Creative Capital

Check our Calendar for upcoming workshops.

PDP recognizes that there is no set formula for success but that each individual artist must define his or her own goals and set personal standards to achieve a satisfying life and career. PDP offers a range of workshops to assist artists in this process, including a comprehensive weekend retreat as well as one-day and one-evening offerings on a variety of topics, including fundraising, PR/marketing, strategic planning, verbal communications skills, and more. If you are an organization interested in presenting a PDP workshop, please see our workshop menu for details. For more information or sample agendas please email Krista Fabian Decastro krista[at]creative-capital.org.

PDP offers the following menu of workshops:

Weekend Workshop

At the core of Creative Capital's Professional Development Program is the Weekend Workshop Retreat, an intensive two and a half days described as a "crash course in self-management, strategic planning, fundraising, and promotion." Based on a rigorous and comprehensive curriculum, the workshop format employs lectures, peer critiques, one-on-one consultations, interactive exercises, handouts, and written assignments to introduce business skills to a group of up to 24 participants. The weekend begins with artists showing their work. Then, presentations by the co-leaders are followed by focused sessions in each of the topic areas. Participants are given a handbook and workbook as well as handouts on practical how-to information, and meet with leaders in smaller work groups.

Download a Sample Agenda (.pdf)

Advanced Weekend Workshop

The Advanced Weekend Workshop is a follow-up workshop for alumni of the core Weekend Workshop. It provides advanced tools within the topic areas of PR/marketing, strategic planning, and fundraising with a special emphasis on communications and marketing tools. The needs of the individual participants are evaluated through a survey, which informs the content of the workshop. Advanced Weekend Workshops are available for groups of up to 24 artists.

Internet for Artists

This weekend workshop will help participants expand their online presence and learn to harness the power of the internet. The workshop will explore how internet resources can be used to build audience, expand community, amplify marketing, and extend administrative resources. Participants will develop a step-by-step holistic strategy for using a range of internet applications to achieve specific career goals. Additionally, the workshop will help artists expand their thinking to quickly recognize and implement the possibilities of new technologies as they develop. This workshop is designed for groups of up to 24 artists. Check our calendar for dates and locations. It is also available as an evening or one day workshop.

One-Day Workshop

The One-Day Workshop is an immersion workshop that focuses on strategic planning, PR/marketing or fundraising as individual topics or all three topics covered in one day (other special topics are listed below.) In addition to lecture presentations, participants are given interactive exercises and the opportunity to meet with leaders in smaller work groups. The participants may receive handbooks, workbooks, and/or handouts, as well as exercises on the specific topic area. One-Day Workshops are available for groups of up to 60 artists.

Evening Workshop

The Evening Workshop is a three-hour workshop that provides an in-depth introduction to one of the topic areas: strategic planning, PR/marketing, fundraising, or verbal communications. In addition to lecture presentations, participants are given interactive exercises and the opportunity to meet with leaders in smaller work groups. The participants may receive handbooks, workbooks, and/or handouts, as well as exercises on the specific topic area. Evening Workshops are available for groups of up to 60 artists.

Special Topic One-Day Workshops

One-Day Workshops that provide additional or expanded learning opportunities include:

Verbal Communications

Designed and facilitated by a communications specialist with extensive experience training artists in public speaking and leadership skills, the Verbal Communications workshop includes lectures, small group activities, and hands-on exercises to improve interpersonal communications and public speaking skills. It covers such topics as how to be authentic and comfortable talking about your work in such social situations and how to successfully pitch your work or ask for money in meetings with presenters and funders. Participants identify their goals and objectives in order to more effectively and accurately represent themselves and their work. During the workshop, participants are given an opportunity to give a short presentation in order to work on content, verbiage, physical behavior, and body language. This workshop is available for groups of up to 24 artists.

Download a Sample Agenda (.pdf)

Fundraising from Individuals

Fundraising From Individuals helps artists determine whether and how to start raising money from individual contributors, who now account for more than 75% of all money given to nonprofits in America. The topics covered include: working with a fiscal sponsor; forming an advisory board; preparing the right materials for the right donors; taking take advantage of new technology; translating the language and methodology of individual contribution drives for organizations to individual artists of all disciplines; and how best to work collaboratively with presenting venues. The workshop will include information on how to organize fundraising events, email campaigns, cultivation, and individual appeals. This workshop is available for groups of up to 24 artists.

Download a Sample Agenda (.pdf)

Currently in Development

Literary Artists Workshop

A module tailored to the needs of literary artists is currently in development. This workshop is designed for groups of up to 24 artists.