STAY TUNED FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE 2024 ARIST INC TOPEKA PROGRAM.
ArtsConnect WILL host Artist INC Topeka in the late summer/early fall of 2024. Currently, we plan to open applications for the 2024 session on June 18th and the program will begin on the evening of September 3, 2024. Please check back in June to apply!
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2023 ARTIST INC ARTISTS!!
One of the most powerful ways to create change in our communities is to empower artists. ArtsConnect has committed to hosting the Artist INC program because we believe that this program not only connects artists with one another but also provides critical opportunities for development of their artistic practice and business savvy as an entrepreneur. Congratulations Congratulations to all of the artists listed below for being selected* to participate in the program.
Pradeep Bangalore, Visual Artist
Hollie Blakeney, Visual Artist
Jason Dailey, Multidisciplinary Artist
Jean Denney, Visual Artist
Lyman Edwards, Designer
Matthew Filby, Mixed Media Artist
Jonah Graf, Visual Artist
Ash Grubb, Visual Artist
Jodee Jensen, Visual Artist
Cindy Kersenbrock, Ceramic Artist
Troy Komahcheet, Visual Artist
Aisha Lee Imani, Multidisciplinary Artist
Theresa Martin, Visual Artist
Tiena Nazzaro, Visual Artist
Laura Odell, Multidisciplinary Artist
Jose Saucedo, Visual Artist
Kristen Shook, Interdisciplinary Artist
Zandra Sneed-Dawkins, Visual Artist
Irene Tsuneta, Fiber Artist
Lesa Weller, Multidisciplinary Artist
Tyson Williams, Performing Artist/Writer
2023 PEER FACILITATORS
Six local artists are selected to serve as Artist Peer Facilitators for the seminar and work through a rigorous training prior to being selected to serve as Peer Facilitators. We are grateful to the following individuals who have dedicated their time, energy and expertise into being a part of the 2023 Artist INC Topeka program.
Kim D. Brook (ceramic artist)
Lisa LaRue-Baker (Cherokee basket weaver & multidisciplinary artist)
Alisha Saucedo (ceramic artist)
Kody Stadler (interdisciplinary artist/musician)
Michael V. Toombs
Becki Waugh (visual artist)
*Fellows are selected through a competitive panel process that looks at quality of work, readiness for the program, and diversity of the seminar cohort to ensure diversity and inclusion in all its definitions including demographics (gender, age, and ethnicity) and artistic discipline (including visual, performing, literary, and film).
2021 FELLOWS
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)
WHAT IS ARTIST INC TOPEKA?
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.
Artist INC Fellows are selected through a competitive panel process that looks at quality of work, readiness for the program, and diversity of the seminar cohort to ensure diversity and inclusion in all its definitions including demographics (gender, age, and ethnicity) and artistic discipline (including visual, performing, literary, and film).
Facilitated learning is the Artist INC methodology. Artists learn and grow together through mentoring, small group application activities, large group discussions and multi-media lectures. Artist INC Fellows learn business skills relevant to their art practice and apply those skills cooperatively with the peers.
More information is available on the Artist INC website and in the Artist 10x10, a beautiful interactive digital celebration of the first 10 years of this program.
2022 FELLOWS
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)
ABOUT ARTIST INC
Artist INC is a program of Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA)
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. In 2013, Artist INC became a program of Mid-America Arts Alliance, acquiring the program fully in 2017. For more information, go to artistinc.art.
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.
WHAT IS THE MID-AMERICA ARTS ALLIANCE?
The Mid-America Arts Alliance is a nonprofit regional arts organization that strengthens and supports artists, cultural organizations, and communities throughout a six-state region (Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas) and beyond.Mid-America Arts Alliance strengthens and supports artists, cultural organizations, and communities throughout the region and beyond. For more information, go to maaa.org.
WHAT IS ARTSCONNECT?
ArtsConnect is the premier arts engagement organization in Topeka, and is focused on promoting the arts through building community connections and broadening the understanding of how the arts enhance our quality of life. We are dedicated to supporting individuals engaged in the production of art & the creative industries as we continue our work to connect audiences, artists and arts experiences in all disciplines. For more information, go to https://artstopeka.org/about.