FREE ARTist WORKSHOP

 

The City of Memphis Office of Creative & Cultural Economy is partnering with Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA) to bring Artist INC Express to Memphis, investing directly in the growth and sustainability of the city’s creative community. This collaboration supports artists of all disciplines in building the foundational skills needed for thriving, long-term arts careers.

 

Through this initiative, the City of Memphis is providing local artists access to a dynamic, in-person, ten-hour professional development workshop led by experienced, working artists. Participants engage in guided discussions, interactive activities, and hands-on exercises designed to help them clarify career goals, strengthen how they write and speak about their work, and develop a strong personal brand—while building meaningful connections with fellow Memphis creatives.

 

Artist INC Express is a condensed, highly interactive version of the nationally recognized Artist INC program, an eight-week course that has served more than 2,000 artists nationwide since 2009. By hosting this streamlined format, the City of Memphis is expanding access to these core concepts—making high-quality career development more flexible and accessible for a broader range of local artists.

 

This is not a traditional classroom experience. Artists commit to the full ten-hour workshop, as each session builds on the last and fosters deeper collaboration within the cohort. Participants are expected to actively engage in group discussions, small-group work, and practical exercises throughout.

 

Interested artists may register now:

 

Date:            
Saturday, April 18, 2026 from 10:00am-3:00pm CDT

Sunday, April 19, 2026 from 12:00pm-5:00pm CDT

Location: Cossitt Library at 33 S Front St, Memphis, TN 38103

 

Now in its fifteenth year, Artist INC has been completed by more than 2,000 artists. Artist INC is supported in part by grants from the Windgate Foundation, the Hallmark Corporate Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Learn more about Artist INC at www.artistinc.art.

 

About the City of Memphis Office of Creative & Cultural Economy

The City of Memphis aims to make our city safer, stronger, and more equitable through innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to our creative culture. As the cultural capital of the Mississippi Delta region, OCCE is dedicated to ensuring a thriving arts and culture sector that celebrates the City’s unique identity. Through the OCCE, the City promotes, strengthens, and catalyzes the cultural economy while developing strategies to retain and attract new contributors to the creative workforce.

 

Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA) strengthens and supports artists, cultural organizations, and communities throughout Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and beyond. To learn more about M-AAA grants, programs, exhibitions, and fellowships, visit www.maaa.org and follow us on Bluesky,  Facebook,  Instagram,  Twitter and LinkedIn.