Keys to the Art World Program - A Career Path for Artists

** 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.

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 the semester, you'll go on 2 outings as a group and experience 4 guest artists who are interviewed on topics that they thrive in so artists can get access to even more knowledge and experience.

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 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

We start with 6 weeks of learning how to work in a series to create a unified body of work and how to build a thriving studio practice.

2) Presentation & Collectors

Next, we have 6 weeks of learning how to share our work with the world in a professional way and how to position yourself to attract your ideal art collector.

3) Selling & Marketing

Then, we spend 12 weeks taking a deep dive into various streams of income, financial planning, and how to promote our year-end gallery show.

It's Free to Apply!

We jury 10 artists into each semester.

There's no cost to apply and you can submit your application online. The application is short and sweet.

Websites and Instagram accounts are not required as learning about them are part of the program.

How to Apply

Simply register here and receive the online application link as part of your confirmation message.

Important Note:

This is not a "how–to–paint" class, artists should be proficient in painting and/or have taken a few Level 2 and 3 classes prior to joining the program.

Artists still developing their own recognizable style are encouraged to take 2-3 sessions of our new class Finding Your Artist Style that also starts in June as a prerequisite to working in a series.

More Info

• Semester Length: 24 weeks
• Mondays 10:30am–1:30pm
• Cost: $299 every 4 weeks
• Group Size: 10 artists max per semester
• Level: 4 (experienced)
• Instructor: Kristen Guest
  

Important Dates

• Deadline for Fall 2026: June 15
• Notifications go out: June 22
• Fall Semester Dates: June 29 - December 14

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

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