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.
An Introduction to Cooperatives in the Arts
Wednesday, September 30 + Thursday, October 1, 2026 | 6:00PM - 8:00PM
Presenter: Daniel Park
Format: This is a 2-part workshop. Artists are asked to attend both sessions.
After years of participating in an unjust ecosystem, artists and culture bearers are searching for viable alternatives to the traditional models of cultural production that have historically kept resources and power out of the hands of the workers. The solidarity economy, and cooperatives in particular, have started to gain traction amongst artists as an exciting solution.
But what’s the difference between a worker-owned cooperative and a purchasing cooperative? Is an ensemble a cooperative? Is talking about ownership inherently capitalist? In this workshop, participants will learn about the fundamentals that define cooperatives and how they differ from other types of collectives, explore case studies of cooperatives in the arts and culture sector, and brainstorm how a cooperative could meet their needs and the needs of their communities.
Participants are welcome to join as individuals or alongside their collaborators, and will receive resources for further study into various cooperative models.
About the presenter: Daniel Park is a worker-owner with Obvious Agency and theatre and performance artist, facilitator, and organizer for racial and labor justice in the cultural sector.
Best suited for: Artists of all disciplines.
Essentials of Digital Marketing
Friday, October 9, 2026 | 12:30PM - 2:30PM
Presenter: Francesca Olsen
Digital marketing can be incredibly effective and inexpensive when it comes to building and connecting with your audience as an artist. But what’s important to focus on in a world where our time and capacity is limited? In this workshop, Francesca will cover the basics of digital marketing for artists, including the importance of branding, audience building, effective social media, SEO optimization and website best practices.
By the end of this workshop, participants will have the tools to build an online audience, evaluate what digital platforms are best for their work, use analytics to guide future decision making, and put together a marketing plan that covers multiple platforms. This workshop will be largely lecture-based with several opportunities with Q&A to address specific questions.
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 who already have a basic understanding of social media. This is an intermediate-level, lecture-style workshop.
Project Management
Thursdays, October 15 + 22, 2026 | 6:00PM - 8:00PM
Presenter: Ana Tinajero
Format: This is a 2-part workshop. Artists are asked to attend both sessions.
Working on an artistic endeavor, event, or production and not sure where to start? Get an introduction into the basic building blocks of planning, executing, and monitoring a project, no matter the size. In this workshop, Ana will cover the fundamentals of crafting a blueprint for success.
Workshop focus:
- Part 1: Building the Plan: Define goals and scope with finite and clear deliverables. Draft a timeline and budget to help allocate resources and identify those needed. Choose a framework of guiding principles for executing a plan that resonates with your artistic practice and creative needs.
- Part 2: Execution & Reflection: Develop systems and processes to help manage and monitor budget and team workflow. Establish parameters of success, analyze results and evaluate impact. Identify practices for nourishment tailored to you and any collaborators.
This online workshop will involve lecture, small group and partner conversation, solo exercise prompts during the workshop and take-home assignments.
About the presenter: Ana ‘Masacote’ Tinajero is an award-winning Afro-Latin dance artist and performing arts curator who loves engineering spaces for community connection through the arts.
Best suited for: Artists of all disciplines. 30 participants max.
Radiant Thriving: Bold Writing for Boundless Artists
Tuesday + Wednesday, October 27 + 28, 2026 | 5:45PM - 7:45PM
Presenter: Doctora Xingona Diana Alvarez
Format: This is a 2-part series. Artists are asked to attend all sessions.
As artists, we are called to draft artist bios and statements, project proposals, blurbs, email inquiries, grant applications, and more to build a thriving career. In this workshop, participants will practice developing a radiant, bold, unapologetic writing voice that centers their values and identities. Artists will build individual language styles to align with their unique arts practice.
Workshop focus:
- Part 1: Artist statements.
- Part 2: Project proposals and cold inquiries, building on the language developed in Part 1.
- Participants will review writing examples from a range of disciplines, share tools and resources, and workshop their own writing together throughout and on their own.
About the presenter: An expansive multimedia artist and educator, Doctora Xingona’s music, poetry, performances, films, and gatherings center transcendence, kinship, and the co-liberation and nourishment of queer and trans artists of color.
Best suited for: Artists of all disciplines. 25 participants max.
Power of Websites
Wednesday, November 4, 2026 | 6:00PM - 8:00PM
Presenter: Jessica Burko
You are more than social media. While socials are the place for dialogue and networking, having a dedicated website for your work is essential for comprehensively presenting your art and your story. Whether you have an existing site or you’re developing one for the first time, this workshop covers essential principles of design, organization, and usability for boldly sharing your work with the world.
