Professional Learning Opportunities

ArtsMarket 2025 PD Sessions

November 3, 2025 | 1:00 PM | Carolina Theatre Connie Moses Ballroom, Floor 2

We invite all of our ArtsMarket mentors and mentees to meet ahead of our New Colleague information session. This is your opportunity to meet in-person and connect before all of the event activities begin!

Presented By: NCPC/NCAC/NAPAMA

November 3, 2025 | 1:30 PM | Carolina Theatre Connie Moses Ballroom, Floor 2

We invite new presenters and all first time ArtsMarket attendees to join representatives from the NC Arts Council, South Arts, NAPAMA, and NCPC for an informational session where you will learn how to best navigate ArtsMarket and gain tips and tools that will enhance your conference experience.

Please Note: Attendance is optional. Please sign up to attend this session when you register for the conference.

Presented By: NCPC/NCAC/NAPAMA

Professional Development Break Out Session One @ 2:30 PM

Session 1A | Making a Living Making Art: From Surviving to Thriving

November 3, 2025 | 2:30 PM | Carolina Theatre Connie Moses Ballroom, Floor 2

Clay and Jeremy share their personal journey of turning music from a fun side hustle into full-time careers, supporting their families as thriving artists and entrepreneurs. This talk blends story, humor, hard-won lessons, and practical advice for creatives who want to pursue their art professionally.

Presented by: Jeremy Davis & Clay Johnson of The Fabulous Equinox Orchestra

Session 1B | Access & Innovation: Using Technology to Create Inclusive Performance Spaces—Onstage and Online

November 3, 2025 | 2:30 PM | Carolina Theatre Donor Lounge, Floor 3

Join a panel of accessibility and arts professionals for a dynamic conversation on how technology can be used to create more inclusive performance spaces. This session will explore practical strategies and tools that enhance access for both audiences and artists, covering topics such as assistive listening systems, captioning, audio description, accessible documents and newsletters, inclusive apps, and accessible social media practices. Whether you're just beginning to explore accessibility or looking to deepen your understanding, this discussion offers valuable insights at the intersection of technology, access, and the performing arts.

Presented By: Eileen Bagnall, Arts Access North Carolina

Professional Development Break Out Session Two @ 3:45 PM

November 3, 2025 | 3:45 PM | Carolina Theatre Cinema One

Mastering the Pivot: Maintaining Success and Integrity

As cultural priorities shift and access to funding becomes more complex—particularly for those whose work centers equity, identity, and activism—artists, curators, and presenters are faced with difficult choices. This panel offers a space for honest dialogue and shared strategy. We’ll explore how creatives are not only responding to these challenges but also reshaping the landscape through innovation, collaboration, and community-driven approaches. From alternative funding models to creative advocacy, this conversation will highlight practical solutions and empowering examples of how to sustain impactful, values-driven work—without compromise.

Presented By: Rissi Palmer, artist and advocate.

November 3, 2025 | 5:00 PM | The Durham Armory

Walk a Mile

The power of performing arts is its ability to build empathy and understanding between diverse communities. Artists have the power to help people see each other despite our differences, respect and accept that we are all unique, and appreciate that the differences are what make us stronger and more resilient. As fierce advocates of performing arts, this is our greatest joy and our deepest responsibility.

Presented By: Donna Washington, internationally known master storyteller, artist-educator, and author

Thank You To Our Event Sponsors!

This project was funded in part by a grant from the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, and South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.