Workshops
The Arkansas Arts Council organizes two, professional development programs.
the GetSmART! Learning Series is a series of in-depth workshops that cover art-related topics for individual artists and nonprofit organizations. The program, created in 2014, is designed to provide training and networking opportunities to Arkansas creatives in an affordable and efficient manner. The program includes the Lunch & Learn series that is responsible for helping to develop and strengthen nonprofit organizations related to the arts.
Past topics through GetSmART! include starting a nonprofit organization, strengthening a nonprofit board, copyright law, artist guide to real estate, pricing your visual artworks, fundraising for organizations or projects, grant writing, editing your writing, and branding and marketing. See more workshops on our YouTube channel.
All GetSmART! workshops are led by professional creatives and leaders in the arts, business and nonprofit sectors. Upcoming workshops in 2024 include learning about passive investment, artist residencies, starting a business and more.
The Arkansas Arts Council also sponsors Artist INC programs through Mid-America Arts Alliance, which is the regional arts organization that includes Arkansas. Artist INC Express and Artist INC Live are provided to different locations statewide and online as part of a learning opportunity to connect creatives and increase business related skills for creatives. The programs are artist led and help artists cultivate connections while building business skills in a wholistic way. Please scroll down to learn more.
Scarlet Sims
Artist Services Manager
GetSmART! Learning Series Testimonials
"The GetSmART! Workshop was a wonderful experience. I really appreciated how attentive the class was; responding and asking proper questions. It was cool how we were able to get on and off subject so casually. Being that I ran out of time before finishing the presentation, I'm excited to share more." - Damen Tolbert, instructor at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, director of Sound Recording Technology, Applied Woodwinds and Music Education
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Artist INC Express - Arkansas Statewide (virtual)
- Day 1: 6-9 p.m., Friday, Jan. 24, 2025
- Day 2: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025
- Day 3: noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025
- All fees waived through the Arkansas Arts Council.
- Preferred Registration Deadline (to receive hard copy workshop materials via US mail): 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025
- Registration Deadline (digital workshop materials via email): 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025 at 5:00pm. RSVP at www.maaa.org/event/artist-inc-express-arkansas-statewide-virtual.
Artist INC Express - Jonesboro (in-person)
- Day 1: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 8, 2025; and Day 2: noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 9, 2025
- Bradbury Art Museum, 201 Olympic Dr., Jonesboro
- All fees waived through the Arkansas Arts Council.
- Registration deadline is 5 p.m. Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Artist INC Express - Jonesboro, AR (in-person) - Mid-America Arts Alliance (maaa.org).
Artist INC Express is an intensive workshop created to address the specific business needs and challenges creatives of all disciplines face every day. The program is designed to focus participants on learning the most essential skills in the shortest amount of time.
Led by professional artist facilitators, the sessions are highly interactive and include activities and discussions focused on goal setting, writing about one’s work, and building a personal brand—the building blocks for a sustainable art practice and a successful arts business.
Interested artists must apply by using the links by application deadlines.
Artist INC Express - Monticello (in-person)
- Day 1: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 8, 2025; and Day 2: noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 9, 2025
- University of Arkansas at Monticello
- All fees waived through the Arkansas Arts Council.
- Registration deadline is 5 p.m. Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Artist INC Express - Monticello, AR (in-person) - Mid-America Arts Alliance (maaa.org).
The Arkansas Arts Council is pleased to have sponsored this eight-week professional development session in Pine Bluff and Little Rock with Mid-America Arts Alliance and to waive the $150 fee for individual creatives participating. No sessions are planned for the rest of 2024.
Artist INC LIVE is a training seminar designed to address the specific professional and entrepreneurial challenges that artists of all disciplines face in their practices. Artists will learn and grow together through artist facilitator mentoring, small group activities, large group discussions, multimedia lectures and a remarkable opportunity for networking with other artists.
For more information, email [email protected].