Today’s artist has to master their craft, think like an entrepreneur, and market their work. It sounds like a lot—because it is. But staying true to the vocational call of being an artist does not have to mean going without pay. This 6-hour workshop is taught by experienced and knowledgeable leaders and is designed to give artists the tools and resources needed to excel in their work, build a business, and fulfill their calling as a creative.
Together we will explore: business models, entrepreneurship, finding gaps in the market, what it looks like to understand who you are as an artist, developing the audience you want, and the brand you need.
Ticket includes access to 6 hours of content, workbook, & lunch.
THE ART OF BUSINESS WORKSHOP OVERVIEW
Thinking like an Entrepreneur
Are artists entrepreneurs? This session focuses on understanding business models, entrepreneurship, and finding gaps in the market.
Making Money - Accounting and Finances 101
The most common question perplexing artists of all disciplines, "How much should I price this for?" doesn't need to be a stab in the dark. Understanding taxes, budgeting, and funding sources are the bedrock of going from starving to thriving.
Getting the Word Out - Content and Social Media
Finding a gap in the market requires artists to understand both the field they fit into and what makes their creative voice unique. The way artists craft the stories of their work connects them to their audience.
DETAILS
Dates: Saturday, February 21, 2026
Time: 9:30 am – 4:30 pm, with Happy Hour starting at 3:30
Check-in begins at 9:00, workshop starts at 9:30 am
Location: Wax Space | 1300 S Polk St Suite 295, Dallas, TX 75224
Price: All tickets include coffee, snacks, lunch, and teaching.
If the cost is prohibitive, scholarships are available. Please click here to apply for a scholarship.
Workshop Speakers
Jim Hart
Jim Hart holds a BFA from Southern Methodist University and MFA from Yale School of Drama. He has served as an actor, director, writer, and producer and performed in major theatres throughout the U.S., including Yale Repertory Theatre, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Utah Shakespearean Festival and others. Hart now directs the Arts Entrepreneurship program at Southern Methodist University. He advises university programs forming arts entrepreneurship initiatives and has published several book chapters for Theatre Communications Group, Edward Elgar Publishing, and USASBE, as well as multiple peer-reviewed articles. Hart has won six major awards in the past four years, including the Special Recognition in Entrepreneurship Education Innovation (USASBE), the Provost’s Teaching Award (SMU) and now the Sharon T. Alpi Award for Innovative Arts Entrepreneurship Pedagogy, to name a few.
Johnna Gray
Since earning an Associate’s degree in Theology from Christ for the Nations Institute in 2010, Johnna has bridged ministry and finance. For 15 years, she has worked as a QuickBooks Certified ProAdvisor bookkeeper and tax preparer while also serving in local church leadership. This dual experience sparked a passion for supporting nonprofits and mission-driven organizations with sound financial strategy.
In 2019, Johnna founded Cultivate Financial, now serving clients around the world across a wide range of industries, including creative, professional, and service-based sectors.
A lifelong Dallas resident, Johnna enjoys life with her husband, Bryan, and their spirited daughter, Emma Lou.
Zack Jano
Stemming from his passion for people, Zack’s experiences in leadership, ministry, music, sports and fitness, all poured into his creative skillset of bringing ideas to life.
In 2023, JanoMedia was born— a social media agency that bridges the gap between passion and purpose.
With Zack’s keen ability to build connection through conversation, content creation, digital media strategy and distribution— the heart of JanoMedia is to create content that matters. Telling stories, expanding ideas, and seeing tangible results through various platform exposure.