With planning and preparation, you can make a powerful home to showcase your work, and yourself, in a way that engages viewers and increases opportunity. A vibrant, user-friendly, and visually dynamic website is what makes you stand out from all the rest and increases cross-platform engagement.
About the presenter: Jessica Burko is a Boston-based mixed-media artist and independent curator. Through Burko Creative, she supports artists in achieving their creative and professional goals with consultations, lectures, workshops, and partnerships with organizations.
Best suited for: 2D and 3D visual artists. This workshop focuses on design principles and user experience and will not cover online sales, SEO, or web-hosting logistics. 40 participants max.
Debt Management for Creatives
Friday, November 6, 2026 | 12:00PM - 2:00PM
Presenter: Akeem Davis
On the journey toward financial freedom, debt is often one of the biggest detours. Typically posed as a solution to momentary financial struggle, when not managed debt can transform into a burden and cause even larger financial concerns.
This lecture-style workshop offers a clear, practical framework for understanding, managing, and eliminating debt faster. Instructor Akeem Davis will break down the different types of debt, explore proven reduction strategies, examine how credit and debt impact long-term stability, and equip participants with actionable tools to regain solvency and control of their finances.
Plenty of time for Q&A is built in so participants can move forward with agency and confidence.
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: Creatives of all disciplines. 50 participants max.
Beyond Arts Grants: Creative Solutions for Project Support
Photo by Nuttymar
Mondays, November 9 + 16, 2026 | 12:00PM - 2:00PM
Presenter: Yara Liceaga-Rojas
Format: This is a 2-part, introductory-level series. Artists are asked to attend both sessions.
Workshop focus:
- Part 1: Project Development & How to Find Partners: Participants will learn about developing an appropriate project for the appropriate partner and where and how to search for opportunities.
- Part 2: Creating a Proposal + Building a Project Budget: Participants will work through the project summary and project budget they might be asked to share with partners for grant applications, cold calls, and other partnership conversations.
Participants will discuss how to set artist fees, taking into account the barriers, financial trauma, the devaluing of the arts, and systemic inequities, that come into play when artists build their own project budgets. The workshop will also discuss how to persevere through rejection.
Participants will leave empowered to fight for their worth and prepared to take advantage of creative opportunities. This workshop series is highly participatory and is designed to expand and nurture creative community.
About the presenter: Based between Boston and Puerto Rico, Yara Liceaga-Rojas is a writer, performer, and independent grant writer who works in both English and Spanish.
Best suited for: Artists of all disciplines. 25 participants max.
Artist Residencies 101
Wednesday, December 2, 2026 | 12:15PM - 2:15PM
Presenter: Yasmine Ameli
Curious about artist residencies? In this workshop, participants will go over different art residency models and what they have to offer, from artist communities to DIY and micro-residencies. The workshop will discuss how to assess whether you are in the right season of your life and practice to apply, what residency model makes the most sense for you, and navigating residencies as a full-time worker or caregiver.
Participants will leave with resources on where to find open calls, funding opportunities, and application dos and don’ts. This workshop will be discussion based and artists should come ready to journal. There will be time for Q&A.
About the presenter: Yasmine Ameli is an Iranian American poet and essayist who holds a BA in English from Johns Hopkins University and an MFA in creative writing from Virginia Tech.
Best suited for: Artists of all disciplines. 25 participants max.
Understanding an Artist’s Personal Finances
Thursdays, December 10 + 17, 2026 and Fridays, January 8 + 15, 2027 | 12:15PM - 2:15PM
Presenters: Amy Smith + Akeem Davis
Format: This is a 4-part series. Artists are welcome to attend all or select sessions.
In this workshop, stage performers and tax specialists Amy Smith and Akeem Davis bring a class- and race-based analysis of economic structures and dive into the financial building blocks necessary for artists to thrive. Over the course of four sessions, this workshop will demystify concepts and introduce fundamental financial tools to help participants, including those who “hate thinking about money,” make informed financial decisions for their long-term futures.
Participants will leave empowered to make prudent financial decisions, with an abundance mindset. The workshop will be a mix of presentation and Q&A.
Areas covered:
- Session 1: Our relationship with money, and setting financial goals.
- Session 2: How to value one’s time to build toward savings and retirement.
- Session 3: Budgeting for your life and credit/debt management.
- Session 4: An introduction to investing, with an eye toward handling the unexpected and long-term planning.
About the presenters: Amy Smith is an educator and the former Co-Director of Headlong Dance Theater, a Bessie Award-winning Philadelphia-based dance theater company. Akeem Davis is a Barrymore Award-winning actor and non-profit administrator with the Atlantic Center for Capital Representation. Both are part of the team at Philadelphia Tax Prep for Artists.
Best suited for: Artists of all disciplines, at any point in their career, who are interested in learning or reviewing basic concepts of personal finances. 40 participants max.
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.