Strive to Thrive

October 28, 2026

ABOUT US

THRIVING RESOURCES

TAKE THE SURVEY

Artists Thrive Summit

March 30-31 2027

In-Person Session Submissions

San Antonio, TX Sessions

Local Theme

Community Arts Education

Submission Deadline

November 1, 2026

Learn More

Lowell, MA Sessions

Local Theme

Creative Voices, Collective Power

Submission Deadline

November 15, 2026

Learn More

I Work with Artists:

Artist Compensation Framework

Pay is where an organization’s values show up in plain numbers. Some of us still lean on exposure as payment, while others pay when the budget allows without counting the real hours or what it costs to live. Many pay fairly most of the time but have nothing written down to make sure it happens every time. The goal is a fee structure built together with artists, grounded in living wages and the full cost of their labor, applied to every project, and shared openly so the whole field rises with it. Think about the last few artists you worked with. Did your pay reflect the true value of their time, and could you explain how you arrived at that number?

ENGAGE WITH THE SURVEY

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Artist Compensation Framework

If you are SILENCED....

Consider this guide, Artist Payment Guidelines – For Event Organizers

If you are STRUGGLING...

Check out this report, Financial Unsustainability for Our Workers and Organizations

If you are SURVIVING...

Consider this certification, W.A.G.E. Certification + Fee Schedule

ARTISTS THRIVE COMMUNITY

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

MARY CARMEN SESSIONS

San Antonio, TX

Tell us about yourself.

My work is rooted in my Mexican heritage, which inspires the symbolism, storytelling, and emotional depth present in each piece. I approach art as both a personal expression and a communal language, a way to connect people through shared experiences and cultural narratives.

As an art alchemist, I experiment with techniques, materials, and processes to push beyond traditional boundaries. My style is versatile, moving between vivid, expressive color palettes and restrained monochromatic compositions, using color intentionally to create mood, meaning, and visual impact.

Community engagement is central to my practice. Recent experiences, including my participation as a featured artist in Cow Parade and my collaboration with CHRISTUS Children’s Hospital, have reinforced my belief in the healing and unifying power of art. Teaching and working directly with the public allows me to share my culture while creating meaningful connections.

My goal is to make art accessible and approachable, encouraging people to see it not just as decoration, but as an essential part of life. Through my work, I strive to create opportunities for connection, reflection, and community impact.

I thrive when I...

Create.

What is helping you move toward thriving in your creative life right now?

Making more connections, finding more opportunities to show my work in public, stepping out of my comfort zone.

Where can we find your work?

Website: https://marycarmensessions.my.canva.site/

Instagram: @marycarmenartalchemist

WANT TO BE FEATURED IN OUR NEWSLETTER LIKE THIS ARTIST?

We are spotlighting artists and arts administrators making meaningful work happen. If you would like to share your story, your impact, or what you are building next, we would love to feature you.

ARTISTS SUBMISSION FORM

ARTS ADMINISTRATORS SUBMISSION FORM

MONTHLY ZOOM MEET-UP

3rd Tuesday of each month 3:00-4:00pm ET

A mix of professional development and sharing/networking

Next Meet-up

November 17th 3:00-4:00pm ET

Topic

Grounding & Centering: Holding Steady, Finding Ease

With the holidays and year-end demands coming up, we’re heading into a busy and emotionally complicated season. Joy and strain, connection and loneliness, a wish to slow down while our calendars speed up: many of us are carrying a lot, and our bodies tend to hold more than we realize. In this session, we’ll explore a few practices - such as breathwork, vocal toning and gentle movement - to help us meet stress with compassion, make room for mixed emotions and give the body a few minutes of rest (and have a little fun!). No experience necessary, all practices are adaptable.

Presenter: Laura Smith

Laura Smith is a mindfulness meditation teacher and mentor who helps people find greater steadiness and self-awareness in the midst of life, both its wonders and its challenges. With 30 years of professional experience in the arts (and as a creative herself), she understands purpose-driven work and the particular challenges facing artists and arts administrators. Through Laura Smith | Wellbeing, she offers practices that deepen connection with the body and invite compassionate self-inquiry, helping people find more sustainable ways of moving through and serving the world.

SELF-CARE CORNER

Read: Denver Art Museum - Creative Rituals for Self Care

The holiday season is just getting started, and with it comes the joy, the rush, and sometimes the overwhelm. Before the calendar fills up, this piece offers a gentler way to move through the months ahead, using creative ritual to stay grounded and listen to what you really need. Read on for a simple practice you can start tonight.

SELECT OPPORTUNITIES

A few featured grants, residencies, creative job postings, and more.

Opportunity	Eligibility	Deadline	Amount
NYC: Funding for Artists	Artists and arts organizations based in the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens	Bronx: 10/30/26 Manhattan: 11/12/26 Queens: 11/17/26	Up to $10,000
Michigan Central Art x Newlab Creative Residency	Detroit, MI, artists, creatives, and designers working at the intersection of art, technology, health, and society	10/30/2026	$30,000
ArtFields Festival: 2027 Visual Arts Competition	Artists must reside in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, or West Virginia for at least 6 months and be over 18 years of age.	11/1/26	Grand Prize – $50,000 Second Place- $25,000 Application Fee: $25
VIA’s Artistic Production Grants	Newly commissioned works of visual art exhibited beyond museum walls, in the public realm, or in non-traditional exhibition environments, individual artists, nonprofit organizations, and institutions	LOI: 11/5/26	$25,000 - $100,000
Asian Cultural Council	Artists, scholars, arts professionals, and organizations, strictly limited to supporting activities related to cultural exchange and immersive experiences	11/10/26	$35,000 - $50,000
WSW: Artist’s Book Residency Grant	8-10-week residency for artists to produce a limited edition book work	11/15/26	a stipend of $350/week, up to $1000 for materials, up to $250 for travel within the Continental US
Nebraska Arts Council - Individual Artist Fellowship	Literary artists in Nebraska	11/16/26	up to $5,000
The Hopper Prize	Artists in all mediums (may lean toward visual arts)	11/17/26	$4,500 first place Application fee: $40
South Arts - Arts Journalism Grants	Primary residence or organizational headquarters in a South Arts member state: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, or Tennessee	11/20/26	Up to $10,000
Foundation for Contemporary Arts - Emergency Grants	Individual artists, 8-10 weeks (no earlier than 10 weeks) before their project’s public presentation date	Rolling	$500 - $3,000
Money for Women	Writers in the early and middle stages of their artistic development	Rolling	$500 - $2000
Creativity Grants for Projects	Artists and arts organizations based on Maryland	Rolling	$4,000