Two Weeks, Ten Events, One Mission: A Professional Development Program Recap

Todd Berman

Artist Todd Berman, who participated in our Strategic Planning & Funding workshop in San Francisco, drew this fantastic image of some of his fellow participants. Check out the rest of Todd’s “notes” here, as well as his website: TheArtDontStop.com


The Professional Development Program (PDP) has been busy the last few weeks. Between January 28th and February 4th, we held our first-ever workshop in Utah for documentary fellows of Sundance Institute, two west coast workshops with Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions and Southern Exposure in San Francisco (both sponsored by Tequila Herradura), and an Authentic Branding workshop with Maxine Lapiduss here in our New York City office. Kristin Feeley, Labs and Artist Support Director in the Documentary Film Program at Sundance Institute, encapsulated her observation of the workshop in Utah when she told us: “I’m a skeptic by nature but…damn. The fellows are rapt and this is great.”
PDP also hosted a group of artists at Creative Capital for a “Wine & Webinar” event featuring our “Kickstarter School” webinar, led by Kickstarter’s Director of Community Education Stephanie Pereira who was on hand for a live post-webinar Q&A. Finally, we conducted a Real Cost Budgeting webinar for Joan Mitchell Foundation artists.


And we’re not slowing down! This past weekend we hosted three workshops: a Core Skills Weekend in Cary, NC (in partnership with North Carolina Arts Council and the Town of Cary), an Artist-Community Engagement workshop in Atlanta, GA (in partnership with Flux Projects and PushPush Theater, and sponsored by Tequila Herradura) and a Financial Literacy Workshop at the Convening Culture Conference in Orlando (in partnership with the Florida Department of State Division of Cultural Affairs).
Below are some photos (and highlights) from our recent activities. Stay tuned to the blog for more PDP recaps and stories.

Colleen Keegan in San Francisco

Colleen Keegan leads a group of artists in a Strategic Planning workshop at Southern Exposure in San Francisco.

“I feel that the Creative Capital workshop was equal parts pep talk and slap in the face, a wake up call with some relevant advice toward establishing a long-term blue print.”
– Ethan Rafal, Artist Participant, Strategic Planning at Southern Exposure

LACE Workshop

Artist participants at our Financial Literacy & Funding Your Work workshop at LACE.

“The Creative Capital workshop at LACE was really invaluable. It talked about big picture finances in a way that was digestible and achievable, for both project-based
financing and sustainability on a general level.”
– Deborah Scacco, Artist Participant, Financial Literacy & Funding Your Work at LACE

Stephanie Pereira

Kickstarter’s Director of Community Education Stephanie Pereira hosts a live Q&A in the Creative Capital office after Monday night’s “Kickstarter School” webinar.

“It was great to be able to ask Stephanie questions directly and hear others’ questions. Being in the room allowed for more follow ups and it was great to connect with
people in person. I had some great conversations.” 

– Artist Participant, Wine & Webinar event at Creative Capital

Maxine Lapiduss

Maxine Lapiduss leads an “Authentic Branding” workshop at Creative Capital. Usually a day long event, this was the first 3-hour version we’ve offered!

“A high energy, information packed presentation that left the group breathless
and ready to do hard work on their own. Empowering!”

– Gwyneth Leech, Artist Participant, Authentic Branding at Creative Capital

Interested in taking advantage of the Professional Development Program? Check out our online calendar to see what’s coming next!


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