Painters, poets, printmakers, performers, and creatives of all kinds have a new resource program available to help them advance their professional arts careers in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Artist INC, a career development program of Mid-America Arts Alliance in partnership with Arkansas Arts Council and Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas (ASC) of the ARTx3 campus, supports local artists of all disciplines and helps them develop the building blocks for a thriving and enduring arts practice. 

Applications are open through November 9. Approximately 25 artists will be selected for the in-person seminar sessions that run on eight consecutive Tuesday evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. from February 6, 2024–March 26, 2024 in Pine Bluff. 

The cost to participate in Artist INC normally comes with a $150 fee for the artists. However, the Arkansas Arts Council has generously provided all costs for the Artist INC program in Pine Bluff including the program fee for all accepted participants.

Artist INC, which has been completed by more than 1,400 artists since 2009, explores core concepts of how to build a lasting arts practice. Led by a team of experienced, working artists, this eight-week program helps artists address specific needs and challenges that they may face throughout their careers. Through discussions, activities, and hands-on exercises, the artist-facilitators, and the new network of peer artists, the program helps the participants set goals for their practices, write about their work, and build a personal brand.

The peer facilitators leading the seminars for Artist INC Pine Bluff include notable Arkansas creatives Justin Bryant, Maximilliano Dominguez, Ben Grimes, Cheryl "Candysoul" Humphry, and Chris Long.

Artists curious about the program but not available for the eight-week duration may consider the shorter workshop version of the program, Artist INC Express (AIX) Pine Bluff, which is offered in-person September 30–October 1, 2023. The registration deadline for AIX Pine Bluff is September 28 by 5:00 p.m. and is led by peer facilitators Kai Coggin, Ben Grimes, and Anna Zusman.

All Artist INC programs activate a network of artists in the community, leading to more peer-to-peer resource sharing, collaborations, and support long after the program concludes. 

Artist INC Live Pine Bluff eight-week seminars will be held in person at The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas at The ARTSpace on Main in the Kline Gallery, 623 S. Main St., Pine Bluff, AR, 71601.

About Artist INC Live 

Artist INC Live (AIL) is open to artists and creatives of all disciplines. It has a competitive application process, a substantial time commitment, and requires participants to be within a specific community. Artists should reside within a 60-minute commute from these program locations. All sessions are in person. 

Gathering for one evening a week for eight weeks, participants learn strategic business skills specific to their art practice and how to apply those skills cooperatively with their peers. Using a groundbreaking class design, Artist INC Live guides artists as they learn and grow together through artist facilitator mentoring, small group application activities, as well as large group discussion and multimedia lecture.

Dates: This session will run on eight consecutive Tuesday evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. from February 6, 2024 – March 26, 2024. 

Applications Open: September 25, 2023

Application Deadline: November 9, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.

Location: 623 S. Main St., Pine Bluff, AR, 71601

Cost: The program fee for Artist INC Live is $150 per artist but has been paid by the Arkansas Arts Council.

Register: https://artistinc.art/apply/

Artist INC is supported in part by grants from the Windgate Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Learn more about Artist INC at www.artistinc.art.