This workshop series is designed for both individual artists and arts organizations, featuring a general schedule with afternoon sessions for organizations and evening sessions for individuals. Despite this structure, there is significant crossover. For instance, the “Introduction to Grantscape & Database Research Tools” session will cover government grants accessible to individual artists, while “Grant Writing & Tools for RFPs and Grant Budget Basics” is tailored for both nonprofits and individual artists.

Our primary goal is to foster networking, encouraging individual artists and arts nonprofits to build relationships. We hope our community organizations will collaborate with regional artists on future projects and vice versa. Please attend as many sessions as your schedule allows and bring your business cards! Additional topics have been sourced from our July 22nd Town Hall Meeting.

To hear all about this series take a few minutes and click below to listen to Executive Theater Manager Stephanie Chaiken’s interview on WFMD, as she discusses the inspiration for the series and what attendees can expect.

September 10, 2024  |  6:30 – 9:00 PM

6:30 – 6:45 PM Welcome and Series Overview

6:45 – 8:00 PM Trends and Opportunities
Chad Buterbaugh, Deputy Director, Maryland State Arts Council leads a panel discussion about current trends, funding, and support structure for artists and arts organizations.

8:00 – 9:00 PM Moderated discussion of topics sourced from Town Hall meeting on July 22, 2024.

Panelists include:

Stephanie Chaiken, Executive Theater Manager, Weinberg Center for the Arts
Tammy O’Connor, President, Frederick County Art Association
Louise Kennelly, Executive Director, Frederick Arts Council
Becky Kaler, Business Development Specialist, The City of Frederick
Sue Leveille, President & Founder, Give Rise Studio
Laila Abdul-Hadi Jadallah, Manager of Arts and Culture, The City of Frederick

MORE INFO

September 17, 2024  |  2:30 – 6:00 PM | 6:30 – 9:00 PM

2:30 – 4:00 PM  Introduction to Grantscape & Database Research Tools
Library Tour & Workshop – This hands-on session will be held at Frederick County Public Libraries 110 East Patrick St., Frederick, MD

Join us back at New Spire Arts, 15 West Patrick Street. Frederick, MD 21701, for the rest of the afternoon and evening.
4:30 – 6:00 PM  Recalibrate Your Events to Fuel Year-Round Fundraising
Join fundraising master trainer, Chad Barger, ACFRE, ACNP, for a workshop focused on getting the most out of your organization’s special events. Chad will review the true purpose and ideal revenue model for events and how to make them even more worthwhile by converting event attendees to annual donors. He will also provide some real world examples of unique fundraising events that have broken the mold and became donor favorites (as well as some tips for virtual/hybrid events). It’s an “all things events” presentation and everything is on the table.

6:30 – 9:00 PM  Grant Writing & Tools for RFPs and Grant Budget Basics
This interactive double workshop will cover proposal writing and creating budgets for both non-profits and individuals. Get ready to dig deep into real world case study and learn effective skills and tools for achieving your goals and missions.

September 24, 2024  |  2:30 – 5:30 PM | 6:30 – 9:00 PM

2:30 – 4:00 PM  Non-profit structure and Accounting Best Practices – Panel Discussion with David Postolski, Esq. and Ryan Dodd, LSWG.

4:10 – 5:30 PM  Copyrights and Trademarks 101 – Workshop with David Postolski, Esq.

6:30 – 7:30 PM  Intro to QuickBooks – Workshop with Ryan Dodd, LSWG & David Wolford, LSWG

7:45 – 9:00 PM Writing Your Business Plan: Why and How to Get Started – Workshop with Becky Kaler, Business Development Specialist, The City of Frederick, Mary Ford-Naill – Economic Development Manager, City of Frederick and Karen Kalantzis – Senior Business Consultant, Maryland Women’s Business Center

September 26, 2024  | 2:30 – 5:30 PM | 6:30 – 9:00 PM

2:30 – 3:30 PM Profiles in Successful Organizations

Weinberg Center Executive Theater Manager Stephanie Chaiken interviews Tad Janes – Producing Artistic Director, Maryland Ensemble Theatre and Duane Doxzen – CEO, The Delaplaine Arts Center

3:45 – 4:30 PM Speed networking roundtables
Mary Ellen Mitchell, Allow Me Consulting

Individually meet with and ask questions of arts non-profit leaders.

