Professional Development for Artists
As part of the Artist Services program area, professional development workshops for artists tap into guest experts in various topics that help broaden the skill set of Nevada’s creatives during their practice. The webinars are offered via Zoom and are also available on our YouTube channel for a two-year timeframe.
Retirement Secrets for Creative entrepreneurs
Elaine Grogan Luttrell, PSA-PFS, AFC, Founder of Minerva Financial Arts
Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024 | Noon-1 p.m.
Did you know as a creative individual there are special things you can do to prepare for retirement (even if you never plan to stop making work)? This workshop will introduce some year-end planning tips so you can set aside a bit of funds for your future … And take advantage of the related tax benefits.
As part of this workshop, we will:
- List types of retirement plans available to self-employed creative individuals.
- Maximize annual contributions based on the type of plan (with a worksheet!).
- Set a rough retirement goal and estimate the total to save per year to reach it (with another worksheet!).
Keeping Track: Recordkeeping Strategies That Work
Elaine Grogan Luttrell, PSA-PFS, AFC, Founder of Minerva Financial Arts
Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 | Noon-1 p.m.
Do you love your recordkeeping system? If not, this conversation might help. This workshop will help you build systems and habits to make the recordkeeping process easier. Whether you are tracking income, expenses, inventory, customers, social media mentions, grant applications, or time, this workshop reviews the pros and cons of various systems and challenges individuals to choose a system that meets their needs.
As part of this workshop, we’ll:
- Identify records to retain for tax purposes and effective systems for tracking expenses and income.
- Identify other relevant records for creative individuals to retain, including inventory and customer information.
- List pros and cons of various recordkeeping systems.
- Build habits to manage records effectively..
Priming your artistic life for income, collaboration, expansion and more
Tristan Acker
Thursday, April 10, 2025 | Noon-1:30 p.m.
Going semi-pro: how to leverage your growing artistic hobby into more
The Priming Your Artistic Life for Income, Expansion and More webinar will discuss concepts of foundation building one can do in their community to build a respectable brand over time. The webinar will highlight types of interactions that produce good will, positive reactions, and opportunities. In addition, the webinar will go over strategies artists can deploy by leveraging soft skills such as email craft, attentive reading, genuine enthusiasms, and professionalism to stand out as an artist and create opportunities for pay and prestige in your community and beyond. This workshop is framed for creatives in the fields of music, however topics discussed are applicable to artists in all disciplines
To The Fair: An Independent Artist’s Guide to Preparing for and Navigating a Fine Art Fair
Briana Dolan
April 25, 2025 | Noon-1:30 p.m.
What is an art fair? As an independent artist, is it worth the time and money? How do I prepare? What should I expect? This webinar is designed to cover some of the many questions that come to mind around the decision to become a participating exhibitor at an art fair- some obvious and some not. Join us for both Part 1 – To Go or Not to Go as an introduction to the art fair model and initial preparations and Part 2 – Curating Your Experience, which will get into the finer detail of strategy, presentation, and expectation. There will be something to gain for both first time and seasoned exhibitors.
About the presenter:
Briana Dolan is co-founder and COO of Peaks Art Fairs, which includes the Reno Tahoe International Art Show (est. 2022) and Salt Lake Art Show (launching 2026). Prior to moving to Reno in 2020, she and her family lived in New York City and Connecticut where she was a marketing executive for renowned hospitality design firm Tihany Design. She partnered with her father Kevin O’Keefe in 2020 to develop the Reno Fine Arts Collective online and physical pop-up gallery, which served as a testing ground for what was to follow with the launch of the RTIA Show. After three successful editions of the fair, each doubling in size from the previous show, Kevin and Briana will bring the inclusive, unique-to-location fine art fair model to Salt Lake City in May of 2026. The Reno-based artist is mother to four under 8 and balances artist coordination with home preschool and family adventures.
Securing Sponsorships and Partnerships for Community Projects
Tristan Acker
Thursday, June 12, 2025 | Noon-1:30 p.m.
The Securing Sponsorships and Partnerships for Community Projects webinar will help identify the community the artists and arts organizers exist in and how to present themselves to potential sponsors. The webinar will go over topics such as; identifying sectors of the local economy that have a stake in their work, building mutual beneficial partnerships with their endeavors, and making sure they have something to offer as they approach people and organizations. Webinar will also touch on the actual logistics of managing a project budget as your sponsor picture takes shape and some factors to consider in relation to whether your funding is from local governments, local businesses, and more. This workshop is framed for creatives in the fields of music, however topics discussed are applicable to artists in all disciplines.
Part 2 – Curating Your Experience: An Independent Artist’s Guide to Preparing for and Navigating a Fine Art Fair
Briana Dolan
May 16, 2025 | Noon-1:30 p.m.
What is an art fair? As an independent artist, is it worth the time and money? How do I prepare? What should I expect? This webinar is designed to cover some of the many questions that come to mind around the decision to become a participating exhibitor at an art fair- some obvious and some not. Join us for Part 2 – Curating Your Experience, which will get into the finer detail of strategy, presentation, and expectation. There will be something to gain for both first time and seasoned exhibitors.
About the presenter:
Briana Dolan is co-founder and COO of Peaks Art Fairs, which includes the Reno Tahoe International Art Show (est 2022) and Salt Lake Art Show (launching 2026). Prior to moving to Reno in 2020, she and her family lived in New York City and Connecticut where she was a marketing executive for renowned hospitality design firm Tihany Design. She partnered with her father Kevin O’Keefe in 2020 to develop the Reno Fine Arts Collective online and physical pop-up gallery, which served as a testing ground for what was to follow with the launch of the RTIA Show. After three successful editions of the fair, each doubling in size from the previous show, Kevin and Briana will bring the inclusive, unique-to-location fine art fair model to Salt Lake City in May of 2026. The Reno-based artist is mother to four under 8 and balances artist coordination with home preschool and family adventures..