2024 Exhibiting Artist, Evan Stoler, gave an artist talk at 21c Museum Hotel in Kansas City.
Art comes first. Always.
You make things that didn’t exist before. You bring color, shape, texture, and emotion into the world. This course is here to make sure the practical side of sharing your art doesn’t get in the way of creating it — and even better, that it supports you in making more of the work you love.
We believe every artist can have the tools to protect their time, value their work, and connect with the people who need to see it. You don’t have to change who you are or think like a corporation — you just need a few clear, artist-friendly skills that will help your work thrive out in the world.
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Over the next modules, you’ll learn how to:
Share your story in ways that feel true to you.
Present your work so it shines in any setting.
Protect your art and your time with simple, straightforward tools.
Keep your practice strong for the long haul.
We’ll do this one small step at a time, so each piece feels doable.
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Before we start, take a moment to answer these questions for yourself. There’s no right or wrong answer — this is just for you:
Why do I create?
What do I hope people feel when they see my work?
In six months, what’s one thing I’d love to be able to say about my art practice?
You can jot these down in a notebook or type them in a document. Keep them somewhere you can revisit — they’ll help guide your decisions as you move through the rest of this course.
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Pick one small goal for your art in the next six months. This could be:
Apply to two local exhibitions.
Update my portfolio images.
Set aside two hours a week for studio time.
Small steps add up quickly. By naming a goal now, you’re already on your way.
Art First: Essential Skills for Your Creative Path
A free online guide from KCAC that helps artists build the practical skills to share their work, find opportunities, and sustain their creative practice. This isn’t about turning you into a businessperson — it’s about giving you tools that protect your time, value your work, and keep your focus where it belongs: on making art.
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Telling Your Story
Your artist statement and bio are tools to communicate who you are, what you do, and why it matters. This section guides you through reflecting on your practice, articulating your vision, and presenting your work professionally to galleries, collectors, and audiences.
Your artist statement and bio are tools to communicate who you are, what you do, and why it matters. This section guides you through reflecting on your practice, articulating your vision, and presenting your work professionally to galleries, collectors, and audiences.
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Building Your Portfolio
Your portfolio is your professional calling card — a carefully curated snapshot of your artistic practice. This module will help you select, organize, and present your work in a way that reflects your unique vision and process.
Your portfolio is your professional calling card — a carefully curated snapshot of your artistic practice. This module will help you select, organize, and present your work in a way that reflects your unique vision and process.
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Documenting your work
Your artwork deserves to be seen clearly and remembered accurately. In this module, you’ll learn simple, professional techniques for photographing, cataloging, and protecting your work—giving you the confidence to share it with galleries, collectors, and the world.
Your artwork deserves to be seen clearly and remembered accurately. In this module, you’ll learn simple, professional techniques for photographing, cataloging, and protecting your work—giving you the confidence to share it with galleries, collectors, and the world.
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Value Your Art
Pricing your artwork can feel tricky, but it doesn’t have to be intimidating. In this module, you’ll learn practical strategies to assign fair and sustainable prices to your pieces, helping you navigate galleries, fairs, and online sales with confidence.
Pricing your artwork can feel tricky, but it doesn’t have to be intimidating. In this module, you’ll learn practical strategies to assign fair and sustainable prices to your pieces, helping you navigate galleries, fairs, and online sales with confidence.
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Connect with Confidence
Networking isn’t about collecting contacts—it’s about building genuine relationships. This module teaches social skills and strategies that help artists share their work effectively, collaborate with peers, and confidently participate in arts communities.
Networking isn’t about collecting contacts—it’s about building genuine relationships. This module teaches social skills and strategies that help artists share their work effectively, collaborate with peers, and confidently participate in arts communities.
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Your Online Presence
Building an online presence helps artists share their work, connect with audiences, and expand opportunities. Learn how to showcase your practice authentically, engage with peers and collectors, and balance digital connections with studio time.
Building an online presence helps artists share their work, connect with audiences, and expand opportunities. Learn how to showcase your practice authentically, engage with peers and collectors, and balance digital connections with studio time.
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Balancing studio time with admin tasks.
Finding the right balance between creating art and managing the practical side of your practice is essential for sustaining a professional studio. This piece offers strategies, reflection prompts, and trusted resources to help artists protect creative time while staying organized and productive.
Finding the right balance between creating art and managing the practical side of your practice is essential for sustaining a professional studio. This piece offers strategies, reflection prompts, and trusted resources to help artists protect creative time while staying organized and productive.
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Goal Setting
Whether you’re preparing for your next exhibition, refining your portfolio, or exploring new skills, this module provides strategies to set realistic goals, organize your schedule, and maintain momentum throughout the year.
Whether you’re preparing for your next exhibition, refining your portfolio, or exploring new skills, this module provides strategies to set realistic goals, organize your schedule, and maintain momentum throughout the year.
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Maintaining Inspiration
Sustaining a creative practice requires ongoing inspiration. Explore museums, performances, workshops, reading, online communities, and everyday experiences to keep your ideas fresh. Cultivate habits that consistently expose you to new influences and allow them to feed your work.
Sustaining a creative practice requires ongoing inspiration. Explore museums, performances, workshops, reading, online communities, and everyday experiences to keep your ideas fresh. Cultivate habits that consistently expose you to new influences and allow them to feed your work.
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