FREE Professional Development Workshops (ONLINE & IN PERSON)
The Maine Arts Commission has partnered with Assets for Artists to offer FREE professional development workshops for artists anywhere in Maine.
Assets for Artists is a key resource for Maine artists, providing artist-centered workshops in both online and in-person formats. Topics include personal finances, project planning, wellness, marketing, and more, all designed to support the unique needs of artists and help them grow in their careers.
For more details, visit the Assets for Artists workshops page.
Assets for Artists Workshops
Assets for Artists offers free professional development workshops designed for artists and creative entrepreneurs. These workshops are artist-tailored, artist-led, and available to artists of all disciplines in Maine and across New England. All workshops are recorded unless otherwise noted, and approved registrants receive access to recordings.
Basic Taxes for Creatives
Thursday, July 16, 2026 | 6:00PM - 8:00PM
Presenter: Akeem Davis
In this workshop, tax professional Akeem Davis will delve into the basics of taxes, with emphasis on the specific intricacies of filing as a creative professional. Topics will include separating personal and artistic finances, filing a Schedule C, self-employment versus outside employment, and tracking deductions.
This workshop will have a particular eye toward artists’ current financial challenges and helping artists navigate updates to tax law.
About the presenter: Akeem Davis is a Barrymore Award-winning actor and non-profit administrator with the Atlantic Center for Capital Representation, a death penalty sentencing resource center.
Best suited for: Artists of all disciplines.
Staying Authentic While Marketing Your Work
Photo credit: Jonathan Turner
Thursday, August 6, 2026 | 5:45PM - 7:45PM
Presenter: Daniel Callahan
They say 80% of life is showing up. How one shows up determines the rest. Whether it’s an interview, Google search, Pinterest post, TED talk or a conversation over tea, making sure the impression one leaves leads to interest, opportunity, and growth for both you and your audience is crucial.
In this workshop, participants will learn some strategies and apply practical know-how to promote themselves and their services with excellence and authenticity in both in-person and online spaces. Participants will leave the workshop with a fuller understanding of themselves and some tried-and-true methods for presenting and pitching their art and their practice.
About the presenter: Daniel Callahan is an award-winning transmedia artist, designer, and filmmaker. In addition to running his own multimedia production company and art practice, he teaches film and video at Emerson College and The Institute of Contemporary Art.
Best suited for: This is an introductory level marketing course best suited for visual and media artists. 50 participants max.
Art of Licensing
Wednesday, August 12, 2026 | 12:15PM - 1:45PM
Presenter: Allison Cole
Allison Cole is an award-winning illustrator, artist, and surface designer who never stops creating. Over the past fifteen years, she has worked with a wide variety of clients that span many different industries, including stationery, wall art, giftware, apparel, home furnishings, and bolt fabric.
In this workshop participants will learn about the industry of surface design and art licensing, and discover how artists can get their designs on a wide variety of products by partnering with different companies. They will learn about marketing and branding their work, reaching clients, and setting achievable goals.
Best suited for: Visual artists. 30 participants max.
Driving Web Traffic That Matters: Using Search, Ads & Analytics to Market Your Work
Friday, August 14, 2026 | 12:15PM - 2:15PM
Presenter: Francesca Olsen
In this workshop, instructor Francesca Olsen discusses what is happening behind the scenes of your website and provides strategies for how to make it work for you. Through a combination of lecture and interactive activities this workshop will cover the basics of search engine optimization, including how it works, recent changes, and how to conduct a simple SEO audit.
Workshop focus:
- Understanding how SEO works and what has changed recently.
- Conducting a simple SEO audit.
- Researching and using keywords effectively.
- Improving how creative work is presented online.
- Understanding digital advertising options to reach the right audiences.
This workshop will include time for Q&A, so come with questions and leave with strategies to better connect your work with the audiences you want to reach.
About the presenter: Francesca Olsen is a multidisciplinary artist, writer, and consultant with more than 15 years of experience in marketing and communications, from branding to digital strategy.
Best suited for: Artists of all disciplines who have already spent some time exploring web-based marketing tools and have a stand-alone website or sell their work on a web-based platform.
Accessibility and Workshop Access
Assets for Artists offers accessibility services for workshops, including Zoom closed captioning, follow-up resources, and advance-request accommodations such as ASL interpretation, CART live captioning, live language translation, and advance access to digital handouts or slides when available.
For accessibility requests, contact gro.stsitrarofstessa@noitacude. For full workshop details, visit Assets for Artists Workshops.
PRE-RECORDED WORKSHOPS
A4A now offers a small number of workshop recordings for anyone anywhere! We have worked with our trainers to compensate them for having their intellectual property (the workshop) available for one year on our website. That means more knowledge for more people! But pay attention to the expiration date, because the workshop won’t be on the website forever.