Artist Development Day

An afternoon of professional development workshops, panels, and collegial dialogue for artists and designers is presented in collaboration with the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts. Practical tips and critical conversation on contemporary creative practice benefit individuals in every stage of professional practice—from emerging to established.
Fee: $15. Register by October 5 to receive a $5 early-bird discount.
Co-sponsored by the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts.
Register now
Full Schedule:
Panel: Economic Models & Resources for Individual Artists
While a variety of components are critical for maintaining Rhode Island's vigorous creative landscape, individual practicing artists are at the heart of the arts ecosystem., Yet in recent decades, mechanisms of public support for this category of arts worker have shifted significantly, with private assistance often provided by for-profit galleries and a network of collectors. Artists working in the state today need to have an understanding of the assets and challenges of the current economic models. This panel brings together a variety of professionals to discuss:

The role of a commercial gallery – professional approaches, norms, benchmarks, and commitments
Alternative organizations to support business development
How government, foundations, and institutions currently support individual artists and what more can be done
Xander Marro, 2016 RISD Museum Artist Fellow, moderates. Panel includes Deborah Obalil, President & Executive Director of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art & Design; Cade Tompkins of Cade Tompkins Projects; and Lisa Carnevale of DesignxRI.

Panel: Partnerships
Individual artists and arts institutions rely on a network of formal and information partnerships. By sharing resources—from artistic and practical expertise to financial assistance—artists and arts organizations can envision and realize multifaceted projects. What makes a successful partnership? How can individual artists identify and maintain partnership opportunities that will advance their practice?
This panel brings together a group of arts professionals to answer these questions and more, including Lorén Spears, executive director of the Tomaquag Museum; Elena Patiño, RISCA's director of community arts programs; and Holly Ewald, executive director of UPP Arts. Rebecca Noon, community engagement coordinator at Trinity Reperatory Company, moderates.
Presentation: Presenting Your Work to Curators
Jan Howard, chief curator, and Houghton P. Metcalf, Jr. Curator of Prints, Drawings, and Photographs, and Dominic Molon, Richard Brown Baker Curator of Contemporary Art, discuss their experiences working with individual artists and offer advice on self-presentation.
Roundtable Discussion: Public Art
Public art commissions offer maximum exposure while demanding long-term commitment. In this roundtable discussion facilitated by Elizabeth Keithline, artist and public art program consultant at RISCA, and glass artist Paul Housberg (RISD BFA 1975 / MFA 1979), learn about the ins and outs of government- and corporate-funded public art opportunities and consider ways of integrating large-scale projects into your existing practice.
Roundtable Discussion: Maintaining a Practice as a Teaching Artist
How can artists support their practice through teaching? This roundtable discussion, facilitated by Anjel Newman, AS220 youth director; Nicholas Medvescek, the CreativeGround administrator at NEFA; and RISCA's Lynne DeBeer and Daniel Kahn, addresses resources for connecting with organizations and schools, recommendations for working with a variety of audiences, and suggestions for developing teaching strategies.
In Process: Photographing Your Work and Conservation Concerns
Chat with Museum conservator Ingrid Neuman and Museum photographer Erik Gould. Discuss best practices and learn tips and tricks.
Panelists and facilitators include:
Lisa Carnevale
Lynne DeBeer
Holly Ewald
Sarah Ganz Blythe
Paul Housberg
Jan Howard
Daniel Kahn
Elizabeth Keithline
Xander Marro
Nicholas Medvescek
Dominic Molon
Anjel Newman
Rebecca Noon
Deborah Obalil
Elena Calderón Patiño
Lorén Spears
Cade Tompkins