Transforming Art Careers: A Workshop Series with Lily Hope & Ursala Hudson

SEPTEMBER 29 – OCTOBER 4

Cost & Investment

Workshops are designed to be affordable while offering high-level, practical tools from full-time, internationally recognized artists.

  • Individual sessions
    • $30 for 60-minute midday workshops
    • $40 for 90-minute evening workshops
  • Full series (all 7 weekday sessions)
    • $200 flat rate
       (save $50 compared to $250 if booked individually)
  • Optional Add-On
    • Awakening Creative Juices Photo Session
      • $130 when paired with the series
      • $150 a la carte

Scholarships

Both tribally-enrolled and non-Indigenous creatives qualify for a limited number of available scholarships, made possible through Sealaska Heritage Institute, Goldbelt Heritage, and private funding. Please contact us to complete the simple scholarship application process and receive the registration discount (100% of weekday series fee, a $200 value). Scholarship recipients receive access to the discounted Saturday photo session add-on registration fee of $130. If you previously registered and are interested in receiving a reimbursement scholarship, please reach out to review options.
Apply for a scholarship by texting or calling Ursala at 970-946-6204 or filling out a contact form here stating that you’re interested in receiving a scholarship.

Register for full Workshop Series Week

All seven weekday sessions + Monday lunch hour gathering.
Participants in the area and registered for the full week are invited to bring a lunch or snack and hang out during our Monday lunch hour to kick off the week to a great start with casual conversation and connection! Monday, September 29 • 12:00-1:00PM AKDT • Lily Hope Weaver Studio, 221 Seward St., downtown Juneau, Alaska.

note: this does not include the Saturday photo session

Monday, September 29 • 5:30-7:00PM

EVENING SESSION: Visioning Your Long-Term Art Career

Aligning passion, practice, and sustainability

Gain clarity on the type of artistic practice that best supports your unique passions, personality, and long-term goals. Through case studies and guided exercises, you’ll explore how to define your audience, identify the platforms and opportunities that serve you, and envision an art career that is both sustainable and fulfilling. This session offers practical tools for mapping your artistic trajectory while keeping your values, well-being, and creativity at the center.

Tuesday, September 30 • 5:30-7:00PM

EVENING SESSION: Sustaining Spiritual and Physical Health for Creatives

Holistic practices for balance, longevity, and joy

Take time to reflect on the practices that nourish your body, mind, and spirit. In this session, you’ll rediscover what brings you joy and learn how to weave those practices into your creative life. Together we’ll explore holistic approaches—movement, rest, nutrition, ritual, and mindfulness—that support both artistic growth and physical longevity. Practical tools for planning, tracking, and accountability will also be shared, helping you align your well-being with the demands of your creative career. Open to all creatives, not just artists.

Wednesday, October 1 • 12:00-1:00PM

LUNCH SESSION: Public Speaking & Presenting Your Artistic Practice

Sharing your story with clarity and confidence

Learn how to craft engaging artist talks and presentations that resonate with audiences. This session will guide you through identifying key talking points, designing an effective slideshow, and understanding what audiences want to hear about your process and background. Together we’ll discuss and critique different presentation styles with real-world examples, and explore how to approach intimidating elements such as Q&As, unrehearsed moments, and networking engagements. You’ll leave with greater clarity and confidence in speaking publicly about your art.

Wednesday, October 1 • 5:30-7:00PM

EVENING SESSION: Curating a Cohesive Body of Work & Annual Planning

Strategic tools for focus, balance, and growth

Discover how to shape a cohesive body of work that reflects your practice and supports your long-term career goals. This session explores planning methods for managing major projects while balancing opportunities such as grants, residencies, gallery representation, and continuing education. Through practical exercises and frameworks, you’ll learn how to create focus in your creative output and structure your year for both sustainability and growth.

Thursday, October 2 • 12:00-1:00PM

LUNCH SESSION: Social Media Marketing

Authentic strategies to grow your creative presence

Glow up your creative confidence and career with cutting-edge tips and tricks for Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. In this hands-on session, you’ll learn how to clarify your offerings, shake off fear around visibility, and create content that feels authentic to your voice and practice. We’ll cover efficient editing techniques, platform-specific strategies, and ways to streamline your posting so that marketing supports your creativity instead of draining it. You’ll leave with a planned month of content designed to authentically connect with your audience and grow your artistic reach.

Thursday, October 2 • 5:30-7:00PM

EVENING SESSION: Branding, Packaging & Market Displays for Retail and Markets

Presenting your work with clarity and impact

Learn how to brand and present your work in ways that feel authentic to you while drawing your audience in. This session covers practical strategies for packaging, signage, and marketing materials, along with tips for styling both retail and in-person market displays. We’ll also touch on how to create replicable merchandise and prepare digital files for multiple formats. From promotional photos to booth layout, you’ll gain strategies to present your work with confidence, consistency, and impact.

Friday, October 3 • 12:00-1:00PM

LUNCH SESSION: Crafting Compelling Grant Applications

Writing with clarity, confidence, and impact

The best grant applications are clear, concise, and memorable. In this workshop, you’ll learn strategies for writing narratives that help reviewers connect with your work and remember your application long after reading. We’ll explore how to identify what funders are really asking for, how to “speak their language” while staying true to your voice, and how to structure responses for maximum clarity. With practical tips and examples, you’ll leave more confident in your ability to secure funding for your projects.

Saturday, October 4 • 6:00-9:00PM

Awakening Creative Juices: A Playful Photo Session
add-on or stand-alone

Ignite confidence. Embrace sensuality. Create in community.

Step into a three-hour playful photo experience designed to spark your creative energy, sensuality, and connection. With guidance by photographer Yeeskanaalx Tláa Rochelle Smallwood, this session offers a safe, celebratory space where womxn and queer men can embody their divine creative force through collaboration, laughter, and discovery.

You’ll enjoy 15 minutes of solo time in front of the lens, plus group shots that capture the shared joy of the moment. Think gorgeous lighting, styling inspiration, libations, modeling fundamentals, and themed cheerleaders to uplift your presence. It’s about embodiment, creative presence, and joyful co-creation.

* note: location will be announced one week prior to the shoot. Please expect to drive ~20 miles! Additionally, bring a coat and slip-on shoes — as we’ll likely spend a good portion of the evening out in the cool October night.

*  These sessions are most impactful in community. To keep the learning environment engaging and interactive, workshops will run once at least 5 participants are registered.

Access Options

All sessions will be held in-person at Aan Hít, 219 South Franklin Street, downtown Juneau, Alaska (originally advertised to be hosted at Lily Hope’s weaving studio, but registrations exceeded capacity). Participants may also join live virtually, and all workshops will be recorded and shared with registered participants so you can revisit the material at your own pace.