Thursday, March 20th
9:00 AM - 7:30 PM
Choose one from each workshop timeslot.
TRACK 1 OPTIONS
(10:30 AM - 12:00 PM)
Business 101: From Hobby to LLC
The Economy Sucks, Now What?
Practical AI Tools for Creatives
How to Get Bespoke Prices for Bespoke Work
Workshop Coming Soon!
TRACK 2 OPTIONS
(1:00 PM - 2:30 PM)
Getting into Galleries & Exhibitions
Build a Beloved Newsletter
So You Want to Be a Teaching Artist?
Finding Focus: Clarifying Your Value Proposition
From Studio to Shelf: Get Your Work into Retail Stores
TRACK 3 OPTIONS
(3:00 PM - 4:30 PM)
Taxes for Creatives
Kim Solves Your Marketing Challenges
From Studio to Shelf: Get Your Work into Retail Stores
Booth Life: Set Up, Stay Sane & Make Money
Business 201: Think Like an Entrepreneur
WORKSHOP TRACK ONE: 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Business 101: From Hobby to LLC
Lenin Agudo, Director of the Widener University SBDC
Turning your creative work into a legitimate business can feel overwhelming - especially when legal terms, paperwork, and financial decisions start piling up. This workshop is designed to demystify the fundamentals of starting and structuring a small business, specifically for artists, makers, and creative entrepreneurs.
Led by Lenin Agudo, Director of the Widener University Small Business Development Center (SBDC), this session will walk through the key steps of moving from hobby to a formal business entity. Participants will gain a clear understanding of when and why to form an LLC, what it means for taxes and liability, and how to set up a strong foundation for sustainable growth.
The Economy Sucks, Now What?
Jessica Abel, Founder of Autonomous Creative
Rising costs, unpredictable sales, and constant economic uncertainty have made it harder than ever for artists and makers to feel financially stable. If you’ve been asking yourself whether to raise prices, pivot your offerings, or just hold steady, this session is designed to help you make those decisions with clarity - not panic.
Led by Jessica Abel, founder of Autonomous Creative, this talk focuses on practical strategies creatives can use to earn, save, and protect their income during uncertain times. Rather than offering generic financial advice, Jessica will walk through real-world decision-making frameworks for managing cash flow, adjusting your product mix, and insulating your business from economic volatility.
This session is ideal for artists and creative business owners who want to stay flexible, protect their energy, and build long-term sustainability - even when the economy feels stacked against them.
Practical AI Tools for Creatives
AI tools are moving fast - but for many artists and makers, it’s hard to tell what’s actually useful, what’s hype, and how to use these tools without losing what makes their work distinct. This hands-on workshop is designed to cut through the noise and focus on practical, real-world applications of AI for creative work.
Participants will learn about current AI capabilities across visual creation, web and layout design, and physical making, using tools like Google Gemini (Nano Banana and Veo3), Manus, AdamCAD, and Handy. Along the way, the session will break down how to choose the right tools, understand the rapidly changing AI landscape, and build workflows that support, not replace, your creative practice.
Beyond tools, this workshop will address a critical question facing creatives today: how do you stand out when AI-generated content is everywhere? Through a discussion of “costly signaling” and human-centered differentiation, attendees will learn strategies for framing their work with expertise, context, and trust.
In this workshop, attendees will:
Learn about different AI tools for image, video, web, and physical design workflows
Learn how to navigate the AI tool landscape and choose a stack without “model FOMO.”
Understand the shift from simple AI assistants to autonomous agents
Explore why human context, physical work, and process still matter, and how to use them as differentiators
The session will close with live problem-solving and Q&A, giving participants the opportunity to apply tools in real time to their own creative challenges.
How to Get Bespoke Prices for Bespoke Work
Paul Mencel of Philadelphia Table Co //
Custom work should command custom prices, but many makers struggle to consistently attract clients who understand the value of truly bespoke work. If you’re tired of underpricing, over-explaining, or fielding inquiries that don’t convert, this workshop is designed to help you change that.
