Professional Practice Program
Last Updated:
July 1, 2026

Professional Practice Program

HOW TO APPLY:

Apply through Submittable.

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DEADLINE: August 15, 2026

PROGRAM START DATE: September 8, 2026

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ELIGIBILITY

The Certificate of Professional Practice uses an open application process. A successful application is based on the strength of the applicant’s portfolio and application materials. Artists working in all media are invited to apply. In addition, applicants must:

  • Be 18 years or older
  • Be able to attend workshops and colloquium sessions in-person at the Art Students League, as well as travel within the New York City metropolitan area
  • Possess a Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
  • Not be concurrently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program

TUITION: $9,100 (paid in installments of $4,550 per semester)

Tuition does not include the optional locker rental or material costs. Tuition is subject to change.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Contact Lynn Tomaszewski, Provost

ltomaszewski@artstudentsleague.org

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About the Certificate in Professional Practice

The Art Students League of New York’s Certificate in Professional Practice is a one-year program designed for serious professional artists who wish to build the skills and community needed to support an individually designed, and sustainable studio practice in the arts.  

The tentpole of the program is a recurring professional practice colloquium led by the artist Tommy White, which will cover topics pertinent to running an independent studio, including:

  • Building business skills (accounting, taxes, pricing work, archiving and estate planning)
  • Creating opportunities (exhibitions, residencies, grants)
  • Preparing exhibitions
  • Marketing your work (especially on social media)
  • Finding a community
  • Conducting studio visits

In addition to the colloquium, participants will attend short-term workshops focused on specific topics related to the marketing and business of art, which are led by leaders in the field, and will also be open to artists outside the program.

This is a part-time, but intensive program that requires a minimum commitment of 7 hours per week, the majority of which will be spent on-site in the Art Students League historic studios at 215 W 57th Street.  

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CURRICULUM

Semester 1 (Fall Session):

  • Professional Practice Colloquium 1 with Tommy White—Studio Practice Skills

    Led by artist Tommy White, the colloquium will serve as the connecting thread between topics introduced in the workshops, allowing participants to begin tailoring the skills they’ve learned to their individual artists goals. Through group and individual meetings, participants will create a five-year aspirational studio plan, with actionable, achievable steps. The instructor will serve as mentor, coach and curator to help each artist make connections and begin to take the needed steps toward a sustainable practice in NYC (and beyond).

    SCHEDULE: 2 classes per week, Tuesdays from 4:50–10 PM and Wednesdays from 4:50–6:40 PM and 7:00-10:15PM.
  • Workshop—The Mechanics of Sustaining a Creative Life, Sharon Louden [September 15 & 16, 2026]

    This workshop offers timely, practical tools and pathways artists can use to sustain their creative lives. Sharon Louden will share strategies for applying studio-based creativity to daily life, building sustainable practices, and navigating the realities of an artist’s career. Drawing from her Living and Sustaining a Creative Life book series and more than a decade of conversations with thousands of artists, Louden will share insights gathered from over 200 public events across the U.S. and abroad. Her research also includes ongoing dialogue with gallery owners, museum professionals, critics, curators, and others across the art world. The workshop will include ample time for questions and discussion throughout, allowing participants to engage directly with the material and connect it to their own creative lives.

    SCHEDULE: 2 day workshop takes place on September 15 & 16, 2026, for approximately 2 hours each day.
  • Symposium—Professional Development Intensive [October 3, 2026]

    This day-long intensive serves as a symposium and will be open to artists outside of the program. Events throughout the day include a panel discussion of How Galleries Work, a networking lunch, a lecture by Sharon Louden on creating a sustainable creative life, and a tutorial on art law basics.

    SCHEDULE: 1 day symposium takes place on October 3, 2026, from 10–4 PM
  • Workshop— Artist Finances, Taxes, and Recordkeeping with Hannah Cole, Sunlight Taxes, ENROLLED AGENT and Founder of Sunlight Tax [October 7, 2026]

    This workshop addresses participants’ questions about pressing tax-related issues, and will be led by Hannah Cole, a tax expert, artist, and small business owner who specializes in working with self-employed people, especially creative and mission-driven ones. Topics include the basic tax equation, self-employment tax and the estimated quarterly tax system, audit concerns for the creative person, and other tax issues specifically relevant to freelancers, and solo businesses, followed by a robust Q &A.  

    SCHEDULE: 1 day workshop takes place on October 7, 2026, for approximately 3 hours
  • Workshop— Social Media, Marketing, and More with Robin Cembalest [October 27–28, 2026 & November 3–4, 2026]

    This series of four two-hour workshops will be packed with tips, advice, and strategies for putting yourself out there and building your public career. Sessions cover social media, writing about your art, promoting shows and projects, finding opportunities, and more. Participants will leave with a full toolkit that can help artists at all stages of their careers. Robin Cembalest, the former longtime editor of ARTnews, will share examples and best practices from all types of content as she provides personalized feedback and action steps for each student.      

    SCHEDULE: 4-day workshop that meets October 27–28, 2026 & November 3–4, 2026 or November 3–4, 2026 & November 10–11, 2026, for approximately 2 hours each day
  • Workshop— Finance & Estate Planning for Artists [December 8]

    This workshop will cover foundational financial and estate planning skills that artists need to know to run a sustainable small business and to plan for the future of their studio legacy. A financial expert will share some framing strategies, and an estate planning expert will outline planning strategies and resources.  

    SCHEDULE: 1 day workshop taking place on December 8, 2026, for approximately 2 hours

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Semester 2 (Spring Session):

  • Professional Practice Colloquium 2 with Tommy White: Professional Pathways  

    In this semester, participants will build upon the skills they developed in the first semester, specifically learning how to form sustainable income streams. Through group and individual meetings, workshops, and field trips, participants will create and build business plans for alternative income streams that support and complement the revenue created by your studio practice. The instructor will serve as mentor, coach and help each artist build their sustainable studio practice.

    SCHEDULE: 2 classes per week on Tuesdays and/or Wednesdays, from 4:50–6:40 PM and/or 7–10:00 PM
  • Additional Workshops for Semester 2 TBD