Anna Arts Council Artist Business
Academy
Anna, TX · North Texas Artists

Build a Thriving
Art Business
in North Texas

30 professional courses — from pricing your work to winning public art commissions — built specifically for Anna-area artists. Expert-guided, locally resourced, completely actionable.

30
Courses
6
Tracks
300+
Lessons
$0
Member Access
Curriculum drawn from
Texas Commission on the Arts Texans for the Arts Milan Art Institute Sotheby's Institute of Art Udemy for Business Americans for the Arts
How the Academy Works

Learn. Practice. Grow.

Each course is built for working artists — step-by-step lessons with North Texas examples, infographics, and a final quiz.

1

Choose a Track

Pick from 6 learning tracks based on where you are and where you want to go in your art career.

2

Work Chapters

Each course has 4–8 chapters with step-by-step instructions, infographics, charts, and real examples.

3

Apply Locally

Every course includes North Texas resources, Collin County links, grants, and Texas-specific guidance.

4

Pass the Quiz

Finish each course with a 10-question quiz to confirm your learning and earn your completion certificate.

30 Courses · 6 Tracks

The Complete Artist Business Academy

Every course includes step-by-step chapters, infographics, North Texas resources, and a 10-question quiz.

Course 01 · Foundation

Monetizing Your Art

Transform your creative practice into sustainable income. Every revenue stream available to visual artists today — originals, prints, licensing, teaching, commissions, and more.

8 ChaptersBeginnerQuiz
FoundationOpen Course →
Course 02 · Foundation

Opening a Business in Texas

Legally launch your art business — LLCs, DBA filings, sales tax permits, and Collin County-specific resources and contacts.

7 ChaptersBeginnerQuiz
FoundationOpen Course →
Course 03 · Foundation

Artist Statement & Portfolio

Write a compelling statement that opens gallery doors. Build a professional portfolio for grants, commissions, and exhibitions.

6 ChaptersBeginnerQuiz
FoundationOpen Course →
Course 04 · Foundation

Careers in the Arts

Explore 40+ art career paths — fine art, art therapy, UI/UX design, museum curation, art education, creative direction, and more.

5 ChaptersAll LevelsQuiz
FoundationOpen Course →
Course 05 · Foundation

Choosing Products & Services

Match your skills to profitable offerings. Learn what North Texas buyers want and how to build the right product mix for your market.

6 ChaptersBeginnerQuiz
FoundationOpen Course →
Course 06 · Business

Pricing Goods & Services

Pricing formulas for originals, prints, commissions, and services. Stop undercharging and start earning what your work is worth.

7 ChaptersIntermediateQuiz
Course 07 · Business

SMART Goals for Artists

Set Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound goals that move your art business forward every single week.

5 ChaptersAll LevelsQuiz
Course 08 · Business

Tracking Progress & Sales

Dashboards, spreadsheets, and habits to track inventory, revenue, and key metrics. Know your numbers, grow your business.

6 ChaptersIntermediateQuiz
Course 09 · Business

Building Business Credit

Establish and grow business credit as an artist — EIN, business bank accounts, vendor credit lines, and creative entrepreneur funding.

7 ChaptersIntermediateQuiz
Course 10 · Business

Customer Communication

Email scripts, inquiry templates, contract language, and communication strategies that build trust and close sales professionally.

6 ChaptersAll LevelsQuiz
Course 11 · Business

Maintaining Customer Loyalty

Turn one-time buyers into lifelong collectors. Loyalty programs, follow-up systems, and VIP collector strategies for artists.

5 ChaptersAll LevelsQuiz
Course 12 · Business

Daily, Weekly & Monthly Planning

The artist's complete planning system — daily agendas, weekly checklists, and monthly to-do's that balance creativity and business growth.

4 ChaptersAll LevelsQuiz
Course 13 · Marketing

Marketing Your Art Business

Brand story, channels, content calendar, email list, and North Texas market positioning — your complete marketing strategy.

8 ChaptersIntermediateQuiz
Course 14 · Marketing

Creating Online Engagement

Build genuine community around your work. Engagement strategies, live events, and conversation starters that convert followers to buyers.

6 ChaptersAll LevelsQuiz
Course 15 · Marketing

Social Media Posts with Examples

30 post templates, caption formulas, hashtag strategies, and before/after examples for Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and TikTok.

7 ChaptersBeginnerQuiz
Course 16 · Marketing

Trends: How to Find & Use Them

Read the market before it moves. Google Trends, Pinterest, Etsy trend reports, and North Texas collector preferences decoded.

5 ChaptersIntermediateQuiz
Course 17 · Marketing

Collaborating with Other Artists

Joint shows, collab products, referral networks, and community partnerships right here in Collin County and North Texas.

