Events

CREATING YOUR PORTFOLIO & DEMO REEL

January 14, 2025 / 20 Washington Place Auditorium / 7:00 PM EST

Portfolios and demo reels are influential in gaining an internship, job, exhibition, or freelance work. Learn the ideal methods to curate and present your work to make a bold first impression and to stand out against the competition. Have you ever wondered what employers, potential clients, or fine art organizations want to see? We'll share insights from renowned creatives and recruiters who are seeking RISD talent. Whether you're just starting out or looking for fresh ideas to display your work online or in-person, you will come away from this program with a clear strategy and inspiration.

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HOW TO WRITE AWESOME CONTRACTS - ART OF BUSINESS SERIES

January 15, 2025 / Live Webinar / 7:00 PM EST

Contracts are probably the least fun part of running a business but they’re also the most important. In this presentation by attorney Greg Kanaan, you’ll get a crash course in everything you need to know about contract law, including why having written agreements is critical for every transaction, what makes a contract legally valid versus what makes it unenforceable, when it’s okay to stop performing on a contract, and what information needs to be contained in every contract you use.

Greg Kanaan, ’02 FAV, is the Founder and Managing Attorney of The Legal Artist, a Connecticut-based law firm that focuses on intellectual property, business law, and contract issues for artists, filmmakers, and creative entrepreneurs. Greg is an experienced intellectual property and entertainment attorney and has been representing creative professionals for over twelve years. Prior to becoming an attorney, Greg was a television producer, working on documentary series for Discovery Channel, Court TV, TLC, and A&E. On top of providing a wide range of legal services, Greg regularly lectures at colleges, non-profit art organizations, and professional design associations on topics such as contract formation, negotiation, fair use, trademark, and AI. He currently teaches a law and governance course at the Pratt Institute in New York City. Greg is licensed to practice law in Connecticut and New York.

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RESUME CRITIQUE WORKSHOP

January 23, 2025 / 20 Washington Place Auditorium / 7:00 PM EST

Now is the time to work on your resume and prepare for upcoming internship and job opportunities. We'll first cover the most important elements to wow that prospective employer, organization or client. Then, we'll break into smaller groups so you can get immediate feedback on your resume while learning from your peers about the resumes they've been using for opportunities. You'll also gain design savvy advice on your resume layout and content. Even if you have a resume that's worked before, fine-tune it now so it's even more effective.

Be sure to bring multiple printed copies of your resume for review. You can have your laptop with you too, but printouts can be easier to review.

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GRANTS & RESIDENCIES INFO SESSION

January 28, 2025 / 20 Washington Place Auditorium / 7:00 PM EST

Learn about all the steps you need to consider as you pursue grant and residency applications. We will explore opportunities, review search directories, and discuss the key components of applications. Resources and tips will be provided to help you begin your exploration, and you will gain valuable insights and confidence that will motivate you to apply to opportunities. You'll also understand the role of essays, budgets, timelines, references, and more in the process. Come for the information; stay to chat, ask questions, and learn from others’ questions. 

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TAXES FOR ARTISTS & CREATIVE FREELANCERS -  ART OF BUSINESS SERIES

January 29, 2025 / Live Webinar / 7:00 PM EST

What can I deduct? Do I bring receipts to my accountant? How do I deduct my home studio? Why do freelancers have to pay taxes quarterly, and how do I do that? Hannah Cole will discuss the basic tax equation, self employment tax and the estimated quarterly tax system, audit concerns for the creative person, and other tax issues relevant to artists, designers and makers.

Hannah Cole is a tax expert who specializes in working with creative businesses and mission-driven solopreneurs. A long-time working artist with a high-level exhibition history, the financial challenges of freelancers and small creative businesses are both relevant and personal to Hannah. Her specialty is communicating complex tax issues in a clear, creative-centered, empowering way. She founded her company, Sunlight Tax, with a mission to serve visionary people, just like you, who are self-employed, with relevant tax and financial education, so you can bring your unique vision to the world. She’s helped tens of thousands of creative and mission-driven self-employed people skill up with accessible tax and money education through professional speaking engagements from Florida to Alaska, and on the Sunlight podcast.

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