Alabama, Arkansas, Washington, D.C.: Professional Development and Training

State arts agencies play a pivotal role in providing support and opportunities for individual artists, using a variety of strategies to do so. Often, state arts agencies support individual artists directly through grants that encourage the development of new works or advance artists’ careers. Investments in individual artist grants have significantly increased over the past decade. However, state arts agencies also provide support to individual artists through other means, such as professional development services. These services include conferences, workshops and webinars that assist artists at every stage of their career and connect them with peers. In doing so, state arts agencies are helping to strengthen economic growth, reach more communities and educate the next generation of artists. The Alabama State Council on the Arts, Arkansas Arts Council and DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities offer three examples of empowering artists through professional development events.

Opening Reception, “The Power of Community” exhibit and conference, MAP360. Photo by Lauren Brock

Alabama

The Alabama State Council on the Arts was a lead partner in the recently held 2025 The Power of Community Conference, a three-day gathering focused on creative placemaking in rural and Appalachian communities. Many session themes explored the role artists and creative organizations play in community building and creating a sense of place, especially as it pertains to strengthening rural resilience. The conference also provided networking opportunities, peer-to-peer presentations and tours of artist-lead projects in Montgomery.

Arkansas

Shunqetta Cunningham, CEO of Kharis Group and nonprofit founder, talks with artists and nonprofit leaders about grant-writing techniques during a GetSmART! Learning Series workshop. Photo courtesy of the Arkansas Arts Council

Since 2014, the Arkansas Arts Council has organized the GetSmART! Learning Series, which consists of in-depth workshops for individual artists and nonprofit organizations. Designed to provide training and networking opportunities to Arkansas creatives, the workshops are led by professional creatives and leaders in the arts, business and nonprofit sectors. Recent workshops include a guide for artists to build their social media presence to cultivate an audience and boost their career, and a workshop delving into galleries and portfolios.

Unity Perch, by Zachary Oxman. Image courtsey of the Government of the District of Columbia

Washington, D.C.

The Business of the Arts is a professional development program offered by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH) that provides free workshops and seminars for artists. Topics range from fundraising and development to marketing and public relations, legal concerns, and entrepreneurship. Most recently, CAH hosted the Emergency Preparedness Symposium, an online event with four organizations giving presentations on their resources and best practices for emergency preparedness.

For more information on state arts agency roles in supporting the professional development of individual artists, please contact NASAA.