The Huntington Arts Council’s 4th year of our FREE Professional Development program continues to focus on topics relative to our arts community, as well as providing accessible hybrid (in person/online/by request) formats. If you are interested in getting a copy of the sessions from any of the 3 last years please email, Jade Scott at info@huntingtonarts.org.
Huntington Arts Council’s Professional Development series is currently funded with support of the Office of the Governor and NYS Legislature, New York State Council on the Arts @nyscouncilonthearts.
“I’ve been an active part of the Long Island Arts Community for just over 5 years at the point of writing this testimonial. In that time, I have attended many professional development classes and practicums across Long Island. I am so, so grateful that Huntington Arts Council has the opportunity to provide these services to the Long Island Arts Community because they are the most in-depth professional development series that I have been able to find… and continue to return to. These courses have given me the tools to plan my career and the confidence to tackle it.” – C. Artist Attendee
UPCOMING WORKSHOPS
March 25, 2026 5:30-7:00PM
From Art to Product: Creative Practice, Commercial Pathways, and Licensing
Hybrid
Presented by Raquel Serebrenik.
Registration is required.
Choose between in person, online, or receive a recording options. Click here.
Join us in person at our Main Street Gallery or on zoom for this PD session, From Art to Product: Creative Practice, Commercial Pathways, and Licensing presented by Raquel Serebrenik.
Raquel Serebrenik is the co-founder and CEO of 4AP. Born in Bogota, Colombia, Raquel is an expert in the arts and culture industry, where she has specialized in development programs with a focus on building the legacy of cultural brands and artist estates. Prior to co-founding 4AP Raquel was the managing director of YJP New York, and the director of the Museum of Modern Art of Bogota’s commercial and membership programs. She has collaborated with cultural organizations to create unique products and development strategies with institutions and organizations such as the Guggenheim Museum, the Independent Art Fair, and the National Gallery of Art.
Raquel is a graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design, holding degrees in Art History, Design for Sustainability, and Business Design & Arts Leadership with certificates in digital marketing. She is a member of the Urbanist Board at the Municipal Arts Society of New York, and a member of the Young Patrons at MOMA. She lives in NYC.
January 21, 2026, 5:30-7:00PM
Hybrid
“Who Am I To You? Identifying Your Brand to Effectively Reach Your Goals + Build an Audience ”
Presented by Suzanne Fattorini, LMSW
Registration is required.
Choose between in person, online, or receive a recording options. Click here.
Attendees will learn how to get clear on their brand identity and create consistent messaging to effectively grow their audience, raise funding, and reach their career goals with ease.
Suz is a licensed therapist and founder of The Rock/Star Advocate, guiding creative professionals to find career success through a growth mindset. With over 20 years of industry experience, her passion is helping creative professionals find a sustainable work/life balance through a better understanding of their own productivity rhythms and career goals. You can learn more about her work on her podcast, Redefine the Hustle, available on all podcasts.
November 5, 2025, 5:30-7:00PM
VIRTUAL ONLY
“Budgeting Essentials for Non-Profits and the Arts”
Presented by Melissa Bertoncini of In The Black Management
Registration is required.
This session will be virtual only or receive a recording. Click here.
Join Melissa Bertoncini of In The Black MGMT for a discussion on budgeting for nonprofits, where she will cover the basics of accounting, how to build a budget and how to apply that to the non-profit world. She will review the necessary mechanics to stay in compliance, the common pitfalls of nonprofits and the financial aspects of grant application, concluding with a Q&A session.
Melissa Bertoncini is a finance veteran with over two decades of experience. She has spent her career working with various creative businesses including many artists of different disciplines and art galleries. She earned a Bachelors of Arts in Economics at SUNY Stony Brook (Stony Brook, NY) and Sussex University (Brighton, England). She has taken her educational foundation and combined it with her experience to form methods tailor made to help small businesses hone in on their good (and bad) habits in turn, making their businesses more profitable.
November 12, 2025, 5:30-7:00PM
Hybrid
“Intro to Grant Writing”
Presented by Leila Noor
Registration is required.
Choose between in person, online or receive a recording options. Click here.
Learn the essentials of grant writing in this introductory workshop. We’ll cover what grants are, who provides them, where to find opportunities, how to write a proposal, and which documents are commonly required. Whether you’re new to grant writing or looking to strengthen your skills, this session will provide a clear foundation to get started.
Leila Noor graduated from NYU School of Law in 2000 and practiced law for seven years before transitioning to grant writing. For the past 15 years, she has worked as a grant writer and development professional, beginning with the Port Washington Parent Resource Center’s Outreach Program, which prepares children from low-income families for kindergarten. She also serves as Director of Development for the Port Washington Library Foundation and works with other nonprofits on programs ranging from senior lunch services to community music performances.
November 19, 2025, 5:30-7:00PM
VIRTUAL ONLY
“Crafting Your Artist Statement”
Presented by Robin Cembalest
Registration is required.
This session will be virtual only or receive a recording. Click here.
Every creative professional needs that foundational text that sums up who they are, what they do, and why they do it. Learn how to describe yourself and your artwork, position your practice, and explain the deeper meaning of your art in this intensive writing workshop.
Drawing on her deep expertise in contemporary art and knowledge of the art industry, Robin helps each participant to define and position their practice. Using her experience as an editor, she demystifies the writing process and helps every student to communicate more effectively.
In her presentation, Robin will share templates for artist bios and statements, as well as examples from a wide range of artists. She will answer questions and offer one-on-one feedback on each participant’s bio.
Respected journalist, influential Instagrammer, and the former longtime editor of ARTnews, Robin Cembalest trains art professionals how to communicate effectively about themselves, their work, and their projects. She teaches writing, social media, public speaking, and other essential skills across the art industry. An early art-world adapter to social media, Robin has built a specialty in career development for the digital era, helping institutions and individuals to create and implement organic content strategies.
A mentor to generations of emerging writers, Robin now helps visual artists to express themselves in her workshops at schools, residencies, and organizations. She is a faculty member of the School of Visual Arts, an instructor in the Bronx Museum’s AIM program, and a coach at Creative Capital. Widely published in the art and mainstream press, Robin is best known today as @rcembalest, handle of her popular Instagram chronicling her travels in the art world.
PAST WORKSHOPS
The Everyday Donor: Unlocking Prospecting Segments Through Behavior Analysis
Presented by Tim Sarrantonio
Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 5:30-7:00 pm
Registration is required.
PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE IN FORMAT OPTIONS .
This session will be virtual only or receive a recording. Click here.
Do you really know your donors? Not just what they give, but who they are? The latest insights from Neon One’s The Generosity Report show that generosity takes many forms, and donor behavior patterns can tell us more about identity and motivation than ever before.
In this interactive session, we’ll break down how nonprofits can use behavioral indicators – affinity, recency, frequency, and monetary value – to build prospecting segments that go beyond wealth screening and actually align with donor identity. You’ll leave with practical strategies to move beyond basic demographics and cultivate supporters based on how they already engage with you.
Whether you’re a nonprofit leader, fundraiser, or data-driven marketer, this session will challenge your assumptions and give you fresh, actionable insights to strengthen donor engagement.
Tim Sarrantonio is a Nonprofit Ecosystems Theorist studying the intersection of technology, human behavior, and organizational structures in modern giving. As chair of the Fundraising Effectiveness Project and through his work at Neon One, he has helped shape how thousands of nonprofits approach their mission. A speaker at AFPICON, NTC, and TEDx, Tim holds a Certificate in Philanthropic Psychology from the Institute for Sustainable Philanthropy. He lives in Niskayuna with his wife and three daughters, finding inspiration in the Adirondacks.
The Business of Music | Data Rules & Royalties
Presented by Rosemarie Tully, Esq.
Wednesday, March 19, 2025, 5:30-7:00 pm
Registration is required.
Choose between in person, online or receive a recording options. Click here.
Having accurate data associated with your music is essential to success in aligning royalties and distribution. After a review of music copyrights, we will discuss the appropriate affiliations for each copyright and the data required for distribution and royalty income. The presentation will be followed by a Q & A with audience members.
Rosemarie Tully is a transactional attorney focusing on matters involving music, independent film, original series production, and copyright, as well as corporate/business organization and operation. She represents authors, composers, screenwriters, producers, record labels, artists, actors, sound studios, and production companies.
Involved in bar associations and the community, Rosemarie is a past chair of the Entertainment, Arts & Sports Law Section of the New York State Bar Association and a member of its Continuing Legal Education Committee; a past Director of the Suffolk County Bar Association; a member of New York Women in Film and Television; and a speaker at industry, business and community events. She is a Co-Editor of Siegel on Entertainment Law, a NYSBA publication, and has taught as an adjunct professor of Entertainment Law at Touro Law Center (Long Island, New York). Rosemarie is based in Huntington, New York, where she is active in the arts community. Having co-produced a Short Film that garnered attention at the 2022 Tribeca Festival, Rosemarie enjoys the collaborative film making process and is currently working on a local independent film project (www.dealersmovie.com).
Pricing For Profit
Presented by Triangle Artworks
Instructors: Tiffany Coley & Cynthia Deis
Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, 5:30-7:00 pm
VIRTUAL ONLY
Registration is required. Click here.
Join this conversation with experienced artists and arts entrepreneurship educators about the basics of pricing your creative work. You’ll hear about common strategies as well as methods and tools you can use to find your own pricing. Participants will receive a link to a handout that can assist them in pricing their work as well as additional resources.
Tiffany Coley is a jeweler and silversmith with a background in tech business. With over 15 years of teaching and craft sales experience, she sells her work to galleries and stores around the US and works out of her studio in Durham, NC. Tiffany has a deep knowledge of selling crafts at both retail and wholesale as well as how to create a focused product line. Tiffany is certified in the REAL Entrepreneurship and REAL Craft courses and consults with artists about pricing, production and sales. Tiffany is on the board of Liberty Arts, in Durham, NC. Learn more about Tiffany Coley’s work here.
Instagram: @tiffanycoleyjewelry
Cynthia Deis is a Raleigh-based artist, writer and educator with experience in a variety of mediums. Her background as a production jewelry designer and retail store owner provides her with an artist’s understanding of business and entrepreneurial issues. Certified in REAL Entrepreneurship and REAL Craft courses, she also teaches and consults on email marketing and pricing with artists and craftspeople. Cynthia lives in a small house in Raleigh where the animals outnumber the people and there are more paintbrushes than tea spoons.
Learn more about Cynthia’s work at her website www.cynthiadeis.com
Crafting a Career You Love in 2025
Presented by Suzanne Fattorini, LMSW
The Rock/Star Advocate
Wednesday, January 15th, 2025
5:30 pm-7:00 pm
Registration is required.
Choose between in person, online or receive a recording options. Click here.
Join Suz from The Rock/Star Advocate as we get crystal clear on a vision for your career in 2025 and design manageable goal posts that make that vision achievable no matter what life has in store.
Suz is a licensed therapist and founder of The Rock/Star Advocate, guiding creative professionals to find career success through a growth mindset. With over 20 years of industry experience, her passion is helping creative professionals find a sustainable work/life balance through a better understanding their own productivity rhythms and career goals. You can learn more about her work on her podcast, Redefine the Hustle, available on all podcast platforms.
Instagram for Artists
Presented by Robin Cembalest
Wednesday, December 18, 2024
4:00PM-6:00PM
Registration is required.
Choose between ZOOM or receive a recording options. Click here.
This workshop is NOT available in person
Whether you’re new to Instagram or you want to update your skills, this class will teach you content strategies that produce long-term results–building visibility for you and your artwork, expanding networks, and creating relationships that will help you achieve your goals.
Using examples from a wide range of artists, Robin will share essential tools for conveying your identity and your art practice. She’ll provide tips for crafting profiles, chronicling your process, and explaining the larger meaning of your work. She’ll show you best practices for Reels, Stories, hashtags, and she’ll explain what artists really need to know about that mysterious algorithm.
Respected journalist, popular Instagrammer, and the former longtime editor of ARTnews, Robin Cembalest teaches arts professionals to communicate effectively across all editorial channels. Over 16 years at the helm of ARTnews, she shepherded the century-old magazine into the digital era, expanding its content and training generations of interns, writers, and editors. In 2014, she launched her business Robin Cembalest Editorial Strategies, helping art-world clients to design and implement mission-based content. She leads professional development workshops in writing, social media, and other essential skills at schools, residencies, museums, and professional organizations. Widely published In the art and mainstream press, Robin is best known today as @rcembalest, handle of her influential Instagram.
PLEASE NOTE THE NEW DATE
Art on the Move: Shipping and Logistics Essentials Presented by Lydia Rivera
PLEASE NOT NEW DATE
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
4:00PM-6:00PM
Registration is required.
Choose between in person, online or receive a recording options. Click here.
Whether shipping your sold or exhibiting work, locally, out of state, or overseas, protecting your work properly is worth the investment.
Bio: Lydia Rivera is an artist and exhibition professional working and living in both the NYC metro area and on Long Island, NY. After earning a BFA with a concentration in photography from Purchase College, State University of New York and an MPS from Pratt Institute in Arts and Cultural Management, she has continued to create and exhibit her own artwork in addition to assisting other artists, curators, collectors, galleries, museums and institutions with exhibition planning and collections management. Lydia has 15 years of experience in fine art shipping and logistics both domestically and internationally, site specific installations and public art events for institutions such as the Venice Biennale, The Contemporary Austin, Hudson River Museum and the New York Public Library.
Good Governance: Building an effective Board of Directors
Presented by Jamie Bogenshutz
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
4:00PM – 6:00PM
Registration is required.
Choose between in person, online or receive a recording options. Click here.
This program will explore the complicated, yet essential principles of Board governance. Discussion will include an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of Board members, as well as the ethical and fiduciary roles they assume for effective leadership in the nonprofit industry.
Bio: Jamie Bogenshutz is a licensed clinical social worker. Since 1980, Ms. Bogenshutz has served as an Executive Director within the nonprofit sector. Recently retired after 42 years, she currently serves as an executive consultant, providing nonprofit organizations on trainings related to board and staff development and strategic planning. She is a senior adjunct professor at Adelphi University, and has been affiliated with Adelphi‘s center for nonprofit leadership since its inception. Additionally, she has served on a several Board of Directors serving Long Islanders.
Storytelling for Communication
Presented by Maureen H. Starr, Assistant Director, Huntington Arts Council &
Danangelowe A.J Spencer, Artist & HAC Board Member
Wednesday, May 29, 2024
4:00PM – 6:00PM
Registration is required.
Choose between in person, online or receive a recording options. Click here.
Join Huntington Arts Council’s Assistant Director, Maureen Starr, and Board Member & Artist, AJ Spencer, for a presentation on how to use storytelling as a relatable and engaging way to communicate. The techniques discussed will apply to both individual artists and arts organizations.
Bio: Maureen H. Starr, the Assistant Director of the Huntington Arts Council, has been with the organization for 10 years. As an integral part of the Operations Team, Maureen is involved in all levels of the organization’s work engaging and serving the arts community. Whether it be HAC programming, fundraising, or events, her prior work in both profit and not for profit businesses provides her with a well-rounded perspective. Maureen’s background in marketing, communications and public relations, includes corporate positions as Global Media Director at Elizabeth Arden and VP Associate Media Director, NW Ayer Advertising. She holds a BA in Communications, IONA University, New Rochelle, NY.
Bio: Danangelowe A.J Spencer, known as D.A.J.S., is a multi-talented artist from Jamaica. His artistic talents span a range of creative mediums; film, photography, graphic design, music, and mixed media painting. At the core of his creative work lies a passion for visual storytelling and conceptual art. His artistic vision is rooted in understanding life’s fundamental truths and expressing them through his art. Danangelowe poses thought-provoking questions inviting his audience to engage on a deeper level. He has carved his own path with the creation of the brand ARTBOii and D.A.J.S Visuals. ARTBOii is a streaming platform serving as a culmination of creative forms inspired by the Artist’s subconscious. A.J. currently serves on the HAC Board of Directors.
Copyright & Fair Use
Presented by Amy Lehman, Esq., Director of Legal Services of Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts
Wednesday April 10, 2024
4:00PM -6:00PM
Registration is required.
