Seminar 2 - Building Financial Stability & Control

Wednesday, March 4th

3.00 PM - 5.00 PM (PST)

Online via Zoom
This session will be recorded!

Seminar Overview:

“Getting, Spending, and Investing in Yourself”
For many artists, finances are often only addressed in times of crisis. Yet, with some planning, you can build stability, confidence, and a roadmap for long-term success.

This session is designed to help artists understand and manage their income, expenses, savings, and taxes—so they can thrive both in their creative practice and personal life.

The workshop will explore practical strategies for money management, as well as approaches to keep your work moving forward. Participants will learn short- and long-term solutions for generating income, spending wisely, and investing in themselves.

What You'll Learn:

• Saving from the start 
• Creating a budget can lead to creativity while not going broke 
• How to save money by thinking ahead 
• Fundraising and Agreements 

About the Instructor -  Karen Atkinson, GYST-Ink  

Karen Atkinson is an internationally exhibited media, installation, and public artist, independent curator, and TED speaker. She is the founder of GYST-Ink, providing software and tools that help artists track their work, manage projects, and build sustainable careers. With decades of experience, Karen empowers artists to stay organized, plan strategically, and thrive creatively.

Testimonials:

• "I really appreciated the frankness of how Karen Atkinson ‘cuts to the chase.’ After listening to my fellow classmates, it was clear that the average artists doesn’t know much about the business side of art. All in all, I’m a smarter artist and now, I’m mentoring my mentor – go figure! "

• “It is essential that art students be prepared for the realities of life after graduation,” says CalArts President Steven Lavine. “Nationally, no one is doing this better than Karen Atkinson with the professional practice classes that she teaches at CalArts and now with this new version of crucial software for the working artist.” 

Wednesday, March 11th

3.00 PM - 5.00 PM (PDT)

Online via Zoom
Note: This seminar (level 2) is restricted to 20 participants

Seminar Overview:

“Current, Future, and Working for a Lifetime”
This workshop focuses on planning for your future through strategies for tracking and managing your money. Learn how to create systems that serve you over time, ensure your work is preserved, and manage your future estate.

For artists, knowing where your money goes and where your artwork is at all times is key to staying organized, avoiding last-minute stress, and making informed creative decisions. This session offers practical strategies for budgeting and managing your art inventory, helping your projects and finances run smoothly.

By attending, artists will gain concrete tools to plan budgets, organize records and artwork, and maintain both financial and creative control over their practice, ensuring projects are completed on time, on budget, and with confidence.

What You'll Learn: 

•  Keeping track of expenses 
•  Managing Budgets and tracking your career as an artist 
•  Keeping records of the work you make, show and sell, estate strategies 

About the Instructor -  Karen Atkinson, GYST-Ink  

Karen Atkinson is an internationally exhibited media, installation, and public artist, independent curator, and TED speaker. She is the founder of GYST-Ink, providing software and tools that help artists track their work, manage projects, and build sustainable careers. With decades of experience, Karen empowers artists to stay organized, plan strategically, and thrive creatively.

Testimonials:

• "I really appreciated the frankness of how Karen Atkinson ‘cuts to the chase.’ After listening to my fellow classmates, it was clear that the average artists doesn’t know much about the business side of art. All in all, I’m a smarter artist and now, I’m mentoring my mentor – go figure! "

• “It is essential that art students be prepared for the realities of life after graduation,” says CalArts President Steven Lavine. “Nationally, no one is doing this better than Karen Atkinson with the professional practice classes that she teaches at CalArts and now with this new version of crucial software for the working artist.”