What We Offer
We seek to strengthen the careers of artists and creative entrepreneurs through fellowships, coaching, workshops, and strategic partnerships. Programs are designed to build financial sustainability, expand professional networks, and cultivate confidence in both artistic and business practices.
Professional Development Workshops
We offer dozens of workshops throughout the year. Here are just a few of the topics we cover in our in-person and online events. You can view all upcoming events on our calendar.
Taxes and bookkeeping
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Financial wellbeing
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Storytelling and branding
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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!
Get On Board
More than ever, cultural nonprofits need strong boards of directors with passionate, engaged members who share a vision for the organization. Our Get on Board seminars provide board service training as well as board development consulting resources for business, legal, and creative professionals.
Fellowships
Creative Entrepreneur Fellowship (CEF)
The Creative Entrepreneur Fellowship (CEF) is designed to accelerate the careers and practice of a diverse group of artists and creative solopreneurs. CEF is a customized professional development experience for 8-10 individuals who are selected through a competitive application process. The program kicks off in December each year and runs through June.
The Fellowship includes personalized goal setting, one-on-one coaching, skills-training seminars, and a stipend for business-related purchases. In addition, it offers resources in English and Spanish. This is the 14th year of the program, which now has a robust alumni network of artists working across a range of media.
Walter Feldman Fellowship
From 2015-2025, the Walter Feldman Fellowship for Emerging Artists supported the professional careers of visual artists through gained knowledge of exhibition practices or alternative presentation of work and curatorial and professional development support, including expert guidance on improving business skills for the effective presentation and promotion of work. These artists continue to be a part of our ecosystem, participating in professional development and giving back to the creative ecosystem.