Apply Now: NYSCA/NYFA Artist as Entrepreneur Program, Presented by Flushing Town Hall

Artists living and working near Queens, NY, are encouraged to apply to participate in this free entrepreneurial program to be presented by Flushing Town Hall in July 2023.

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Applications are now open for this 3.5 day professional development program, which will take place July 20-23 in Flushing, NY, serving Queens County and the Greater New York City area. The NYSCA/NYFA Artist as Entrepreneur Program will be presented free of charge to selected participants by the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) in partnership with the New York State Council on the Arts’ State & Local Partnerships program and Flushing Town Hall. This will be part of a series of ongoing professional development programs for arts communities in New York State.

The NYSCA/NYFA Artist as Entrepreneur Program is an intensive, multi-day in-person professional development opportunity that delves into the fundamental principles of sustainability in the arts. Content will be customized in light of current challenges artists everywhere are facing, while also targeting challenges for artists specifically located in Queens County, and will be presented with this perspective in mind.

Featured topics will include strategic planning, finance, law, marketing, and fundraising, with additional material drawn from NYFA’s popular textbook The Profitable Artist (Allworth Press, 2018). Selected artists will also receive work sample reviews from professionals in their discipline. The structure will consist of a blend of workshops, discussions, and breakout groups. Participants will work through flexible and dynamic tools that will help to provide a blueprint for their practice or specific projects.

The program benefits artists of all disciplines and stages of their career who are looking to identify new ways of thinking and approaching their arts practice, while seeking a community of like-minded peers.

There is no charge to participate in the NYSCA/NYFA Artist as Entrepreneur Program. Artists interested in attending are required to apply, and participants are selected through a panel review process. 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.

NYFA will be accepting applications from now through Monday, June 19, 5:00 PM ET

Program Dates:

Thursday, July 20: 5:00-8:00 PM ET
Meet & Greet: Overview of Artist As Entrepreneur and Participant Introductions

Friday-Saturday, July 21-23: 10:00 AM-4:00 PM ET
Intensive:
1. Workshops and panels on strategic planning, marketing, finance, art law, and fundraising. 
2. A work sample review based on each artist’s application submission to the program. 
3. Individual presentations of action plans in small groups to close the program.

Location: Flushing Town Hall: 137-35 Northern Blvd, Queens, NY 11354

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

How to Apply:

Apply via Submittable by Monday, June 19, 5:00 PM ET.

First-time users will need to register with Submittable to access the application portal.

Eligibility:

• Open to artists in all disciplines and career stages, including students.
• Open to artists living and working within all five boroughs of New York City. Priority will be given to artists based in Queens County. Artists are also encouraged to share any connection to the borough and its communities.*

*For example, perhaps you grew up in the area or have done significant community-based work in the borough.

Guidelines:

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 work statement and description

Notification: Wednesday, June 28

Questions? For questions about the program, contact NYFA at [email protected] and include “Flushing Town Hall” in the subject line. For technical questions regarding submittable, please contact Submittable support.

To request an accommodation or assistance in applying, please email [email protected]. We ask that requests for accommodation be made as soon as possible or by Monday, June 5, to allow adequate time for staff to support you in submitting an application before the deadline.

Covid Safety Protocols
Masks and vaccinations are recommended for all program participants. NYFA and Flushing Town Hall staff are required to be fully vaccinated. If you are feeling sick, please stay home to help to protect against the spread of COVID-19.

Testimonials

This was my first time participating in a program like this! The information shared and connection to other artists was invaluable! I feel much more prepared to run my business, and to seek additional resources in the future. I’m so happy I got to meet all the participants. I specifically wanted to learn about marketing and I did!!!

–Kendra Grady, NYSCA/NYFA Artist as Entrepreneur, Bronx Council on the Arts Participant, 2022

This program came highly recommended to me by another artist and it came perfectly timed at a transitional stage in my life and career. Even though I had been in the art world through teaching, I had not been in the local artist network. I am now already making contacts with other artists to discuss collaborations and projects. I am so happy to meet in-person with staff and presenters (who were terrific!) from NYFA as their resources now seem real and very approachable! I also appreciated all the insights of my amazing diverse cohort from their wide variety of experiences, media, and varying points on their artistic journeys.

–Inshik Lee, NYSCA.NYFA Artist as Entrepreneur, Community Arts Partnership Participant, 2022

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

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.