The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) presents the Artist as Entrepreneur Program, a comprehensive professional development opportunity tailored for artists and creatives across all disciplines. This intensive program spans between one and three and a half days and is designed to equip participants with critical skills and strategies to support and sustain their careers in the arts. NYFA, a longstanding advocate for artists through funding and resources, collaborates with community partners to bring this initiative directly to creatives where they live and work.
This session of the Artist as Entrepreneur Program will be held in partnership with Powerhouse Arts from July 24 to July 27, 2025, at Powerhouse Arts’ facility in Brooklyn, New York. Applications for this cohort opened on May 19, 2025, and will close on June 16, 2025. Participation is in-person and encompasses interactive content, panels, breakout groups, and access to professionals in the arts sector.
Participants will engage with vital topics including strategic planning, marketing, fundraising, financial literacy, legal considerations in the arts, and the articulation of artistic work. The program also incorporates curriculum materials from “The Profitable Artist,” a well-regarded textbook published by Allworth Press in 2018. Work sample reviews are a core feature, offering direct feedback from discipline-specific professionals such as curators and artistic directors. This component is modeled after the NYFA Fellowship Program’s jury review process.
Artists accepted into the program will develop an “Artist Action Plan” to serve as a personalized blueprint for their creative careers or specific projects. The program fosters a peer cohort environment, encouraging ongoing collaboration and support among participants. Instruction is delivered by NYFA staff along with local industry experts, ensuring relevant and applicable knowledge sharing.
Eligibility is open to New York City-based artists working in any discipline and at any career stage, including students. However, priority is extended to artists from underrepresented communities, including Black, Indigenous, artists of color, LGBTQIA+, disabled, and refugee artists. Application procedures and selection details are available through NYFA, and participation on all program dates is mandatory for selected individuals.
For more information, applicants may contact NYFA at their main address, 29 W. 38th Street, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10018. Additional program details and updates are available through NYFA’s website and email communications.
