative that provides professional development workshops for artists, arts administrators, and arts professionals nationally and internationally through a webinar platform. Starting September 25, the online workshops will cover topics including strategic planning, finance, law, marketing, and fundraising. More details and how to register here.

Praise for The Profitable Artist

"Drawing from the expertise of legal, financial, and marketing advisors, The Profitable Artist provides an indispensable, user-friendly guide to developing a successful artistic practice. Comparing tactics to those used by successful start-ups, this thorough guide provides valuable guidelines from a range of consultants to contextualize those factors that can make or break creative businesses. The NYFA Artist as Entrepreneur Boot Camp has been a huge positive resource for our students at RISD, as they develop their freelance practices and set up studios and businesses. The same methods employed there form the basis of this book, now broadly available to emerging practitioners. The book is easy to navigate—readers can dip in and out of topics on an ‘as need’ basis on subjects such as protecting intellectual property, developing new audiences for projects and events, planning for retirement, pricing work, optimizing digital tools, fundraising, and many other detailed aspects of building a career. This valuable reference provides artists with essential tools to develop a successful and sustainable practice. – Rosanne Somerson, President, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)

"The Profitable Artist is a goldmine for citizen artists of today who are looking to weave their art into the fabric of our society. The importance of recognizing one’s role and responsibility as an artist is more important today than ever before. It is about defining the purpose and relevance of one’s creative enterprise, and this resource offers meaningful insight in this space." – Aaron P. Dworkin, Professor of Arts Leadership and Entrepreneurship, University of Michigan, and Afa S. Dworkin, President and Artistic Director, Sphinx Organization

"Back by popular demand is the second edition of The Profitable Artist. Its debut is as timely as the first edition. Much of the useful information in The Profitable Artist dovetails with recommendations contained in CreateNYC that support individual artists. It continues to be an invaluable resource of information and pathways to success and independence for artists everywhere!” – Ben Rodriguez-Cubenas, Program Director, Charles E. Culpepper Arts & Culture Programs, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and Chair, Citizens’ Advisory Committee for CreateNYC

This book is part of NYFA Learning, which includes professional development for artists and arts administrators. Sign up for NYFA’s free bi-weekly newsletter to receive updates on future programs.

Apply by July 30 for this free, intensive, multi-day professional development opportunity. 

The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA), in partnership with the New York State Council on the Arts’ State & Local Partnerships program and Lake Placid Center For the Arts, is pleased to announce the third year of the NYSCA/NYFA Artist as Entrepreneur Boot Camp, a series of ongoing professional development programs for the arts communities in New York State. 

The NYSCA/NYFA Artist as Entrepreneur Boot Camp delves into the fundamental principles of sustainability in the arts. Featured topics will include strategic planning, finance, law, marketing, and fundraising. Additional material will be drawn from NYFA’s popular textbook The Profitable Artist (Allworth Press, 2011).

The structure of the program is a blend of formal lectures, discussions, and breakout groups. Participants work through a flexible and dynamic “action plan,” and other entrepreneurial tools that provide a blueprint for their practice or specific projects. 

There is no charge to participate in the NYSCA/NYFA Artist as Entrepreneur Boot Camp Program. Artists interested in attending are required to apply, and participants are selected through a panel review process. Artists of all disciplines and career stages, including students, are encouraged to apply. Location: Lake Placid Center For the Arts, 17 Algonquin Drive, Lake Placid, NY 12946

Application Deadline: Monday, July 30, 2018, 11:59 PM EST

Program Dates: Thursday, September 13: 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM Overview of Artist As Entrepreneur and Participant Introductions

Sessions One and Two Friday, September 14: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Saturday, September 15: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Topics will include finance, law, strategic planning, and fundraising. 

Session Three Sunday, September 16: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM AM: Work Sample Review PM: Individual Presentations in Small Groups

Attendance is mandatory to all sessions. Please check your calendar before applying.

How to Apply:

Apply via Submittable* by Monday, July 30, 2018, 11:59 PM EST. 

Eligibility:

Open to artists in all disciplines and career stages, including students

Artists living and working in New York State**

Guidelines:

For the application we ask you to provide:

Your long terms goals and why you are interested in applying to this program

A narrative bio of your professional career

A link to your website or online presence

Work samples with work statement and description

*First time users will need to register with Submittable to access the application portal. **Priority will be given to artists living and working in the Lake Placid region from Essex, Franklin, Clinton, and Warren counties; however the program is open to artists throughout New York State. Notification: On or before Monday, August 13, 2018

On selection into the boot camp, artists will be asked to pay a $25 deposit which will be automatically refunded at the end of the program, if artists attend all sessions. (If a family or medical emergency prevents attendance, this would be considered an exception to the rule.) Questions? Email NYFA Learning Team: [email protected].

NYSCA/NYFA Artist as Entrepreneur Boot Camp Testimonials

Thank you for your sustained efforts in helping artists reach their goals! Meeting other artists and arts professionals with a personal stake in seeing you succeed is invaluable for an emerging artist. It was so uplifting to be around others in the arts community facing the same challenges–not only do I feel less alone, I also received a lot of useful input to help me think about where to go from here. Thank you, NYFA and all participating artists!

– Kristin Locashio, Visual artist (NYSCA/NYFA Artist As Entrepreneur Boot Camp presented by Arts Center of the Capital Region 2017)

This is a fabulous program for almost every artist at any stage of their career. I have already recommended it to many people. The rewards and joy of participating in a program that cross-pollinates art and artists is a testament to why it is so important to continue to support the arts and artists with funding.

– Karen Faris, Literary artist (NYSCA/NYFA Artist As Entrepreneur Boot Camp presented by The Flower City Arts Center 2017)

This program is made possible through New York State Council on the Arts, State & Local Partnerships, with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.