4:45 – 5:45 PM Board Development: Recruiting, Onboarding & Working with Volunteers
Mary Ellen Mitchell, Allow Me Consulting

6:30 – 7:30 PM Branding, Patreon, and Crowd Funding

Jessica El-Zeftawy – Development Officer, Frederick County Public Libraries & Adjunct Faculty, Hood College

7:40 – 9:00 PM Pricing Your Work

This panel, moderated by Louise Kennelly – Executive Director, Frederick Arts Council and featuring Duane Doxzen – CEO, The Delaplaine Arts Center, Tammy O’Connor – President, Frederick County Art Association, Sue Leveille – Director, Give Rise Studio, and Stephanie Chaiken – Executive Theater Manager, Weinberg Center for the Arts, will look at strategies for pricing your art and performances in the visual and performing arts marketplace.

October 1, 2024  |  2:30 – 5:30 PM | 6:30 – 9:00 PM 

2:30 – 4:00 PM
Pieter Bickford – Marketing Director, High Rock Studios
Join this training to learn how to uncover hidden content opportunities to attract loyal customers and fill up your profile pages and websites. – Workshop

4:15 – 5:30 PM  Ask A Marketer Those Burning Questions
Curious about the secrets behind successful marketing campaigns? Have questions about branding, digital strategies, or customer engagement? Join our expert panel of seasoned marketers for an interactive workshop. This session is designed to provide you with actionable insights, professional advice, and answers to your most pressing marketing queries.  Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to enhance your marketing knowledge and take your strategies to the next level.

6:30 – 9:00 PM Business of Art Workshop
Bonnie Kern | MFA, Gallery Director Hood College, Department of Art & Archaeology
Enhance your professional skillset with this comprehensive workshop designed for aspiring visual and performing artists. Learn how to create a compelling EPK (electronic press kit) featuring an artist bio, artist statement, technical rider, and work samples (audio, video, photos). Discover marketing essentials, from building a website and designing a logo to navigating social media and crafting business cards. Gain insights into portfolio creation, exhibition proposals, artist talks, and photographing your work. Required materials: pen/notebook or laptop, camera phone, and Instagram app. Targeted to both visual and performing artists.

October 8, 2024  |  2:30 – 5:30 PM | 6:30 – 9:00 PM

2:30 – 5:30 PM Emergency Preparedness and Crisis Mitigation
Mid-Atlantic Center for Emergency Management & Public Safety, Frederick Community College 
Learn about situational awareness, hazard assessments and building a continuity plan for your non-profit or business.

6:30 – 7:30 PM  Crisis Communication Strategies – Having a Plan in Place 

Stephanie Chaiken, Executive Theater Manager, Weinberg Center for the Arts moderates a discussion with:

Betsey Sanpere – PR Strategist and Principal, Creative Airport Solutions
Diana St. John – Director, Carteret Performing Arts and Events Center

7:30 – 9:00 PM Planning for Long Term Stability

This session will address Insurance Coverage and Tools for individual artists and arts businesses to prepare for emergency response, including dPlan|ArtsReady.

Panelists include:

Stephen M. Blair – President Lyceum Insurance Services
Dr. Genna Styles-Lyas – Director of LAA Community Engagement & Equity in Research, Americans for the Arts
Duane Doxzen – CEO, The Delaplaine Arts Center
Beth Flowers – Executive Director, AIR Collaborative

October 15, 2024  |  2:30 – 5:30 PM | 6:30 – 9:00 PM

 2:30 – 5:30 PM  Partnerships and Collaborations : Rooted in Equity, Centering Community Engagement – Workshop
The Arts & Economy Prosperity 6 study was a national study examining policies and practices in grantmaking, many of which have been historically and systemically unbalanced. Dr. Genna Styles-Lyas, Director of LAA Community Engagement & Equity in Research, Americans for the Arts presents an in depth and interactive session to lead to identifying possible solutions for our organizations and community engagement.

6:30 – 9:00 PM  Pitch Session and Strategies For Your Pitch – Panel
Utilize all that you have learned in this series to professionally pitch your artist business and non-profit organization.

The Weinberg Center and New Spire Arts believe in the freedom of speech and expression. The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in the visual and performing arts presented at our venues or virtually are solely those of the individual artists in their personal capacity and are not reflective of nor represent official policy, position or views of The Weinberg Center, New Spire Arts, or The City of Frederick.