Work of Art: Business Skills for Artists is Springboard for the Arts’ signature professional development series designed to teach business skills to artists in all disciplines. It is offered as interactive workshops and a free workbook for use at home, in classrooms, or studios.
Artists build their creative practices in many different ways, but often run up against the same sets of practical career questions – What steps do I take next? How do I price my work? How do I market what I do? Where do I start?
Springboard offers the Work of Art: Business Skills for Artists curriculum to address these fundamental questions in a practical and accessible format. This curriculum has helped thousands of artists meet their career goals and make a living and a life.
Developed by artists, for artists, and based on decades of Springboard’s work and partnerships, the Work of Art series has been taught at arts organizations, libraries, and colleges in over 80 communities in the Upper Midwest and replicated across the country by artists, organizations, and educational institutions. The curriculum is applicable across disciplines, and features insights from visual artists, writers and playwrights, performers, filmmakers, and multimedia artists.
Our professional development curriculum is designed to teach business skills to artists in all disciplines, including visual, performing, and literary arts. Partners can present the whole series or individual workshops that best suit their needs.
The curriculum starts with big-picture career planning, and covers critical topics such as marketing, promotions, legal considerations, and business development. Sections can be used individually, or as a series.
Work of Art workshops are regularly offered virtually, hybrid, and in-person. They are led by practicing artists and are opportunities to learn from working professionals and peers. The Work of Art curriculum is available as a free download or for purchase as a workbook, and can be used for individual settings, group learning, or in a classroom setting. Work of Art is a continually relevant resource, perfect for establishing early career fundamentals, or re-imagining and re-evaluating as a creative career progresses.
Yes, you can! Visit our National Consulting webpage to learn about how you can work with us directly. You can also use the full Work of Art: Business Skills for Artists curriculum to lead your own workshop series.
No, in-person and virtual workshops are not recorded.
We’ve got you! Book time with one of our Artist Career Consultants to get 1:1 support for artistic practice! Consultations can cover career planning, project support, artist resources, or specific questions around marketing, promotions, grants, tech, writing, web support and more. All consultations are available on a sliding scale for accessibility, and are offered at no- or low-cost to artists in Minnesota.
Help Artists Thrive Donate