Professional Development
for artists and arts organizers
Arts Professional Speaker Series
SLC Arts presents a new speaker series- Art/Work. The purpose of this series is to raise awareness of the importance of the local arts economy, to promote confidence in the feasibility of working in an arts-related field, and to provide a forum for arts professionals (or those interested in the arts) to network with each other.
Speakers will give a presentation on their career journey, and then there will be time for questions and networking, and a reception with light refreshments.
Schedule
Art/Work is moving to the second Tuesday of the month in 2024!
When: 6:00-7:30pm
Where: SLC Arts Temp Location, 45 Market Street Potsdam, NY 13676
- Monday, May 22: Catherine LaPointe Vollmer, illustrator
- Monday, June 26: Matthew Mazzotta, installation artist
- Monday, July 24: Tracy Cox, luthier and custom inlay
- Monday, August 28: Josh Barkley, musician
- Monday, September 25: Karyn Crispo, poet
- Monday, October 23: Dan Duggan, musician
- Monday, November 27: Tilly Lind, Program Director at TAUNY
- Monday, December 18: Sally Palao, Administrator of Ogdensburg Command Performances
- Tuesday, January 9: TBA
- Tuesday, February 13: Kris Rozelle, mixed media/collage artist
- Tuesday, March 12: Becky Harblin, pastel painter
How To Photograph Your Artwork
Date: Monday, November 13, 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Location: Potsdam Town Hall Community Room
Maximum 10 students
Taught by Jennifer McCluskey, the owner and photographer for McCluskey Photography LLC. Jennifer has lived and worked in the North Country since 2008. “I grew up in Nashville, TN and have lived in various places around the country from North Carolina, to Washington, DC, to upstate New York. I find the North Country to be a beautiful place with great scenery for photographing, and wonderful, kind people who have welcomed me and my camera into their homes and lives.”
Made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and administered by the St. Lawrence County Arts Council.
Learn the business of art, and turn your dreams into reality!

SLC Arts is offering a 6-week intensive crash course on turning your love of art into a successful business. You don’t have to make money to be a real artist, but if you want to turn your passion into a business, we’re here to help show you the way.
Arts Entrepreneurship Boot Camp
October 17 – November 30, 2023
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-8pm
Location: Canton IDA Building,19 Commerce Ln, Canton NY
(virtual option in case of distance or poor weather)
Topics covered will include:
- Business basics, finances, budgeting, and taxes
- Branding and finding your niche
- Artist statements, elevator pitches, and networking
- Pricing and selling your work
- Websites, social media, and marketing
- Diversifying your income
- and more!
Creative Partners: $99; non-partners: $129.
Individual classes are $10 for Creative Partners, $15 for non-partners.
This unique learning opportunity is valued at $950.
Individual Class Schedule:
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
Business Basics: How to Start Your Business
Thursday, October 19, 2023
Defining Your Business
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Group Critique
Thursday, October 26, 2023
Getting Your Work Ready to Sell
- Refining your portfolio- finding your “voice”
- Portfolio reviews and critique groups
- Taking good photos for your archive
- Copyright
- Pricing your work
- Contracts
Tuesday, October 31, 2023
Where to Physically Sell Your Work
- Art shows, exhibits and competitions
- Galleries and consignment
- Art/craft fairs- booth setup, and how to find/evaluate shows
- Commissions
Thursday, November 2, 2023
Selling Your Work Online (This is a virtual class.)
Tuesday, November 7, 2023
Marketing Overview
-Social media, email newsletters, and promoting your artwork
Thursday, November 9, 2023
Marketing Panel
-Q&A session with local marketing professionals
Tuesday, November 14, 2023
Diversifying Your Income
- Wholesale
- Grants
- Active vs Passive Income
- Selling prints/products
- The dreaded “day job”
Thursday, November 16, 2023
Bookkeeping & Taxes
Tuesday, November 28, 2023
Growth
- Physical and mental health
- Quitting the day job
- Experimenting/changing your style
- Expanding your product offerings or your target audience/market
- Researching new opportunities while avoiding scams
Thursday, November 30, 2023
Q & A Panel with local arts professionals
This class will be led by Catherine LaPointe Vollmer, owner of Lionheart Graphics. Some classes will feature expert guest speakers or panels of art professionals to lend their unique views on specific topics.
NOTE: This initial class is designed primarily for visual artists making and selling their art. Let us know if your interests lie outside this scope, so that we can integrate them into future classes!
Made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and administered by the St. Lawrence County Arts Council.
Supported in part by American Rescue Plan funding, through the St. Lawrence County Arts Council, which receives support for the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.