Artist INC Topeka

Connecting artists of all disciplines to the tools and opportunities they need to be successful.

2026 Artist INC Topeka

Artist INC Topeka is in its sixth amazing year.

Don’t miss WorkShare Night on October 27th at ArtsConnect (909 N Kansas Ave, Topeka, KS). This is the final celebration of the artists and all of the hard work they have done to strengthen their artistic practices. We’ll have snacks and drinks - and this event is free and open to the public.

This year’s artist mentors are Kim Brook, Jake Jackson, Huascar Medina, Zandra Sneed-Dawkins, and Becki Waugh.

Congratulations to the artists who were selected for this year’s class: Dylan Carver, Gretchen Hellebust, TL Jones, Loren King, Kelly McClendon, Keturah McKetterick, Charles Moore, Lauren Ortiz, Monique Polanco, Ian Quiet, Anthemous T. Rocknrolla, Christine Royer, Schwem, Michelle Stubblefield, and Calley Mae Vance.

ABOUT ARTIST INC

Artist INC is a program of Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA) that is hosted in Topeka by ArtsConnect with support from FHLBank Topeka. Please click here for more application information.

Since 2009, Artist INC has filled a demand for professional development for artists. In 2012, at the invitation of the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation, Artist INC became one of a select group of programs across the country as part of its "Marketplace Empowerment for Artists" program. While the community of practice for artist professional development has grown through Tremaine's initiative, Artist INC remains the only stand-alone program in the Midwest region dedicated exclusively to artist entrepreneur training.

Artist INC connects artists of all disciplines to the tools, resources, and opportunities necessary to develop their entrepreneurial skills and to strengthen their artistic practice. ArtsConnect hosts the program at our gallery in the NOTO Arts & Entertainment District, coordinating the administration of the program in partnership with staff at the Mid-America Arts Alliance. The program provides cutting-edge training seminars that address the specific daily business needs and challenges artists of all disciplines face.

In 2013, Artist INC became a program of Mid-America Arts Alliance, acquiring the program fully in 2017. Across the region, Artist INC is generously funded by Mid-America Arts Alliance, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Windgate Charitable Foundation, Inc., and the state arts agencies of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. Acknowledgement also is extended to the UMKC Innovation Center, a Founding Member of Artist INC. For more information, go to artistinc.art.

Past Participants

  • GG Demery
    Cathy Foster
    Corbin Gilfillan
    Lisa Greenwood
    Matthew Hull
    Kelly Jack
    Jennie Ketter
    Stephanie Kitten
    Teresa Maddeford
    Valerie M. Mendoza
    Andy Morrison
    Amber Neely
    Ryan Ogle
    Sammie Platz
    Ki Ra
    LeeAnn Skinner
    Sandy Snook
    Luyao Zheng

  • Carol Bradbury
    Ashley Cain
    Amber Dickinson
    Heather Duris
    Bridget Elmer
    Duane L. Herrman
    Karl Hess
    Julian Jenkins
    Nick Krug
    Christina Lewis
    Jolie Lippitt
    Carly Malsom
    Clair McKay
    Samantha Morrison
    Alice-Ann Oliver
    Susan Poer
    Brandon Quy
    Beth Ridenour
    Kayla Sandusky
    Kimberley Scott
    Carlos Velez
    Anamarie Wilkin
    Yolanda Wilson
    Albert Woods, Sr.
    Sally Woodson

  • Pradeep Bangalore, (visual artist)
    Hollie Blakeney, (visual artist)
    Jason Dailey, (multidisciplinary)
    Jean Denney, (visual artist)
    Lyman Edwards, (designer)
    Matthew Filby, (mixed media)
    Jonah Graf, (visual artist)
    Ash Grubb, (visual artist)
    Jodee Jensen, (visual artist)
    Cindy Kersenbrock, (ceramic artist)
    Troy Komahcheet, (visual artist)
    Aisha Lee Imani, (multidisciplinary)
    Theresa Martin, (visual artist)
    Tiena Nazzaro, (visual artist)
    Laura Odell, (multidisciplinary)
    Jose Saucedo, (visual artist)
    Kristen Shook, (interdisciplinary)
    Zandra Sneed-Dawkins, (visual artist)
    Irene Tsuneta, (fiber artist)
    Lesa Weller, (multidisciplinary)
    Tyson Williams, (performing artist)

  • Jordan E. Brooks (visual artist)
    Miranda Easton (painting)
    Kody Stadler (multidisciplinary)
    Holly Taylor (music)
    Deb Bruner (theatre production)
    Harvey Flowers (sculpture)
    Jake Jackson (sculpture/special effects)
    Lisa LaRue-Baker (multidisciplinary)
    Phyll Klima (clay)
    Allison Koerner-Smith (visual arts)
    Alisha Saucedo (clay)
    Preston Walker (music)
    Amy Allen (painting)
    Samantha Banks (painting)
    Kate Hastings (theatre)
    Allison Shore (photography)

  • Carmen Anello (music/theatre)
    Benjamin Arnfield (visual artist)
    Byron Ashley (visual artist)
    Audrey Bosley (literary & visual artist)
    Anthony Braun (visual artist)
    Kim D. Brook (ceramic artist)
    Robert Tapley Bustamante (mural/visual artist)
    Katie Heffren (visual artist)
    Rodney L. Hoover (painting/photography)
    Erika Kjorlie Geery (visual artist)
    Angela Lexow (2-D & 3-D visual artist)
    Liza MacKinnon (2-D & 3-D visual artist)
    Xavier Martinez (muralist & visual artist)
    Kyra Miller (ceramic & 2-D artist)
    Devin M. Morrison (multimedia artist)
    Paul Rudy (musician/performing artist)
    Dané Shobe (theatre/performing artist)
    Nathan Short (theatre/performing artist)
    Ptr Sponseller (3-D sculpture artist)
    Susan K. Theroff (visual artist)
    Jeremy Wangler (photographer)
    Becki Waugh (visual artist)
    Brian Wiedle (visual artist)
    Ryan Wills (musician/performing artist)

Artist INC Topeka is supported by

2023 Artist INC Cohort

This project is generously funded by Mid-America Arts Alliance, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Windgate Charitable Foundation, Inc., and the state arts agencies of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. Acknowledgement also is extended to the UMKC Innovation Center, a Founding Member of Artist INC. For more information, go to artistinc.art.