Toolbox Homepage

 NOTE:  The 2007-2008 Artist's Professional Toolbox is in progress and no longer accepting applications.  Please visit our website again in late summer 2008 for application information and materials for the 2008-2009 program.

Get the Tools You Need to Build Your Career!

The Artist's Professional Toolbox is an exciting career development program that empowers practicing visual artists with the skills and confidence they need to master the business challenges of being an artist.

“I am grateful for the experience and wish that every artist could have the same sort of access to small business information that was made available through APT. I tell my friends that APT was like ‘business school for artists’.” —Toolbox participant

Designed for Your Needs!

Based on survey results from over 800 visual artists, the Artist’s Professional Toolbox is designed to assist working visual artist overcome the major obstacles they face in trying to build a successful business and career.

“No artist should be without this course!” —Toolbox participant

[More Success Stories]

 

The Artist’s Professional Toolbox is the only comprehensive training program for the professional working visual artist in Greater Boston. The Toolbox is NOT a one-time workshop or “101-level” intro but an eight-month intensive course for a select group of artists. Artists rtists have a chance to learn and practice using their newfound marketing, networking and business skills during the program, with one-on-one guidance and feedback throughout.

Instruction includes:

• Clarifying your own career goals and making a plan to achieve them, all under the guidance and personalized attention of a professional career coach
  
• Marketing strategies, including understanding your customer base, positioning yourself in the market place, branding, developing your own personal marketing plan, and more
  

“Thank you for developing the APT program and more – letting me be a part of such an opportunity. . . It has been spectacular and has given me connections and tools that I have been searching for by means of trial and error.” —Toolbox participant

[More Success Stories]

 

• Effective networking, including mastering your “elevator speech,” talking about your work in any situation, and setting yourself apart
  
• Portfolio review by leading gallery owners, museum directors, grant makers, residency program directors and more
  
• Building a supportive network of fellow artists and gaining the value of feedback through structured and facilitated peer groups
  
• Negotiating so that everybody wins, and managing conflict resolution when everyone doesn't
  
• Copyright infringement, contract snafus and real estate problems
  
• Financial planning, including tax and estate planning
  
• Managing your time to achieve these and other goals!
  
• And Much Much More! …….,

“I feel very fortunate to have been selected and to have had this experience at this point in my art career. It couldn’t have come at better time.” —Toolbox participant

“[I feel] an overall comfort and less anxious because so many areas that I had no clue about are now addressed with knowledge. There is less mystery as I look into my future. And that energy that was wasted on anxiety can now be directed to my artwork.” - Toolbox participant