NYFA / Professional Development / Artist as Entrepreneur Program

Artist as Entrepreneur Program

An intensive professional development program for artists of all disciplines, ranging from 1 to 3.5 days.

Former Powerhouse Arts Artist in Residence Ivan Ford working in the Print Shop

Image: Ivan Ford in Powerhouse Arts’ Print Shop, Courtesy of Powerhouse Arts

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The NYFA Artist as Entrepreneur Program is an intensive professional development opportunity that serves artists and creatives of all disciplines (including visual, literary, performing arts, among others). This 1-3.5 day program delves into the fundamental principles of building, maintaining, and growing a career in the arts, empowering artists with the tools to imagine and pursue success as they define it.

Whether you’re looking for a shift in thinking, strategies for your arts/creative business, or peer networks, this program provides dynamic planning tools for building a blueprint for your creative practice or arts project.

Now Open: NYFA Artist as Entrepreneur at Powerhouse Arts

NYFA will be holding this program in partnership with Powerhouse Arts from July 24 – 27, 2025. Applications opened May 19 and will close on June 16, 2025. The program will take place in person at Powerhouse Arts’ space in Brooklyn, NY.

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Program Highlights

Dive into Content

Dive into topics including strategic planning, marketing, fundraising, financial literacy, writing about your work, and/or art law, with additional material adapted from NYFA’s popular The Profitable Artist (Allworth Press, 2018) textbook.

Participate in Work Sample Reviews

Receive work sample reviews from professionals in their discipline, such as curators and artistic directors. Designed to give artists insight into the jury selection process, this individualized feedback is modeled after NYFA’s Fellowship Program.

Join a Peer Cohort

Gain access to a community of like-minded peers working across disciplines, with opportunities to stay in touch to support each others’ creative practice beyond the program.

Access Arts Industry Experts

Led by NYFA’s expert staff and arts industry experts in your community, such as local funders, curators, presenters, publishers, artistic directors, etc.

Develop an Artist Action Plan

Work through flexible and dynamic tools that will provide a blueprint for your practice or specific arts project. You’ll have the opportunity to share and discuss this “Artist Action Plan” among your peers.

Engage with Your Creative Community

Customized to fit the needs of participants and partners hosting the program, each program’s structure includes a blend of presentations, panels, interactive workshops, and breakout groups.

Interested in hosting the Artist as Entrepreneur program for your creative community? Click here

Eligibility

NYC-based artists
Artists of all disciplines (Visual, Multidisciplinary, Performing, Literary, Interdisciplinary, Social Practice, Folk and Traditional, Film, Video and New Media) and career stages, including students, are encouraged to apply.
Priority will be given to Black, Indigenous, artists of color, LGBTQIA+, disabled, and refugee artists.

Application requirements

Artists interested in attending are required to apply. For the application, we ask you provide:

Your long-term 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 artist statement and description (please note these materials be reviewed by arts professionals as part of the Work Sample Review portion of the program).

How to Apply

Applicants can apply through Submittable through June 16, 2025.

Apply

Any questions?

Selection Process

Applications are selected through a panel review process with representatives from both NYFA and Powerhouse Arts.

All applicants will be notified on or by July 1, 2025.

Mandatory Program Dates

Attendance is mandatory at all sessions.

Artist as Entrepreneur Introduction and Meet and Greet
Thursday, July 24, 4:00 PM ET– 8:00 PM ET
Intensive
Friday-Sunday, July 25 – 27, 10:00 AM ET – 4:00 PM ET daily

Please check your calendar before applying.

From Our Alumni

Through the NYSCA/NYFA Artist as Entrepreneur program, I was able to prioritize, organize, and visualize next steps for my career as an artist. I left the program with a feeling of clarity, and a much stronger sense of belonging and connection to my community of fellow artists.

- Melissa Conroy

Artist, Author/Illustrator, and Textile Designer,
NYSCA/NYFA Artist as Entrepreneur, Huntington Arts Council (2022)

The NYSCA/NYFA Artist as Entrepreneur Program provided an opportunity to work with artists from all different backgrounds working in many media including visual, performance, literary, choreography, and more. It was a great learning experience. We benefited from the presentations, given by [NYFA Learning and Flushing Town Hall] staff and the many guest panelists with whom we shared many common challenges, and interests in reaching the public, and striving to better our communities.

- Michele Benjamin

Jewelry Designer and Sculptor,
NYSCA/NYFA Artist as Entrepreneur, Flushing Town Hall (2023)

Artist as Entrepreneur Program

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