Artists as Entrepreneurs Program
Acadiana Center for the Arts has partnered with the New York Foundation for the Arts to bring you their Artist as Entrepreneur Program.
This is an intensive professional development opportunity that serves artists and creatives of all disciplines (including visual, literary, performing arts, among others).
This 3.5 day program taking place at Acadiana Center for the Arts delves into the fundamental principles of building, maintaining, and growing a career in the arts, empowering artists with the tools to imagine and pursue success as they define it.
Whether you’re looking for a shift in thinking, strategies for your arts/creative business, or peer networks, this program provides dynamic planning tools for building a blueprint for your creative practice or arts project.
Participants will Benefit From:
- Dive into Content: Dive into topics including strategic planning, marketing, fundraising, financial literacy, writing about your work, and/or art law, with additional material adapted from NYFA’s popular The Profitable Artist (Allworth Press, 2018) textbook.
- Receive One-on-One Career Advice: Participate in a free, one-on-one coaching session with art industry professionals from NYFA’s Coaching and Consulting program.
- Join a Peer Cohort: Gain access to a community of like-minded peers working across disciplines, with opportunities to stay in touch to support each others’ creative practice beyond the program.
- Access Arts Industry Experts: Led by NYFA’s expert staff and arts industry experts in your community, such as local funders, curators, presenters, publishers, artistic directors, etc.
- Develop an Artist Action Plan: Work through flexible and dynamic tools that will provide a blueprint for your practice or specific arts project. You’ll have the opportunity to share and discuss this “Artist Action Plan” among your peers.
- Engage with Your Creative Community: Customized to fit the needs of participants and partners hosting the program, each program’s structure includes a blend of presentations, panels, interactive workshops, and breakout groups.
Mandatory Program Dates:
- Artist as Entrepreneur Introduction and Meet and Greet
Thursday, September 4, 4:00 PM ET– 8:00 PM ET at Acadiana Center for the Arts - Intensive
Friday-Sunday, September 5 – 7, 10:00 AM ET – 4:00 PM ET daily at Acadiana Center for the Arts
Eligible Applicants:
- Artists living in the 8 parish region of Acadiana (Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, or Vermilion).
- Artists of all disciplines (Visual, Multidisciplinary, Performing, Literary, Interdisciplinary, Social Practice, Folk and Traditional, Film, Video and New Media) and career stages, including students, are encouraged to apply.
- Must be 18 years or older
Application Requirements:
Artists interested in attending are required to apply – this is a competitive application process.
For the application, we ask you provide:
- Brief Narrative: describing your long-term goals and why you are interested in applying to this program (this is the most important part of this application, and will be evaluated most closely!)
- Artist bio: describing your professional career
- Artist statement: describing your creative practice and provided work samples (see tips here and here)
- Work samples: representing your creative practice
How to Apply:
Applicants can apply through Submittable beginning June 13, 2025. The deadline will be July 14, 11:59pm
Draft Review:
If you would like to submit a draft for review, you may do so via the Submittable form. The deadline for draft review will be Sunday July 6, 11:59pm.
Selection Process:
Applications are selected through a panel review process with representatives from NYFA, Acadiana Center for the Arts, and the 8 Parish Region community.
All applicants will be notified on or by August 4, 2025.
Questions?
Please contact the Community Engagement team at community@acadianacenterforthearts.org