Playbook: Business Basics for Artists, Performers, and Creatives

Whether it's for one workshop or all, join us for a free artist development series focused on the business of being a creative. Resources from each workshop will be available shortly after the series date at our website.

Space is limited, so registration is required.

Tuesday, October 7, 2025, 6-8pm

Aligned, Not Exhausted: Clarify Your Creative Value and Choose Work That Fits

Stop grinding for gigs that don’t get you where you want to go. This workshop aligns your work into a sustainable career that feels right in your soul.

Following the workshop, unpack with Mariah Ivey. Mariah Ivey, muraled as a Keeper of Culture in downtown Indianapolis, is a nationally renowned writer, poet, scholar and curator. Ivey’s work presently focuses on the sanctity of language, literature, and storytelling as critical pathways toward collective renewal, communal care, and justice.

Tuesday, October 14, 2025, 6-8pm

Pricing With Heart and Backbone: Confidently Determine and Declare Your Fees

Does your pay match your value, your cost, or your competition? In this workshop, we’ll get honest about what your work is worth and get ready for genuine, productive money conversations with your customers.

After the workshop, keep chewing on this topic with musician Joshua A. Thompson. Joshua Thompson is a pianist, music sociologist, and lecturer recognized nationally for his expertise on classical composers of African descent. His resume is packed with grants, fellowships, awards, and residencies. He is the creator of award winning podcast Melanated Moments in Music and is the Creative Partner in Residence with the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra.

Tuesday, October 21, 2025, 6-8pm

Insurance Basics for Artists

Scaling up your work, performance events, or working in public places often comes with increased risk. Some projects will require that you have insurance coverage. Insurance can feel overwhelming, but don’t let that keep you from protecting yourself and your creative work.

This workshop is facilitated by Julia Muney-Moore, Indy Arts Council Director of Public Art. Julia has led countless projects, many involving complex partnerships and substantial potential risks. She’s seen it all!

Following the workshop, hear from public artist Koda Witsken about her experience navigating insurance coverage. KODA provides vibrant and positive artistic solutions (murals, sculptures, digital art, fine/gallery art, installations) tailored to meet clients’ business objectives, empowering them with strategic guidance and collaborative partnership to carve out a distinct identity in the market and increase brand value. Previous partners include the NFL, DHL, the NBA, Starbucks, Target, Eli Lilly, Jiffy Lube, Harley-Davidson, the NCAA, Riley Hospital for Children, and more.

Monday, October 27, 2025, 6-8pm

Contracts Without Confusion: Protect Your Work & Understand What You’re Signing

Contracts shouldn’t feel overwhelming or one-sided. This workshop helps creative professionals confidently navigate contract terms and protect the value of their work.

This workshop is facilitated by Kayla Hill, Esq. Kayla Hill is an Indiana-licensed attorney, legal educator, and passionate advocate for creative entrepreneurs. As the founder of The Turning Point Law Firm, she helps artists, content creators, and business owners protect their intellectual property, navigate contracts, and build legally sound brands. When she’s not advising clients or teaching, you’ll find Kayla writing, producing creative content, and building a soft life inspired by storytelling, community and creativity.

Keep unpacking this topic with dancer and artist welfare advocate . Sarah has danced and choreographed with many companies across the US, Canada and Europe. Her academic work is focused on highlighting and helping to eradicate systemic inequality often found in western concert dance.

Thursday, November 4, 2025, 6-8pm

Receipts, Records & Revenue: Keeping Your Creative Career in Order

Learn the essentials of taxes and recordkeeping with practical advice to stay organized. This session will help you understand deductions, track expenses, and build systems that support both your creativity and your business. Facilitated by accounting professional Jon Pryweller with support from artist, curator, arts administrator Lindsey Lord.

Jon Pryweller is Managing Partner at Whitewater Group, an Indianapolis-based accounting firm providing accounting, payroll, tax and taxpayer representation services. A seasoned accountant with over 30 years experience, he serves clients in 19 states and 6 foreign countries. Jon and his team work to ensure that every client maximizes their opportunities to pay the least amount of tax required by tax law.

Lindsey Lord's work often includes materials at hand as well as an exploration of additional media: watercolor, pen and ink, embroidery, and more. Inspiration comes from places where nature persists, highlighting the absurdity of consumerism, and stories of hope that quell her eco-anxiety.

She studied Studio Art and Art History at Indiana University, Bloomington and Arts Administration at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City before coming back to Indianapolis to start her career as an arts administrator. After 16 years working for local arts organizations, including the Indianapolis Museum of Art and the Indy Arts Council, she has since moved toward freelance and contract work in the arts to balance her time between family, art-making, and work.

Thursday, November 13, 2025, 6-8pm

Framing Your Narrative: Statements and Media Pitching

Develop the confidence and language to share your stories with curators, journalists, and other audiences to communicate your work with clarity and authenticity. This session is facilitated by Jennifer Delgadillo, writer/artist and Mirror Indy Arts & Culture Editor, and Kate Oberreich, artist and Artist Engagement Manager for the Indy Arts Council.

Jennifer is a Mexican-American writer and artist living on the Near Eastside of Indianapolis. Her arts writing and illustration have appeared in Booth, NUVO and Sky Blue Window. Her work has also appeared in PATTERN Magazine, ASYMMETRY and ABSTRACT by PRINTtEXT, Classical Music Indy’s NOTE Magazine and The Indiana Review.

Jennifer joined the Mirror Indy Team because she loves storytelling and wants to uplift the very best, most interesting voices and events happening in our community.

Kate Oberreich, artist and Indy Arts Council Artist Engagement Manager, works as an artist and arts administrator, including managing Gallery 924 at the Indy Arts Council. Kate holds a BFA in painting from Ball State University. She was awarded a Stutz Studio Residency, the inaugural Beckmann Emerging Artist Fellowship, and has been featured in multiple solo and group exhibitions. Her artwork was part of the feature film The Fault In Our Stars.

As an arts administrator, Kate has held positions at multiple central Indiana arts non-profits and galleries. Today, she works with local artists daily, managing the Indy Arts Council's Artist Services programming.

Host or Publisher Indy Arts Council