Free Professional Development Workshops
Professional Development Workshop series for Fiscal Year 2026:
The Northern Virginia Local Arts Agencies (NVLAA) is a collaboration between the City of Alexandria’s Office of the Arts, the Arlington Cultural Affairs Office, and ArtsFairfax to offer FREE professional development workshops and networking for artists and art workers in the Greater DC region. This collaboration included working with the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) to create professional learning opportunities more accessible and equitable for the local arts sector, NVLAA more than doubled its registration count last year with 7,740 registrants in Fiscal Year 2025 from 2,800 in Fiscal Year 2024.
Since 2022, NVLAA working with the New York Foundation for the Arts, has presented 20 workshops, most of which is held virtually through online webinars. Though all three arts agencies conduct in-person networking opportunities, virtual webinars not only enable NVLAA to engage national arts leaders, but also better accommodate artists’ unpredictable schedules, as many of the local workforce engage with arts work in addition to full-time jobs. Fiscal Year 2026, NVLAA will again partner with NYFA for several workshop program offerings. All workshops are held on a virtual meeting platform.
Workshop Series Fiscal Year 2026:
"Jobs in the Arts"
Facilitated by NYFA
October 9, 2025, 12:00-1:30 PM
Learn about best practices for applying to jobs as well as the art industry’s market trends. Presented by the NVLAA and facilitated by the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA).
Looking for a job in the arts? This session will cover best practices for putting together your application, as well as an inside perspective as to what hiring managers are looking for.
In this session, we’ll cover:
• Crafting a cover letter: including the most common mistakes, and how to avoid them
• Resume tips: industry standards and formatting
• How to “beat” the ATS: an overview of how Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), or AI screening systems, work and how to ensure your resume is seen by a real human being
• Current trends in the arts and cultural job market: insights into this particularly precarious market
To register and obtain a link for the workshop visit: https://nyfa.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/nyfa/eventRegistration.jsp?event=2905
"Storytelling: Communicating Your Impact"
Facilitated by NYFA
November 13, 2025, 12:00-1:30 PM
Learn to share the story of your organization or business to clients, funders, or grantors. Presented by the NVLAA and facilitated by the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA).
How can you tell your story as an arts professional and organization? Storytelling is a key component to communicating the value of the work you do, with applications for interviewing, advocacy, and fundraising.
In this session, we’ll cover:
• Strategies for communicating your impact as an arts professional and/or organization
• How to articulate a clear problem statement, solution statement (mission), and value proposition
• Methods for gathering data to quantify and measure key results
This workshop will feature tips for how to communicate your organization’s value, using gathered data and ways to improve final reports. To register and obtain a link for the workshop visit: https://nyfa.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/nyfa/eventRegistration.jsp?event=2910
"Public Art and Creative Placemaking: Activating Nontraditional Spaces"
Facilitated by NYFA
January 15, 2026, 12:00-1:30 PM
Listen to panelists discuss their experience presenting art in public, nontraditional spaces. Interested in public art and creative placemaking? Perhaps you could envision your work in airports, subways, parks, and/or cityscapes. This panel discussion will explore the possibilities for art in public and nontraditional spaces, drawing upon the perspective of both artists who have landed these commissions and public art managers who administer them. This online panel discussion (Free with RSVP!) will explore the possibilities for art in public and nontraditional spaces, drawing upon the perspective of both artists who have landed these commissions and public art managers who administer them.
In this session, we’ll cover:
• Types of public art opportunities
• Tips for applying to open calls and/or sharing your work for consideration
• How these commissions are structured: budget, process, and timeline
• An inside look as to how these projects come to fruition, from both the artists’ and managers’ perspectives
To register and obtain a link for the workshop visit: https://nyfa.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/nyfa/eventRegistration.jsp?event=2915
"Nailing the Application: A Guide to Artist Open Calls (Part 1: The Narrative)"
Facilitated by NYFA
February 12, 2026, 12:00-1:30 PM
Learn how to put your best foot forward in narrative, written components of applications. To be an artist is to constantly apply for things. Many creative opportunities–from residencies to exhibitions–start with an open call. How can you ensure you’re putting your best foot forward when submitting these applications?
Drawing upon the perspective of arts decision-makers who run residencies, jury exhibitions, and review project proposals, this panel discussion will focus on the written portion of applications, and cover:
• Where to find open calls for art exhibitions, residencies, and more
• How to determine if an opportunity is right for you
• What reviewers like to see in the application statement/narrative
• The difference between a residency application and exhibition proposal
• Common misconceptions about the writing, and how to avoid them
This is Part 1 of a 2-part series. Part 1 will focus on the narrative, or written components, of the application. Part 2: Work Samples will focus on the work sample components and take place on February 16. To register and obtain a link for the workshop visit: https://nyfa.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/nyfa/eventRegistration.jsp?event=2945
"Nailing the application: a guide to artist open calls (part 2: work samples)"
Facilitated by NYFA
February 26, 2026, 12:00-1:30 PM
To be an artist is to constantly apply for things. Many creative opportunities–from residencies to exhibitions–start with an open call. How can you ensure you’re putting your best foot forward when submitting these applications?
Drawing upon the perspective of arts decision-makers who run residencies, jury exhibitions, and review project proposals, this online discussion will focus on the work sample portion of applications, and cover:
• Tips for compiling and presenting your work samples
• Common errors reviewers see among portfolios, and how to avoid them
• How to approach work sample submissions as telling a story
• What “cohesive” looks like when you make lots of different things
• Insights into the behind the scenes review process
This is Part 2 of a 2-part series. Part 1: The Narrative will focus on the narrative, or written components, of the application and be held on February 12. To register and obtain a link for the workshop visit: https://nyfa.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/nyfa/eventRegistration.jsp?event=2940
"Succession Planning"
Facilitated by NVLAA
March 12, 2026, 12:00-1:30 PM
This workshop will feature local representatives from the Northern Virginia area discussing their experience creating their organization’s succession plan, as well as navigating transitions without a plan in place. Link coming soon! Questions email arts@alexandriava.gov
Photographing Your Artwork
- The Zero Budget Guide to Photographing Your Artwork (Article, The Art League)
-
Photographing Artwork: Your Essential Guide for Jury-Ready Images (Article, Café)
- The Art of the Application | Representing Your Artwork Online (Article, New York Foundation For the Arts)
- How to Photograph Your Art (Video, Royal Academy of Arts)
- Photographing Works of Art (PDF Document, University of Toledo)
- How to Photograph Your Artwork (Video, Utah Arts & Museums)