Keys to the Art World: Art Business Mentorship Program
About this Event
** This is a listing to show you how to apply to the Keys to the Art World program. Artists must first apply (for free) and be juried into the program to join.
Learn the Business Side of Art
Join this one-of-a-kind 24-week program that's designed for emerging artists. If you’ve been struggling with finding your style, marketing, pricing, or finding collectors who truly value your art—you don’t have to do it alone.
Get Focus & Direction
Not a seminar...
Not a workshop...
In this program, professional artist Kristen Guest shows you how to work in a series, build a thriving studio practice, create a unified body of work, and how to successfully market and sell your art.
Over the course of a semester:
- you'll set goals
- work in a series
- identify your ideal collectors
- price for profit
- present your art in an elevated and beautiful way
- get professional artist headshots
- receive personalized marketing materials
- build an authentic following online
- grow your own collectors list
- sell art while learning how to sell
- get detailed roadmaps for launching 5 different streams of income like commissions and art prints
- plan a year-end gallery show as a group
Designed for painting and drawing artists of any medium or genre, whose work can be showcased in an exhibition format on gallery walls.
See Major Growth
Artists also have access to exclusive opportunities throughout the year to gain exposure and to sell their work.
Being a professional artist can be a part-time or a full-time endeavor. We learn all the ways artists can support themselves.
Many of our alumni go on to:
- acquire solo shows
- get gallery representation
- be juried into art fairs
- start teaching
- launch art prints of their work
- spend more time painting than ever
- and more
All while feeling prepared and ready.
Be Part of a Gallery Show in December
At the end of the year, both spring and fall semesters host their own show at Ashton Gallery to put into practice what we have learned.
Our year-end group show is the largest, most attended, and most successful show that the gallery has hosted for the past 4 years in a row.
Artists in this business mentorship program help with the promoting of their own gallery show:
- prepping their own marketing materials
- inviting people to attend
- how to engage with show visitors
- decorating the gallery
- getting ready for opening night
- post-show private viewings
This gives artists real-world experience that they need to understand the business side of art.
What You'll Be Learning
1) Working in a Series & Scheduling (4 weeks)
- working in a series
- scheduling your week
- setting goals
- planning your year
- organizing an art business
- income and expenses
2) Presentation & Collectors (10 weeks)
- creating an artist brand
- writing and storytelling
- identifying your ideal collector
- photographing you art
- presenting your art
- pricing for profit
- shipping and packing artwork
3) Selling & Marketing (10 weeks)
- building a collectors list
- nurturing an authentic following
- commissions + roadmap
- art fairs + roadmap
- art prints + roadmap
- galleries + roadmap
- solo shows + roadmap
It's Free to Apply!
We jury 10 emerging artists into each semester. There's no cost to apply and you can submit your application online or in-person at Art on 30th.
The application is short and sweet. Websites and Instagram accounts are not required as learning about them are part of the program.
Important Note:
This is not a "how–to–paint" class. Artists should be proficient in painting and/or have taken a few sessions of Level 3 classes before joining.
Artists looking to develop their own recognizable style should take 2-3 sessions of our new class as a prerequisite to joining.
More Info
- Semester Length: 24 weeks
- Mondays 10:30am–1:30pm
- Location: Meets at Art on 30th in San Diego
- Cost: $299 every 4 weeks
- Group Size: 10 artists max per semester
- Level: 4 (experienced)
- Designed for painting and drawing artists
- Mentor: Kristen Guest
Important Dates
- ‼️ Deadline for Fall 2026: June 15
- 🔔 Notifications: June 22
- 📆 Fall Dates: June 29 - December 14
How to Apply
Simply register here and receive the online application link as part of your confirmation message.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00