5 ChaptersAll LevelsQuiz
Course 18 · Digital

E-Commerce for Artists

Etsy, Shopify, Big Cartel, and your own site compared. Full setup walkthroughs, product photography tips, and SEO basics.

8 ChaptersIntermediateQuiz
Course 19 · Digital

Online Classes Artists Can Sell

Create and sell workshops, tutorials, and courses online. Platforms, pricing, course structure, and your first launch plan.

7 ChaptersIntermediateQuiz
Course 20 · Digital

AI Innovation in Arts Business

How AI is transforming art businesses — admin automation, marketing copy, product mockups, pricing tools, and creative ideation.

7 ChaptersAll LevelsQuiz
Course 21 · Digital

Platforms Every Artist Needs

The non-negotiable digital toolkit — why you need each platform, how to set it up, and how to connect them into a system.

6 ChaptersBeginnerQuiz
Course 22 · Digital

Creating Tutorial Videos

Film, edit, and publish compelling process videos on a budget. Equipment, lighting, editing basics, and publishing for maximum reach.

7 ChaptersIntermediateQuiz
Course 23 · Craft

What Artists Sell: 100+ Products

Originals, prints, digital downloads, merchandise, licensing, and services — with profit margin analysis for each product category.

6 ChaptersAll LevelsQuiz
Course 24 · Craft

Writing Art Programs

Design workshops, residencies, and education programs. Curriculum planning, participant engagement, funding, and program management.

7 ChaptersAdvancedQuiz
Course 25 · Craft

Photography for Artists

Document your work professionally on any budget. Lighting setups, color accuracy, editing basics, and staging for online sales.

6 ChaptersBeginnerQuiz
Course 26 · Opportunity

Grants for Individual Artists

Find and win funding — Texas Commission on the Arts grants, NEA, local foundations, and Collin County arts funding sources.

7 ChaptersAll LevelsQuiz
OpportunityOpen Course →
Course 27 · Opportunity

Public Art: Win Commissions

The complete guide — RFQ/RFP responses, proposals, Calls for Entry, and City of Anna public art programs with real examples.

8 ChaptersIntermediateQuiz
OpportunityOpen Course →
Course 28 · Opportunity

Locating Artist Opportunities

Art fairs, residencies, open calls, fellowships, and competitions — where to find them and how to evaluate which are worth pursuing.

6 ChaptersAll LevelsQuiz
OpportunityOpen Course →
Course 29 · Opportunity

Working With Galleries & Venues

Gallery representation, consignment agreements, exhibition proposals, and pop-up venues. North Texas gallery directory included.

6 ChaptersIntermediateQuiz
OpportunityOpen Course →
Course 30 · Opportunity

Your 12-Month Art Business Launch Plan

Pull everything together — your complete 12-month action plan with goals, milestones, content calendar, and financial targets.

8 ChaptersAll LevelsQuiz
OpportunityOpen Course →
Structured Learning

Recommended Learning Paths

Not sure where to start? Follow a curated path based on where you are in your journey.

Just Starting Out

For artists turning their passion into income for the first time.

  • Course 01: Monetizing Your Art
  • Course 02: Opening a Business in Texas
  • Course 05: Choosing Products & Services
  • Course 06: Pricing Goods & Services
  • Course 21: Platforms Every Artist Needs
  • Course 18: E-Commerce for Artists

Growing Your Presence

Already selling? Level up your marketing and community reach.

  • Course 13: Marketing Your Art Business
  • Course 14: Creating Online Engagement
  • Course 15: Social Media Posts with Examples
  • Course 16: Trends: How to Find & Use Them
  • Course 22: Creating Tutorial Videos
  • Course 19: Online Classes Artists Can Sell

Serious Business Builder

Ready to operate professionally and pursue major opportunities.

  • Course 07: SMART Goals for Artists
  • Course 08: Tracking Progress & Sales
  • Course 09: Building Business Credit
  • Course 26: Grants for Individual Artists
  • Course 27: Public Art Commissions
  • Course 30: 12-Month Launch Plan
North Texas Resources

Local Resources in Every Course

Real Texas and Collin County resources — not generic advice — woven into every lesson.

🏛️

Texas Commission on the Arts

Grants, programs, and artist support from the official Texas state arts agency. Linked in Courses 26, 27, and 28.

arts.texas.gov →
🤝

Texans for the Arts

Advocacy, networking, and legislative updates for Texas artists. Referenced throughout the Business and Opportunity tracks.

texansforthearts.com →
📋

TX Secretary of State

Business registration, DBA filings, and LLC formation guides. Complete walkthrough in Course 02.

sos.texas.gov →
🎨

Call for Entry (CaFÉ)

The largest public art call database in the country. Learn to use it in Course 27: Public Art Commissions.

callforentry.org →

Ready to Build Your Art Business?

Start with Course 01 — completely free for Anna Arts Council members. No login required.

Begin Course 1: Monetizing Your Art →