Summary

Artists of all disciplines living and working in New York City are encouraged to apply to participate in this free entrepreneurial program to be presented by Powerhouse Arts in Brooklyn, NY from July 24 - 27.

About the NYFA Artist as Entrepreneur Program

The NYFA Artist as Entrepreneur Program 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 delves into the fundamental principles of sustainability 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. 
• Participate in Work Sample Reviews: Receive work sample reviews from professionals in their discipline, such as curators and artistic directors. Designed to give artists insight into the jury selection process, this individualized feedback is modeled after NYFA’s Fellowship 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.

 Deadline: Monday, June 16, 11:59PM. 

Program Dates and Details

Eligibility

• 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.          
• NYC-based artists
• Priority will be given to Black, Indigenous, artists of color, LGBTQIA+, disabled, and refugee artists

Mandatory Program Dates

• Attendance is mandatory to all sessions:
  Artist as Entrepreneur Introductions and Meet and Greet
                Thursday, July 24, from 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  Intensive
                Friday - Saturday, July 25 - 27, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM daily
  Please check your calendar before applying.

How to Apply

• Applicants can apply here through Submittable beginning May 19, 2025. The deadline will be Monday, June 16, 11:59PM. 
• First-time users will need to register with Submittable to access the application portal. For technical questions regarding submittable, please contact Submittable support.

Application Requirements

• Artists interested in attending are required to apply. For the application, we ask you provide:

1. 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!)
2. Artist bio: of your professional career
3. Artist statement: describing your creative practice and provided work samples (see tips here and here)
4. Work samples: please note the materials you provide will be reviewed by arts professionals as part of the Work Sample Review portion of the program 

Selection Process & Notification

• Applications are selected through a panel review process with representatives from both NYFA and  Powerhouse Arts. 
• All applicants will be notified on or by July 1, 2025.
   

Questions? 

Please email learning@nyfa.org with the subject line “Artist as Entrepreneur, Powerhouse Arts.” 

To request an accommodation or assistance in applying, please email learning@nyfa.org. We ask that requests for accommodation be made as soon as possible and by Tuesday, June 3, to allow adequate time for staff to support you in submitting an application before the deadline.

This program is part of NYFA Learning, which includes professional development for artists and arts administrators. Sign up for NYFA’s free bi-weekly newsletter to receive updates on future programs.

Applications are now open for the NYSCA/NYFA Community Arts Leaders Program. This professional development program offers expert perspectives to support growing arts organizations to establish sound strategy in key operational areas. Participants benefit from technical workshops, peer learning, and individualized consulting or coaching support over 6 months. Rather than focusing on specific administrative tools, the program identifies strategic best practices for each area of nonprofit management.

To deepen impact, two members – an Executive Director and Board Member – are accepted from each organization. The program kicks off with a virtual Orientation, followed by a two-day Intensive, and a series of six virtual workshops. Depending on location and date availability, participants choose which Intensive, offered in-person in NYC and Syracuse, and virtually, to attend.

Organizations may also be offered up to five consulting hours to receive individualized support from a NYFA consultant or coach. Applicants’ consulting partnerships will be developed in response to the Scope of Work in their application, and budget and staff size, if they are accepted. Consultants and coaches may address any administrative or operational issue facing eligible organizations. They cannot offer artistic or curatorial advice, and their services will be rendered virtually. 

The program services will consist of the following key components:

• In-Person and Virtual Workshops – Workshops may include Organizational Values and Messaging, Impact Modeling, Strategic Leadership, Board Governance Strategy, Fundraising Strategy, Marketing Strategy, Capital Management Strategy, Advocacy Strategy, and Succession Planning Strategy.
• Consulting with Expert Professionals – Organizations will be asked to describe a significant barrier to their growth, and key deliverables or interventions they’ll pursue in partnership with a consultant. Consultants will be chosen based on the administrative or operational needs of the organization. Organizations with fewer than 3 staff will only be eligible to work with an Executive Coach.

Grant Timeline and Selection Process:

Applications open May 27 and close June 18 at 5pm ET. NYFA will host two Informational Webinars for prospective applicants on June 3 and June 10 from 1-2pm ET. The selection process may include an interview of prospective participants in July. Notification to accepted applicants will be sent by mid-August.

Applications will be assessed on how well an applicant’s desired outcomes align with the goals of the program, the feasibility of having a meaningful impact during the duration of the consultancy, and demonstrated capacity by organizations to participate fully in workshops and take on the additional consulting work while continuing their normal operations. 

Attendance by both organization representatives is mandatory for all program dates. Please note required program attendance listed below.

BIPOC-led, Community-based, and Rural organizations are strongly encouraged to apply.

• BIPOC is an acronym for Black, Indigenous, and People of color.
• We define “Community-based” as: Non-profit, non-governmental, or charitable organizations that represent community needs and work to help them. CBOs may be associated with a particular area of concern or segment of the community.
• Rural communities are defined as having populations of less than 30,000 and not being part of an urban or suburban cluster.

Eligibility

• 501(c)3 Arts Organizations in all arts disciplines in New York State
• Current and former NYSCA grantees (FY23-FY25)
• Operating budget under $1.5 million -or- New Executive Director (FY23-FY25) who joined the organization within the last 3 years.
• Commitment to attending all meetings assigned by NYFA staff, consultants, and coaches

Community Arts Leaders 2025 Mandatory Program Dates

2025 Orientation Meeting - Tuesday, August 26, 10am-11:30am via Zoom

2025 Opening Intensive

Participants attend only one Opening Intensive, depending on their location.

• NYC: Tue, Sept 9, 10am-4pm and Wed, Sept 10, 10am-4pm
• Syracuse: Tue, Sept 16, 10am-4pm and Wed, Sept 17, 10am-4pm
• Virtual: Tue, Sept 23, 10am-4pm and Wed, Sept 24, 10am-4pm

2025 Remote Workshops

• Tuesday, Oct 7, 10am-1pm via Zoom
• Tuesday, Oct 21, 10am-1pm via Zoom
• Tuesday, Nov 4, 10am-1pm via Zoom
• Tuesday, Nov 18, 10am-1pm via Zoom
• Tuesday, Dec 2, 10am-1pm via Zoom

Closing Meeting - Tuesday, Dec 9, 10-11:30am

You will be prompted to complete an eligibility form below before being able to access the full application.

For questions, or to request an accommodation or assistance in applying, please email Learning@nyfa.org and include "Community Arts Leaders" in the subject line.

We ask that requests for accommodation be made by Monday, June 9, 2025 to allow adequate time for staff to support you in submitting an application before the deadline.