Professional Development
The Arts & Business Council’s professional development programs are designed to provide essential training, practical frameworks, and direct coaching to artists and creative entrepreneurs. In addition to open enrollment workshops, we collaborate with nonprofit organizations, universities, and municipalities to provide customized learning engagements for their cohorts.
Our current workshop offerings are steeped in a long history of successful programs for artists and creative entrepreneurs as well as 25+ years of legal counsel, clinics, and services via our Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts program. We receive hundreds of calls each year from artists and arts administrators seeking help with contracts, negotiation, copyright concerns, and even human resource matters. What we learn about the real and pressing needs of this population has informed our professional development programming at every step.
Below is a sampling of the workshops we offer. To view upcoming workshops, head to our calendar. If you would like to discuss a custom engagement for your own members or constituents, please reach out to Lennon Hernandez Wolcott at: [email protected]
Legal Workshops
Legal Workshops
Intro to Copyright
What is copyright? What does it do? Why have I been told to “copyright” my work? Do I “own” copyright? Why does this matter?
Copyright is a fundamental legal protection that gives creators the power to control access to their work. In this workshop, we’ll explain basic principles of copyright: what it is, what it protects, what protection entails, and how you can be proactive in securing copyright protection for your own creative work.
This workshop is appropriate for creatives of all disciplines and career stages!
Legal Issues with Generative AI
In this session covering generative AI in the arts, attorneys and staff from the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts will present an overview of the current generative AI law landscape. Presenters will summarize the law on AI as interpreted by the U.S. Copyright Office and the federal courts today, and explain the arguments and positions in some of the major pending lawsuits. This presentation is appropriate for artists in all creative disciplines.
Protecting Your Art from AI
In this workshop, attorneys and staff from the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts will introduce some tools and best practices to protect your creative works against AI data mining.
Using Generative AI in your Creative Practice
While you may be skeptical of generative artificial intelligence (and justifiably so!), there are a variety of ways creative professionals use it in their practices. Ideation, visualization, prototyping, conceptualization, or even just staying organized are just some of the ways artists use AI to keep their creative practices going strong. In this workshop, local artists will discuss some of the ways they’ve used AI in their own practices.
Non-Profit Inc. Seminars
Are you a leader of an existing nonprofit organization or interested in creating a new one? Do you have questions and concerns about incorporating and/or filing for tax-exempt status? All nonprofit start-ups are invited to attend this legal seminar for nonprofits, led by experienced attorneys specializing in nonprofit law.
In this online classroom (using the Zoom platform), we will assist your organization in understanding the complicated processes of formalizing a nonprofit in Massachusetts by addressing questions regarding:
For-Profit or Not-for-Profit?
What is a Not-for-Profit?
Incorporating & Structuring the Not-for-Profit
Option of Fiscal Sponsorship
State Reporting & Regulation
Federal Tax Exemption
Ongoing IRS Reporting & Regulation
Legacy Planning: Copyright and IP
Copyright lasts a long time. For many creatives, the copyright in their works might last multiple lifetimes before it enters the public domain. This is why it’s so important for artists and creative workers to include copyright as part of their legacy plan. Who has the power to use, enjoy, publicize, and distribute your creative works? In this session, we’ll discuss the copyright (and other IP) considerations in building your creative legacy.
Public Art Contracts
Join us for an interactive workshop designed to equip artists with practical tools to confidently navigate public art and private commission contracting. Participants will learn how to interpret contract language; understand common legal pitfalls; identify key terms and discuss ways to protect their creative and financial interests. The session will empower artists to advocate for themselves within a principle based negotiation style to help build sustainable and long-term professional partnerships that help build out this part of your creative practice.
Intro to Legacy Planning
Artists of all ages and career stages can lay the groundwork for their future legacies by crafting a long-term plan for it.
Join a conversation with the Arts & Business Council Executive Director, Jim Grace, for a workshop designed to align your strategy for legacy planning and what comes next.
Artists’ Legacy Planning – Nonprofits & Me
For some artists, their creative legacy includes continuing important community service, stewardship, or advancing some other charitable goal. In those cases, founding or aligning with a charitable nonprofit might be appealing. In this session, we’ll discuss how creative nonprofits can be part of your legacy plan. (And no, the nonprofit doesn’t die at the end.)
Intro to VLA (CT)
If you’re an artist or creative worker, an arts educator or administrator, or a mix of creative roles, there’s support for you! Whether you need help with a particular situation or even just the day-to-day business of being a working artist, the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts is here to help! Learn more about the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts service that’s available to the arts and culture sector across Connecticut. Learn how the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts program supports arts groups with legal advice, education, and services.
Contracts and Negotiations
What is a contract? Are there things it must include? Do I need a lawyer to write or negotiate it for me? A contract exists when participants come together to exchange goods and services for compensation. A written contract is a valuable tool for any creative business. Contracts take all shapes and sizes, but the best contract is the one that all parties understand and that meets all parties’ business needs. Whether you routinely use contracts in your creative practice or you’re new to it, this workshop is for you!
Professional Practice
Insurance 101
Chris Hawthorne of Cleary Insurance will review what artists should consider when setting up their insurance program both commercially and personally as well as where to purchase policies. He also will discuss what to consider when using independent contractors for installations.
Gallery Representation
In this live workshop, explore the principles, best practices, and mindsets that enable artists to thrive in their partnerships with galleries. Hear from Paige and Nina as they discuss the Co|So model, providing insights to help you navigate relationships and expand the reach of your creative practice.
Artist Statements for Every Occasion
There is no one way to create an artist statement. Writing about your creative practice is necessary for everything from artist residencies and applications, exhibitions, websites, and LinkedIn profiles.
Join Lennon Hernandez Wolcott, Artist and Arts Administrator, for a conversation that will support a greater sense of confidence to explore and represent your own ideas, understand your audience, and find just the right words to express your ideas.
Board Training
Get on Board
Serving on a nonprofit board offers a unique opportunity to drive meaningful change, and organizations are seeking individuals like you to help them thrive.
Learn to leverage your expertise to support the causes that matter most to you. Ideal for professionals seeking the right organization, administrators looking to strengthen board management, and those onboarding new or prospective board members.
This live, interactive workshop—held via Zoom—will provide you with the essential knowledge for impactful leadership, covering board structures, fundraising and strategic planning, member roles, responsibilities, and legal obligations. You’ll also receive tools to identify the organization that best aligns with your skills and passions.
Governance and Compliance
Join us for an interactive ‘Lunch and Learn’ workshop designed to help current and aspiring board members navigate the legal essentials of good governance and compliance. You’ll learn about the most common legal issues board members face including legal entity formation, liability, fiduciary duties, IP issues, gifts, and HR considerations. Through real-world examples and practical discussions, you’ll gain the tools to make informed, ethical decisions that strengthen your organization and board performance. Perfect for anyone looking to boost their effectiveness and confidence in the boardroom!
Special Topics: For Profit Meets Nonprofits
Nonprofit & For-profit Affiliations: If you’re a for-profit business owner and you’re considering establishing a charitable “arm,” then this workshop is for you. This session will introduce the numerous regulatory considerations of building related for-profits and nonprofits, including handling conflicts of interest.
Our vision
A region where art is integral to diverse communities, a healthy economy, and a rich educational environment.
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Annual Report
2024 – 2025
Explore highlights from the past fiscal year — program impact, financials, community partnerships, and stories from artists whose work shapes Greater Boston’s creative future.
