2025 Sessions
Keynote: From Uncertainty to Agency: The Artist’s Call to Action
At a time when the arts face profound challenges and opportunities, Danielle Brazell will open the Business of Art Symposium with an urgent and hopeful vision for the future of creative communities. Drawing on her experience as a national leader in cultural policy, arts administration, and advocacy, she will speak to the resilience and ingenuity of artists navigating uncertainty, and the power of creativity to shape more inclusive and sustainable futures. This keynote will set the tone for the day—calling us to imagine boldly, act collectively, and re-commit to the essential role of the arts in civic life.
Creative Futures in a Circular Economy: What EPR Laws Mean for Artists
Shira Lane
California’s groundbreaking Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws such as SB54 and SB707 are creating new opportunities for artists and designers to lead in building a sustainable future. In this session, Shira Lane, founder and CEO of Atrium 916 and chair of California’s SB54 Reuse Subcommittee, will explore how creatives can position themselves at the forefront of the circular economy. Participants will learn about funding streams, material partnerships, and business models that support sustainability, and come away with strategies to align their practice with innovation, policy, and environmental impact.
Free Resources all Artists Should Know About
Kellie Cutler, Kyle Winters, and Diana Arbex
Are you in the know, being seen, connected, feeling supported? Join Nevada County Arts Council staff for an overview of key resources, including the how-tos of the community arts calendar, our artist calls and newsletters, and not one, not two, but three artist directories. Learn about monthly meetups for artists, and, if you have a public studio or a gallery space, how to join our map. At this session, we'll also share upcoming grant opportunities, and how to position yourself on our social media radar. This is a practical walk through you won’t want to miss!
Digital Artistry Unleashed: Elevating Your Instagram Presence and Media Connections
Patrick Storm
Instagram is more than a showcase—it’s a professional canvas for building community and connecting with the media. Led by creative strategist Patrick Storm, this workshop dives into strategies for curating a compelling online presence, from wall posts and reels to stories that tell your artistic journey. Participants will learn how to engage followers authentically, craft a cohesive visual identity, and initiate meaningful connections with reporters and media outlets, turning social media into a powerful professional tool.
How to Price Your Artwork
Kevin Byrd
Pricing your art is both an art and a science. In this practical session, artist and educator Kevin Byrd draws on his extensive teaching and professional practice to guide creatives in valuing their work with confidence. Participants will explore pricing models, market positioning, and strategies for aligning financial goals with sustainability. This workshop provides actionable tools to help artists establish fair prices, avoid common pitfalls, and create a pricing system that supports long-term professional growth.
Collaborating with AI in Your Creative Practice
Yvonne Fang
Artificial intelligence is reshaping the creative landscape, offering new tools for experimentation and collaboration. Artist and technologist Yvonne Fang will demonstrate workflows that integrate AI into art-making, from real-time image generation to AI-assisted storytelling in immersive environments. Drawing on her teaching experience at Stanford and California College of the Arts, Fang will guide participants in experimenting with prompt engineering and co-creative tools, showing how AI can enhance artistic voice while expanding possibilities for creative practice.
Relax with Tax for Artists and Creative Freelancers
Kiersten Taylor Duerr
Taxes don’t have to be stressful—especially for creatives. In this session, tax accountant and musician Kiersten Taylor Duerr combines her teaching background and accounting expertise to make financial literacy accessible. She will demystify self-employment taxes, deductions, and income tracking while introducing tools and strategies to stay organized. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of forms like Schedule C, as well as practical habits to reduce stress and maximize financial confidence as independent artists.
Portfolio Reviews with Piper J Gallery and Ridgeline Gallery
Piper Johnson
All day long in the Lobby, artists will have the rare opportunity for one-on-one portfolio reviews with gallerist and art consultant Piper Johnson, founder of Piper J Gallery and Ridgeline Gallery in Truckee. In these focused sessions, participants will receive 15 minutes of direct, candid feedback from a commercial gallerist’s perspective—learning how to curate a cohesive, marketable body of work, highlight their strongest pieces, and make a lasting first impression with galleries and collectors. Whether you are emerging, mid-career, or established, this is a chance to refine your portfolio, gain insider insights into what gallerists are looking for, and walk away with actionable advice to propel your career forward.
Income Strategies for Artists
Allison Wyper
Artists thrive on creativity—but sustainability requires multiple income streams. In this workshop, arts entrepreneur and Rhizomatic Arts founder Allison Wyper will help participants identify innovative income strategies that extend beyond sales and grants. Drawing on her experience as a Business of Art Master Facilitator and international performance artist, she will share models for consultancy, membership programs, collaborations, and resource-sharing. Participants will gain tools to diversify their earnings, reduce reliance on single sources, and build careers rooted in both resilience and imagination.
Yes, AND… How to Become the Creative Everyone Wants to Work With
Judy Merrick
Great collaborators get called back. In this high-energy workshop, award-winning actress and improv teacher Judy Merrick will show artists how the principle of “Yes, AND…” can transform your professional relationships. Through interactive exercises rooted in improvisation, participants will practice listening, adaptability, and trust—the skills that turn good artists into great partners. You’ll walk away with new confidence, sharper instincts, and a reputation-ready toolkit for thriving in collaborations and professional networks. This session is designed to help you become the kind of artist others seek out again and again, and one set on career success.
Grantwriting for Artists & Arts Organizations: A Two-Part Series
Jenny Darlington-Person and Eliza Tudor
Funding is essential to sustaining creative work, and this two-part series pairs insider knowledge with hands-on practice:
Grantwriting Part 1— Jenny Darlington-Person, Executive Director of the Arts Council of Placer County, and Eliza Tudor, Executive Director of Nevada County Arts Council, will share their expertise as seasoned fundraisers and grant writers. They will discuss what funders look for, how to avoid common mistakes, and how to build lasting relationships in the funding landscape. This is a Q&A, so highly participatory—bring your questions!
Grantwriting Part 2—moves from theory to practice, with guided exercises in preparing proposals, structuring budgets, and using AI tools for editing. Together, the sessions provide a comprehensive roadmap to securing support for both individual artists and organizations.
The 2-minute Lunchtime Spotlight—your Open Mic!
Facilitated by Meghan Joy "MOJO" O'Keefe
During lunch we invite you to take to the mic to share news, information, needs, shoutouts, successes, partnership opportunities, and more. Limited to two minutes per person (this will be timed!).
Literary Arts Panel: Writing, Sustainability, and Creative Practice
Karen Terrey, Dean Rader and Mary Volmer
What does it mean to sustain a life in the literary arts today? This panel brings together Nevada County Poet Laureate Karen Terrey, Guggenheim Fellow and award-winning poet Dean Rader, and novelist and educator Mary Volmer for a conversation on craft and resilience. Together they will address the challenges and opportunities facing writers in today’s shifting cultural and political landscape—from budget cuts and the rise of generative AI to evolving views of the humanities. Participants will gain insight into the multiple roles writers play, strategies for sustaining creative practice, and the enduring value of literature in society.
Fuel for the Future
Brandon "GR8" Greathouse
To close out the Business of Art Symposium, we gather once more in community—participants, speakers, and leaders side by side—to celebrate the ideas, insights, and connections sparked throughout the day. Guided by Brandon “GR8” Greathouse’s signature energy and charisma, this session is both a reflection and a rallying cry: a chance to affirm what you’ve learned, recognize the confidence you’ve gained, and envision the next steps for your creative career. Expect to leave not only motivated and inspired, but ready to carry the momentum of this day into a future filled with new possibilities.