NOTE THIS SESSION IS VIRTUAL ONLY
and available to be received as a recording. Click here.
Join Amy Lehman, Esq., Director of Legal Services of Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts for a virtual presentation about Copyright & Fair Use as it relates to the arts industry.
Bio:
AMY A. LEHMAN, ESQ.
Amy was a professional ballet dancer for many years in Canada, Sweden, and the US, before returning to school to get her bachelor’s degree from NYU in theater history and dramatic literature. After graduating from NYU, she continued to work in the theater industry as an assistant producer and assistant theatrical agent, where she reviewed contracts and managed and negotiated licensing agreements for plays in the US and internationally.
Having been inspired to go to law school by her desire to help other artists, she studied copyright, trademark, media law while at University of Michigan School of Law, where she served as an editor on the Journal of Race and Law, and as president of the Entertainment, Media and Arts Students Association.
Amy’s primary practice has been general commercial litigation, including matters involving art law, media law, employment, intellectual property, constitutional law, real estate, insurance, contract disputes, torts, and as well as other disputes.
Amy is a trained mediator with extensive experience working with VLA in the MediateArts program and is on the panel of mediators assigned to resolve cases for the Southern District of New York.
Amy is a member of the Entertainment Law Committee of the New York City Bar Association and was selected to Super Lawyers Rising Stars 2014, 2016, 2017 and New York Metro Super Lawyers 2018 through 2023.
Tax Prep 101
Presented by Melissa Bertoncini
In The Black MGMT
Wednesday February 21, 2024
4:00PM -6:00PM
Registration is required.
Choose between in person, online or receive a recording options. Click here.
Join Melissa Bertoncini from In The Black MGMT as we get ready for tax season. Topics will include best practices for organizing your receipts and how to prepare for filing your taxes.
Bio: Melissa Bertoncini is a finance veteran with over two decades of experience. She has spent her career working with various creative businesses including many artists of different disciplines and art galleries. She earned a Bachelors of Arts in Economics at SUNY Stony Brook (Stony Brook, NY) and Sussex University (Brighton, England). She has taken her educational foundation and combined it with her experience to form methods tailor made to help small businesses hone in on their good (and bad) habits in turn, making their businesses more profitable.
Crafting a Career You Love in 2024
Presented by Suzanne Paulinski
The Rock/Star Advocate
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
4:00PM -6:00PM
Registration is required.
Choose between in person, online or receive a recording options. Click here.
Suzanne is a growth mindset coach and licensed therapist for creative professionals. As the founder of The Rock/Star Advocate, she helps them reach their goals with custom goal-setting and time management solutions. With a B.S. in Music Industry and a Master’s in both Psychology and Social Work, Suzanne guides her clients to clarity on their next steps while coaching them on maintaining a healthy work/life balance. She published her first book, The Rock/Star Life Planner, as a tool for creatives to find focus in their daily lives by reflecting on their goals weekly and monthly, (www.therockstaradvocate.com/planner).
Presenting Your Work
Wednesday, November 1, 2023
4:00PM -6:00PM
Registration is required.
Choose between in person, online or receive a recording options. Click here.
Join Len Marks of Len Marks Photography and Wendy Curtis & Tom Northrop of the Huntington Art Center to discuss presenting your artwork in the best way possible. First, Len Marks will demonstrate the difference between a do-it-yourself setup for photographing your work versus a professional setup, explaining when each is most appropriate. Next, Wendy Curtis and Tom Northrop will share their framing expertise with us, highlighting best practices and what artists should consider when displaying artwork.
Len Marks is a seasoned photographer with over 32 years of experience, specializing in multiple facets of photography. His expertise spans across artist branding, business photography, and actor headshots, each with its unique approach and purpose. In the realm of business photography, Len’s core focus lies in professional headshots and editorial portraits. He believes that headshots are not merely about capturing a visually appealing image but are a reflection of one’s true essence. Len approaches headshots as 90% psychology and 10% photography, understanding that successful headshot photography requires the ability to connect with people and effectively communicate their story. As a people person, Len excels at creating a comfortable environment for his clients, allowing them to express their authentic selves and capturing their professional persona in a meaningful way.