Led by Paul Mencel of Philadelphia Table Co. and The Handcrafted Network, this session focuses on how to position and sell high-value custom work in a way that attracts the right clients from the start. Drawing from his experience building a seven-figure custom furniture studio, Paul will break down how bespoke pricing actually works, and how to design your process so you’re not negotiating every project
Rather than chasing more leads, this workshop will show you how to generate better leads: clients who are aligned with your work, your pricing, and your process.
This workshop is ideal for artists, makers, and creative business owners offering custom, commission-based, or limited-run work who want to be paid fairly for the skill, time, and expertise their work demands.
WORKSHOP TRACK TWO: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Getting into Galleries & Exhibitions
Kate Crankshaw, former Associate Artistic Director, and Chloë Le Pichon, former Assistant Artistic Director, of Gravers Lane Gallery
Ready to get your artwork into galleries, exhibition spaces, or expand your revenue opportunities?
Join Kate Crankshaw, Associate Artistic Director, and Chloë Le Pichon, Assistant Artistic Director, both formerly of Graver’s Lane Gallery, for a hands-on workshop designed to help artists confidently present their work to galleries, curators, and other potential markets. With years of experience supporting the careers of hundreds of working artists and producing numerous public exhibitions annually, Kate and Chloë bring practical, real-world insight into what galleries look for and how to make your artistic practice stand out.
In this workshop, you’ll explore:
How to transform your artistic or creative statement into a concise, compelling elevator pitch
Actionable steps and tools to prepare yourself for presenting your work
Key qualities that make an artwork or portfolio exhibition-ready
By the end of the session, you’ll leave with a practical outline for your pitch and an action plan, so you can approach gallery owners, curators, and exhibition opportunities with confidence and clarity.
So You Want to Be a Teaching Artist?
Jihan A. Thomas, Artist, Artivist, and Arts Educator, Original Seed Expressions
Teaching can be a powerful and sustainable extension of your creative practice, but the behind-the-scenes logistics often determine whether it feels empowering or exhausting. This hands-on workshop is designed to support artists who are teaching (or want to teach) by sharing real-world systems that make teaching artist work more organized, efficient, and financially sustainable.
Led by Jihan A. Thomas of Original Seed Expressions, this session draws from over 20 years of experience as a visual artist and community and museum arts educator. Jihan will walk through the practical tools and workflows that have helped her manage gigs, communicate professionally, and stay organized while balancing creative work, teaching, and life.
Participants will learn best practices for managing the administrative side of teaching artist work - including supplies, contracts, invoicing, and taxes - so they can spend more time doing the work they care about. Each participant will receive a custom teaching artist planner, and the workshop will include time to decorate and personalize it, making this session both practical and creatively engaging.
In this workshop, attendees will learn:
How to organize and track art supplies and teaching materials
Simple systems for managing gigs and income with spreadsheets
Best practices for professional email communication with employers
Basics of tax preparation and financial organization for teaching artists
How to invoice confidently and keep records organized
This workshop is ideal for artists, makers, and educators who want to build sustainable teaching practices without burnout, while staying grounded in creativity and community.
Finding Focus: Clarifying Your Value Proposition
Anna Solomon, Business Consultant of Anna Solomon Consulting
One of the biggest challenges in growing a business is clearly articulating what makes your work valuable - and why it matters to the people you want to reach. If your business feels scattered, draining, or stuck without a clear sense of direction, or if you’re unsure which efforts are actually moving the needle, this workshop is for you.
In this program, you’ll focus on building one of the most important foundations of your business: your value proposition. We’ll explore what makes a strong and authentic value proposition, and how defining it can bring focus to your ideas, streamline your decisions, and support sustainable, strategic growth.
You’ll have dedicated time to workshop your own value proposition, receive thoughtful peer feedback, and leave with a clear, usable statement you can build from - helping you align your message, your offerings, and your long-term goals.
From Studio to Shelf: Get Your Work into Retail Stores
Perri Salka, Wonder Makers Consulting
This workshop will help you position your product and/or brand to be attractive to new customer segments with retail stores.
In this hands-on workshop, practice how to transform your artistic or creative statement into an elevator pitch. Understand your specific ask and what you need to start a retailer relationship. By the end of this workshop, you will have a personal outline for your sales pitch and action plan, so you feel confident in approaching local businesses and shops!
