About the Toolbox

 

 

Get the Tools You Need to Build Your Career!  

“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’.”

“No artist should be without this course!”

“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.”
 

- Testimonials from Toolbox Participants

 

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.

 

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.” 

“[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.”

 

 

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. The Toolbox, a comprehensive training program organized through the Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston, is an eight-month intensive course for a select group of artists to learn and practice  marketing, networking and business skills with the additional benefits of peer group interaction, mentorship, and feedback.

The program includes instruction on:

  • Clarifying career goals with a professional career coach
  • Marketing strategies, including positioning, branding, and marketing plan development 
  • Writing artist statements, bios, press releases and media pitches
  • Effective networking and "verbal branding"
  • Effective negotiation
  • Copyright infringement, contracts, and real estate issues
  • Financial planning, and tax and estate planning
  • Time management

The program concludes with a portfolio review, giving participants the opportunity to practice their presentation skills and present their work to leading gallery owners, museum directors, grant makers, journalists, and residency program directors.

 

Eligibility

The Toolbox is open to practicing visual artists and is limited to 30 participants.

Applicants must commit to completing the entire program and can not be a matriculated student enrolled in any degree program after July 1, 2010. 

 

Tuition and Fees

Tuition for artists is $825

Payment plans are available, as well as a limited amount of financial aid. A financial aid application can be requested below. Financial aid applications are not made known to the panel of reviewers and in no way affect the applicant's prospects for admittance. Financial aid decisions are based on an applicant's income and other information.

The Application Fee is $35

To pay the application fee, simply make a "donation" in the amount of $35 on our Donation page.

 

Dates

Application Deadline is September 24th, 2010.
Artists selected for the program will be notified on October 15th, 2010.
The opening retreat will take place on Friday, October 29th, 2010.
The Toolbox program will conclude with a portfolio review on Saturday, May 7th, 2011. (Date subject to change)

 

Click here to apply or to review the online form.

We highly recommend reviewing this form carefully before applying. This form requires responses and attachments that should be prepared separately, in advance. This will make the application process much smoother for you. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions.