2025 Arts Entrepreneurship Foundry Schedule

October 08, 2025
October 18 - Campus Commons
Value Creation in Entrepreneurship
10:00-10:50 AM, Rehearsal Hall
Dr. Dalong Ma
Entrepreneurship is about transforming creativity into meaningful products, services,
and experiences that generate economic, social, and cultural value. This talk will
show art students how to recognize opportunities and create impact that goes beyond
financial profit.
Organizing for Entrepreneurship
11:00-11:50 PM, Rehearsal Hall
Dr. Dalong Ma
Great ideas need structure to grow—organization helps artists turn inspiration into
entrepreneurial outcomes. This session explores how to manage resources, build teams,
and design processes while maintaining creative freedom.
Lunch & Resume/Portfolio Review with PVA Faculty
12:00-12:30 Rehearsal Hall
Job Search and Interview Process with PVA Faculty Panel
12:30-1:00 Rehearsal Hall
Demands for the Visual Industry
1:00-1:50 PM, Room 2200
Dr. Anna Ursyn
This presentation summarizes what major companies, such as Autodesk, SONY, and Disney,
expect from their prospective employers. Technological progress brings new expectations,
aligning and going beyond technical skills. Let's find out why.
Freelance Performing
1:00-1:50, Rehearsal Hall
Dr. Tim Feerst
This presentation explores the ins and outs of a successful freelance career in the
arts!
Organization and Self-Management
1:00-1:50, Room 2201
Dr. Krissie Weimer
In this session I share a variety of practical organizational and self-management
strategies for students, and ways to incorporate and practice them consistently to
help reduce stress, build healthy habits, and contribute to overall wellness.
Networking Event and Coffee
2:00-2:50 PM, Rehearsal Hall
Dr. Rand Harmon
Good networking leads to employment, introductions, recommendations . . . in short,
opportunities for the artist-entrepreneur to book the next big gig! This workshop
will introduce and practice simple techniques to “break the ice”, up your social game,
and expand your network.
Building Arts Careers through Community and Culture
3:00-3:25 PM, Rehearsal Hall
Dr. Javier Vinasco
“Building Arts Careers through Community and Culture” explores how artists can design
sustainable careers by creating culturally relevant, community-oriented projects that
expand traditional definitions of success in the arts.
Creating and Maintaining a Private Teaching Studio
3:30-3:55 PM, Rehearsal Hall
Dr. Jason Olson
An in-depth look at how to establish a successful teaching studio and build a career
from music lessons. This presentation will cover the “why,” “where,” and “how” as
it relates to getting started with your private lesson business and strategies for
making it sustainable over the long term. Additional topics will also include a brief
overview of small business structures, as well as tax and insurance considerations.