WORKSHOP TRACK THREE: 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Taxes for Creatives
Amy Smith, Founder, Philly Tax Prep for Artists
Taxes don’t have to be overwhelming, but for many artists, confusion around deductions, self-employment taxes, and mixed income can make tax season stressful and costly. This workshop is designed to help creatives understand the basics, avoid common mistakes, and feel more confident managing their tax responsibilities, whether you file on your own or work with a paid preparer.
Led by Amy Smith of Philadelphia Tax Prep for Artists, this session draws on Amy’s experience as both a working artist and a professional tax preparer. Amy understands the unique financial realities creatives face, from fluctuating income and grant funding to multiple revenue streams and project-based work. Her approach is practical, accessible, and grounded in helping artists build long-term financial well-being.
Rather than focusing on loopholes or shortcuts, this workshop will help you understand how the system actually works, so you can make informed decisions and stay organized year-round.
In this workshop, attendees will learn:
The basics of income and expense tracking for creative work
Common business deductions artists often overlook
How to handle grant income, fiscal sponsorships, and mixed funding sources
What self-employment taxes really mean and how to plan for them
How to decide whether to file on your own or work with a tax preparer
This workshop is ideal for artists of all disciplines and career stages who want a clearer, less stressful approach to taxes and a stronger foundation for financial sustainability.
Kim Solves Your Marketing Challenges
Kim Robinson, Founder of 3pts ("three points")
Let’s solve it: marketing edition!
Feeling overwhelmed by the ever-changing world of marketing? You're not alone! Join us for a collaborative workshop where you can tap into the collective wisdom of your peers and get expert guidance from Kim. This community-oriented workshop is built to discuss, learn, and share strategies to navigate your marketing challenges so that you can get your business to where you want it to be. Bring your specific challenges, whether it's social media strategy, content creation, email marketing, or anything else that's keeping you up at night. We'll work together to find solutions, share actionable tips, and leave you feeling empowered to tackle your marketing goals.
From Studio to Shelf: Get Your Work into Retail Stores
Perri Salka, Wonder Makers Consulting
This workshop will help you position your product and/or brand to be attractive to new customer segments with retail stores.
In this hands-on workshop, practice how to transform your artistic or creative statement into an elevator pitch. Understand your specific ask and what you need to start a retailer relationship. By the end of this workshop, you will have a personal outline for your sales pitch and action plan, so you feel confident in approaching local businesses and shops!
Booth Life: Set Up, Stay Sane & Make Money
TBD
Selling your work at markets, pop-ups, or fairs isn’t just about showing up. It’s about creating an experience that drives sales, builds relationships, and grows your business. Success at the booth comes from preparation, strategy, and understanding how to engage your audience effectively.
In this session, you’ll explore:
How to set up a booth that draws attention and highlights your best work
Strategies for engaging customers and telling your story effectively
Tools and techniques to turn casual browsers into repeat buyers
By the end of the workshop, attendees will leave with:
A clear action plan for preparing, presenting, and selling at markets or pop-ups
Confidence and tools to connect authentically with customers and grow your creative business
Business 201: Think Like an Entrepreneur
TBD
You’ve started your business. Now it’s time to step back and think more strategically about how you grow it
Business 201: Think Like an Entrepreneur is designed for artists, makers, and creative business owners who want to move beyond day-to-day decision-making and begin operating with an entrepreneurial mindset. This workshop focuses on the practical ways successful entrepreneurs evaluate opportunities, manage risk, and build businesses that can adapt over time.
Rather than abstract theory, this session centers on real-world frameworks you can apply to your own creative practice, helping you make clearer decisions, plan for growth, and navigate change with confidence.
In this workshop, participants will explore:
What it means to think like an entrepreneur and how to apply that mindset to a creative business
How to build a strong foundation for sustainable growth through planning and execution
Strategies for staying agile and resilient as markets, income streams, and goals shift
Why relationships matter, and how a people-first approach supports long-term success
This workshop is ideal for creatives who have moved beyond the hobby stage and are ready to strengthen their decision-making, clarify their goals, and approach their business with greater intention.