The Summer Studio: A Three-Month Program with Art Advisor, Curator, and Cultural Journalist Emily McElwreath
Get expert feedback and develop your portfolio and practice.
About the Program:
The Artists’ Summer STUDIO is a guided, three-month bespoke experience for visual artists seeking structure, momentum, and meaningful support. Designed for artists who are deeply committed to their practice, this program offers career strategy, portfolio development, and personalized critique — led by art advisor, curator, and cultural journalist Emily McElwreath.
Over the course of three months, you’ll refine your materials, clarify your goals, and emerge with a strategic plan to move your practice forward — with individual feedback and the support of a thoughtfully curated artist cohort.
Spaces are limited.
What’s Included
• Three Live Group Sessions
One per month — a space to regroup, reflect, and realign.
• Three Monthly Resource Bundles
Curated templates, tools, and prompts designed to support your practice from the inside out.
• Career Planning Exercises
Reflective, strategic assignments that move you from scattered to structured — without sacrificing the soul of your work.
• Private Artist Community
Join a cohort of committed artists to exchange ideas, share content, uplift one another, and grow together. This network is where new collaborations and unexpected opportunities take root.
• End-of-Summer Portfolio Feedback
Submit a final portfolio package in August and receive personal, direct feedback from Emily — designed to help you enter the fall with confidence, clarity, and a professional edge.
• Companion Reading
Participants are encouraged to download Navigating the Art World, Emily’s free artist career guide, available here. It provides foundational insights that complement the Intensive beautifully.
JUNE: RECONNECT
Realign with your values, clarify your goals, and assess where your practice stands — with prompts and tools to spark momentum.
JULY: REFOCUS
Develop systems that support your work: from portfolio refinement to artist statements, outreach, and intentional planning.
AUGUST: RE-EMERGE
Submit your portfolio for individualized feedback and exit the summer with a customized roadmap, renewed clarity, and a plan for what’s next.
LEAVE WITH:
• A personalized roadmap to move your practice forward
• Expert feedback on your portfolio and direction
• Tools, templates, and systems designed to support real progress
• A supportive artist cohort to exchange ideas and energy
• Clarity, confidence, and momentum heading into the fall
$325.00
Enrollment is open through May 30th, 2025
(Or until spaces are filled)
Emily McElwreath is an independent curator, art advisor, educator, and cultural strategist with over 18 years of experience in the contemporary art world. She is the founder of McElwreath Art Advisory and the creator and host of The Art Career Podcast, a leading platform for transparent dialogue across the creative industry.
Emily has developed public programs, organized panels, and lectured at institutions including the Whitn Museum of American Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Sotheby’s Institute of Art. As former Director of Communications and Education at The Brant Foundation, she led national educational initiatives and contributed to major exhibitions featuring artists such as Andy Warhol, Julian Schnabel, and Nate Lowman.
An independent curator and dealer, Emily fosters meaningful connections between artists, collectors, and institutions. She has curated exhibitions for galleries, nonprofit spaces, and art fairs, and is currently preparing Luminous Forms, opening at Ucross Foundation on Founders Day 2025.
She is also a frequent speaker and guest critic at institutions such as NYU (alongside Jerry Saltz), the Neuberger Museum (with Marilyn Minter and Jasmine Wahi), Pratt Institute, the School of Visual Arts, the Wassaic Project, and NARS Foundation.
Emily participates in Pratt>Forward, a mentorship initiative led by Mickalene Thomas and Jane South, and contributed to Navigating the Art World: A Practical Guide for Artists, a widely used resource for professional development in the arts.
Her expertise spans museum-quality collections, cultural programming, and strategic artist engagement, making her a trusted voice in the evolving landscape of contemporary art.
