The Artist Refinery | Stop Winging It & Start Winning It

Artist Refinery is an 8-Week program starting April 2nd, meeting weekly for 8 weeks. We're asking participants to commit to the FULL program.

This accelerator is all about action and accountability. Over the next seven weeks, you’ll refine your artistic practice, build a sustainable creative business, and learn how to market yourself effectively—all while staying true to your craft.

Expect a fast-paced mix of hands-on work, real-world business skills, and networking opportunities designed to help you make meaningful progress. No fluff, no waiting—just the tools, strategies, and community you need to level up and stay consistent.

By the end of the program, you won’t just know what to do—you’ll have already done it.

We're looking to serve a new crop of creative entrepreneurs in the Mohawk Valley and add them to our growing Artist Refinery Alumni Community.

The Artist Refinery: 8-Week Curriculum Overview

🔥 What are you building? Where are you headed?

• Visioning Workshop – Map out your creative business.

• Core Values Exercise – What drives your work, and how do you translate that into a sustainable practice?

• Breaking Barriers – Identify and address the biggest obstacles in your way (self-doubt, bad habits, lack of time, etc.)

• Accountability Check-In: What’s one thing you’re committing to change right now?

🔥 Does your creative business exist if no one sees it?

• Branding for Artists – Who are you? How do you want to be perceived?

• Social Media Deep Dive – What’s working, what’s not, and how to create content that actually connects

• The Art of the Elevator Pitch – How to talk about your work without sounding awkward

• Feedback & Refinement: Group critique of branding and messaging

🔥 Stop waiting for followers—go find your audience.

• Social Media Strategy – Choosing platforms, creating content, and growing without burnout

• The Content Plan You’ll Actually Stick To

• Instagram, TikTok, & Beyond – What’s working right now?

• Selling Without Feeling Gross – Authentic self-promotion that converts

• Live Content Review: Group feedback on social media profiles

Take this week to execute on the plans so far. We'll re-group for Week 5

Week 5: Show Up & Be Seen (Networking & Visibility)

🔥 Making connections without feeling like a sellout.

• Who’s in Your Circle? – The power of relationships in the creative world

• Business After Hours – Navigating networking events and making real connections

• Pitching & Collaboration – Finding the right partners, galleries, and platforms

• Creating Opportunities Instead of Waiting for Them

• Accountability Check-In: What’s one step you’ll take to put yourself out there this week?

🔥 Your art is valuable—price it like it.

• Time, Materials, & The Reality of Pricing

• The “Friends & Family” Problem – Stop Undervaluing Your Work

• Revenue Streams for Artists – Beyond selling originals (prints, commissions, licensing, Patreon, etc.)

• Basic Business Structures (LLC, Sole Prop, etc.) & Taxes for Creatives

• Banking & Business Finances 101 – Keeping your money organized

• Price It & Own It: Group pricing workshop

🔥 Balancing creativity and business without burnout.

• Time Blocking for Artists – Making Room for Work & Play

• Building a Creative Habit That Sticks

• Handling Imposter Syndrome & Creative Blocks

• Saying No to the Wrong Things & Yes to the Right Ones

• Group Support & Strategies: What’s been holding you back, and how do we fix it?

Week 8: Putting It All Together

🔥 You’ve built momentum—now let’s keep it going.

• Personalized Feedback & Next Steps

• Final Networking Session – Build Lasting Connections

• Q&A & Open Discussion: Keep the fire going beyond the accelerator

• Wrap-Up & Celebration 🎉

This program is about momentum. Every week, you’ll take real steps toward your goals with the support of your peers. By the end, you’ll have a clear vision, stronger branding, better business practices, and a community to keep you accountable.

Who This Is For:

• Artists who are tired of waiting for opportunities and are ready to create them

• Creatives who want to market themselves without feeling like sellouts

• Makers who want to turn their passion into a sustainable business

• People who thrive with accountability and community support

Who This Is NOT For:

• Artists who just want to make art and ignore the business side

• People who aren’t willing to take action and show up

• Anyone expecting overnight success without putting in the work

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

326 Broad St, 326 Broad Street, Utica, United States