Wendy Curtis and Tom Northrop own the Huntington Art Center, custom framing and art gallery. They have both been framing and working in galleries for over 35 years. Wendy graduated from R.I.T, studying photography, art history and advertising design. Tom studied painting and drawing at Maryland Institute College of Art. Owning and operating a business makes it hard to find the time to create art, but Wendy tries to carve out a little every now and then, and has shown her work at Salmagundi Club NYC, Soho Photo Gallery, Alex Ferrone Gallery, Huntington Arts Council, Art League of Long Island, fotofoto gallery, Artists’ Market, and of course Huntington Art Center. Tom is a Certified Master Framer, has framed tens of thousands of pieces over his career, and has hung more than he can count. Wendy says, “We’ve both been framing and presenting art for so long, we’ve gone from doing it all by hand, to using a CMC machine and computers! We look forward to sharing our skills and knowledge with fellow artists!”
Vending Workshop
Diane Palma & Maria Misko of digho
Wednesday, September 27th
4:00PM -6:00PM
Registration is required.
Choose between in person, online or receive a recording options. Click here.
Learn simple branding and marketing techniques to support your unique voice. Learn how sticking to your brand is beneficial for every sale and repeat sales. Expand your visual image with packaging, signage, display, tags, social media, and more to strengthen your presence and what you stand for. Keep your creative style aligned with what is seen, experienced, and what is physically taken away from your booth, in order to grow your following.
Maria has a BFA in Digital Arts and Design from Long Island University and MFA in Art Administration with a minor in Restoration from the Fashion Institute of Technology. She completed her entire minor in Venice, Italy, with first hand experience on world famous art. Maria is certificated as a Color Specialist, she is an expert in advising companies on their color palette. She started her career at the New York Post in the pre-press department and transitioned to be creative supervisor at Newsday. This experience has given Maria the knowledge and organizational skills to launch digho with her best friend, Diane Palma. She is frequently asked to sit on panels for seminars and workshops as the branding expert
In 2010, Maria started digho PAURA, an art club with creative support and inspiration.
Maria is on the advisory board of Life is Music, Music is Life and on the board of Art League of Long Island She co-chairs the Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce Membership committee, chairs the Education and Resource committee, and is an active ambassador for the chamber.
Maria also owns Kinetic Discs, a sports accessory company, with her husband since 2019.
She is blessed with an awesome husband, Eric, for 19 years and is a mother of 2, Frida (17) and Rome (11).
After Diane’s first Photoshop class she knew she would wind up in the art field. In a conceptual art class at Long Island University CW Post, the idea of digho began with an immediate connection to her now business partner. After graduating from CW Post with a BFA in Digital Art and Design in 2003, she was accepted into Pratt Institute where she received her MS in Communication Design. Immediately following her final semester she was promoted into the Creative Department at Newsday and worked as a part of their art team for the next five years. The following 13 years, digho has been an ever growing, ever changing experience of art, graphic design, entrepreneurship and community member.
Local involvement and awards include Member/mentee of the Moxxie Networking Group from 2011-2014, Honoree of Celebrate Long Island’s Young Professionals in 2011, Leadership Huntington Foundation Class of 2016, Co-Chair of the Young Professionals committee from 2016-19 as well as a Board Member of the Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce since 2016 and currently sits on the Executive Board. Most recently she Founded and CoChairs the Arts & Experiences Committee which spearheaded the Village wide PUBlic Art Crawl through the Chamber. Last year Diane and Maria were honorees at the 1st Annual Culture Gala.
Diane is a lifetime resident of Long Island and now resides in Bethpage with her husband Mike, and their daughters Rose, Stefania and Teresa. She is passionate about family, friends, food and unique creative expression. Her claim to fame was being an Installer for the NYC art installation, The Gates, by world famous artists Christo and Jeanne Claude in 2005.
The FREE monthly series of workshops will be presented in a hybrid (in person/online) format. There will also be an option to receive a recording of the presentation for those who may not be able to attend day of. In-person space is limited and registration will be required.
Future topics will include: marketing, community engagement, business administration, legal, finance, and funding. For more information on upcoming PD workshops visit this page. Questions, please contact Sarah McCann at smccann@huntingtonarts.org