Artist INC
Professional development for artists
Artist INC Programs Open NowArtist INC is a cutting-edge professional development program that empowers artists to take control of their careers and create opportunities they’ve only imagined.
Artist INC has been offered in communities—large and small—across M-AAA’s region and beyond, including Argenta, Arkansas; Northwest Arkansas; Austin, Texas; Des Moines, Iowa; Houston, Texas; Kansas City, Missouri; Lawrence, Kansas; Omaha, Nebraska; New Mexico; St. Louis, Missouri; Topeka, Kansas; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Wichita, Kansas.
Artist INC is an eight-week program that helps artists of all backgrounds—painters, musicians, writers, performers, and more—grow their careers and handle real-life entrepreneurial challenges. Led by trained, local artists, it’s a great way to deepen your entrepreneurial skills, grow your practice, meet other artists, share ideas, and get inspired. Cohorts of 25 artists are chosen through an application process.
Artist INC Upcoming Schedule
Click on a link below to learn more and to apply for this opportunity.
- Artist INC Kansas City (September 2–October 28) — applications due June 9, 2025
- Artist INC Topeka (September 2–October 21) — applications due June 16, 2025
- Artist INC Houston (September 17–November 12) — applications due June 23, 2025
- Artist INC St. Louis (September 16–November 11) — applications due July 9, 2025
Artist INC Express is a slimmed down, yet still highly active, version of the popular eight-week Artist INC Live program. Artist INC Express explores those same core concepts of how to build a lasting arts practice in a shorter format. It is always free and artists only need to register to participate.
Artist INC Express Upcoming Schedule:
Click on a link below to learn more and to register for this free workshop.
- Cape Girardeau, MO (in-person) — June 7–8, 2025
- Springdale, AR (in-person) — June 7–8, 2025
- Lawrence, KS (Musicians) (in-person) — July 7–9, 2025
- Springdale, AR (in-person) — September 20–21, 2025
Over the past 16 years, more than 2,700 artists from communities in 7 states have participated in Artist INC and Artist INC Express.
Are you an organization interested in bringing Artist INC Live or Artist INC Express to your community? Find out more.
Artist INC Programs
Artist INC Live
Artist INC is a cutting edge training program that empowers artists to take control of their careers and create opportunities they’ve only imagined. Artist INC addresses the specific business needs and challenges artists of all disciplines face every day.
Gathering for one night a week for eight weeks, participants learn business skills specific to their art practice and how to apply those skills cooperatively with their peers. Using a groundbreaking class design, artists learn and grow together through artist facilitator mentoring, small group application activities, as well as large group discussion and multi-media lecture.
Artist INC Express
Artist INC Express is a weekend-long intensive workshop created to address the specific business needs and challenges that artists of all disciplines face.
Led by a team of Artist Peer Facilitators, Artist INC Express is designed to focus participants on learning the most essential skills in the shortest amount of time. Usually offered virtually, it is free to participants with registration.
What Works
What Works is an introductory workshop outlining best practices for artists to create a sustainable career, based on sharing the common behavior of successful artist entrepreneurs.
These tenets are based on working with thousands of artists and are the basis of the Artist INC program.
In the What Works Workshop, Artist INC Peer Facilitators share these behaviors as well as share personal and professional examples of their own and leave artists ready to apply them to their own art practice. Usually offered virtually, it is free to participants with registration.
Artist Leadership Fellows
Artist Leadership Fellow program selects artists who are nominated by community partner organizations from a wide range of disciplines and perspectives. Over a course of eight weeks, the artists meet virtually with the facilitators to explore and develop professional aspects of their work as leaders in their communities.
Fellows leave the program with a cross-discipline, geographically broad network of peer artists, the strategic framework to manage enduring artistic careers, and the tools to serve as facilitators and mentors to others in their home communities across M-AAA’s region and beyond.
Artist INC Recent News
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Creating Art, Building Community: How Artist INC Shaped Muralist David Maldonado’s Mission
Find Out MoreDavid Maldonado transforms communities around Houston with colorful and empowering murals that have earned him growing recognition and high-profile commissions. But back in the day, he was just a kid who made art. No pretense, no larger plan. “A lot…
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Studio Visit with St. Louis Songwriter Ryan Marquez
Find Out MoreJust east of St. Louis, across the Mississippi River, there is a peaceful room filled with curved wooden walls ready to receive harmonies and vibrations. It’s here, at Lonnie’s Farm Recording Studio, that we find Ryan Marquez sitting at the…
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Meet Diane Scott: Director of Artist Services
Find Out MoreAt the heart of Mid-America Arts Alliance is a passionate team working behind the scenes to empower artists across the region. Continuing our series featuring the incredible individuals at M-AAA, this edition highlights Diane Scott, our director of Artist Services.…
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Upcoming Free Workshops to Build Your Art Career
Find Out MoreHow will you make art work for you? Artist INC announces upcoming free professional development workshops in Kansas, Missouri, and Arkansas for artists building their art careers. Artist INC Express is a nine-hour commitment and What Works is a short,…
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Artist INC Celebrates 15 Years of Empowering Creators
Find Out MoreArtist INC Live Kansas City 2022 There’s more than one way to be an artist. But while creative practices and techniques run the gamut, tried and true business skills can help artists of all disciplines make a living. That’s where…
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From Houston to Hollywood: How Artist INC Elevated My Life and Art
Find Out MoreJocelyn Nguyen in her short film New Hollywood. Image still courtesy of the artist. This story shares personal experiences of domestic violence. If you are experiencing domestic violence, or know someone who is, please see the resources at the end…
Pictured: Artist INC Live Topeka WorkShare event. Photography by Nick Krug.