This is the fourth grant awarded by the foundation in support of the course. Professional Practices for Artists  was originally funded in 2002 as part of the Foundation’s Marketplace Empowerment for Artists program, which seeks to empower artists with the tools to help them to succeed in their field.

Professional Practices for Artsists provides a practical overview of the working lives of exhibiting artists and prepares students for life as a working artist. It teaches students how to navigate the landscape of the visual arts world and arms them with presentation and communication skills. Students also hear from guest speakers such as curators, critics, gallerists, visiting artists, entrepreneurs, and other arts professionals about their experiences.

Students who have taken the course report success in achieving gallery exhibitions, awards and grants, teaching positions, curatorial opportunities, and expanding networks, along with a confident understanding of how to craft effective resumes, letters, and artists statements.

Being a successful visual artist requires identifying goals, marketing skills, social navigation, political acumen, business savvy, and strategic approaches. The Professional Practices course provides a practical overview of the working lives of exhibiting artists, exploring the visual art ecosystem that supports and platforms emerging artists. Students will be exposed to the landscape of the visual arts, navigating non-profit art centers and commercial galleries; examining the roles of curators, critics, and art dealers; accessing alternative venues and institutional frameworks; application to foundations and residencies; and the reiterating importance of the individual artist at the center of this ecosystem. Guest speakers include leading curators, critics, gallerists and exhibiting artists of international renown.

One student said, "This class was especially powerful in clearing away the mysteries of the art world, making a clearer path on which to proceed." Another felt that "just being exposed to multiple artists who have been ‘successful’ was the most advantageous piece of the class experience."