Navigating the Contemporary Art World (Mar 25-Apr 22)

Dates: March 25 - April 22, 2026 (Apr 8 class moved to Tuesday, Apr 7)

Meetings: Wednesdays, 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM CST (5 sessions)

Location: Houston Center for Photography

Cost: $490 (HCP members can receive a 10% discount)

Instructor: Debra Barrera

Skill Level: Open to All Levels

Learn about the professional arts landscape and how best to interact with it to further your artistic voice and vision. This course will explore the expansive systems of gallery and museum ecosystems and how best to operate within them. Grow your critical development of an authentic, research-informed practice to amplify your work’s reach within contemporary cultural discourse. Students are expected to write on and present their work, developing a professional presentation both in person and on the page.

Objectives:

• Learn about the professional arts landscape

• Enhance your skills for grant writing, artist proposals, and artist statements

• Critically explore how to expand your practice in and outside of the studio

• Identify funding strategies for small and large artistic projects

• Investigate how best to connect professionals to your artistic practice

• Grow and refine your artistic voice to reach desired audiences

• Engage in curatorially critical analysis and discussion

• Strengthen your writing and in person presentation skills

Prerequisites:

This workshop is suitable for all artists, photographers and non-photographers alike. Students can range from those just starting to explore photography to experienced lens based professionals.

Course Prep:

A preparation email will be sent out to the students before the first class. All students must have a current body of work that they are willing to write on and present during the run of the course.