“The program has had a tremendous impact on my professional practice by bringing together artists from diverse perspectives. The opportunity to exchange knowledge, gain insights, and receive valuable suggestions has been invaluable.”
—Mentwab Easwaran
Sparkplug Artists’ Collective, 2024
The
Workshop Series
A monthly cadence of workshops focused on advancing your artistic and professional practice.
The
Workshop
Series
A monthly cadence of workshops focused on advancing your artistic and professional practice.
“By offering resources, space, and community engagement, The DC Arts Center plays an essential role in uplifting local artists. It’s a place where artists can not only share their work but also find the encouragement needed to grow and evolve.”
—
Ahmad Al Khadi
Artist Member, 2024
At The DC Arts Center, we believe that greater access empowers every artist to reach their full potential. That’s why we’re offering more opportunities to learn from and connect with industry leaders—and if you’re an Artist Member, it’s free.
Next Workshop
Professional Development
Saturday, October 24, 2026
@ 3:00 PM
IN-PERSON
Curating Yourself:
Thinking Like A Curator To Strengthen Your Artistic Practice
Facilitated by Dr. Lauren Davidson
Step into the curator's lens and discover new ways to see, shape, and present your work. Through discussion, exercises, and candid conversations with curators, you'll learn how to identify the throughline in your practice, edit with intention, and build a cohesive body of work that resonates.
Featured Component: Curator Roundtable
Hear from a panel of working curators representing museums, galleries, and independent and alternative spaces. Bring 5-10 images of your work and an Artist Statement.
Free for Artist Members.
$10 all others.
Registration required.
Facilitator Bio: Sean Elias
Dr. Lauren Davidson is an independent curator and founder of Museum Nectar Art Consultancy, a practice dedicated to elevating the voices of emerging and mid-career artists. Her curatorial work spans a diverse range of contemporary practices, with a particular focus on fostering meaningful dialogue around material, memory, and the evolving dimensions of the Black experience within a broader artistic landscape.
Davidson has curated a range of notable exhibitions, including Bria Edwards: What We Do We’ve Always Done at the Julio Fine Arts Gallery of Loyola University Maryland (2026), and the critically acclaimed Solace & Sisterhood, presented at the University of Maryland’s David C. Driskell Center (2025) and the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington (2024), featuring artists Evita Tezeno, Amber Robles-Gordon, and Lavett Ballard. Additional projects include [IR]REVERENT at the DC Arts Center (2025), Chosen Family at Brentwood Arts Exchange (2024), and The Ties That Bind and Zero Dollar Bill: The Prints of Imar Lyman at IA&A at Hillyer (2022).
Alongside her curatorial practice, Davidson leads an art advisory business, guiding private and corporate clients in building thoughtful collections. She collaborates with organizations including Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art, the IA&A at Hillyer Advisory Committee, and the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities.
A multihyphenate professional, Davidson holds degrees from Cornell University (BS), the University of Florida (DVM), and Johns Hopkins University (MA, Museum Studies). She also maintains a distinguished career in biomedical research, bringing a unique interdisciplinary perspective to her curatorial work.
Our Design
The DC Arts Center is proud to offer a monthly series of workshops, conversations, and events designed to support artists in both their creative and professional growth. Led by established artists and industry leaders, these sessions provide practical, artist-to-artist insights that empower creatives of all backgrounds and experience levels. The Workshop Series features three dynamic tracks: Artistic Process, focusing on techniques, methods, and creative practices; Collector Conversations, offering insights into the art market and strategies for connecting with collectors; and Professional Development, covering essential skills like branding, networking, and the business of being an artist. Each session lasts approximately one hour, is interactive, and takes place in person at The DC Arts Center in Washington, D.C. Admission is free for Artist Members and just $10 for non-members. Don't miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and grow!
Artistic
Process
Whether you are looking to advance your own artistic process in a medium you love, or you’re looking to explore a new medium altogether, our Artistic Process workshops will provide you with new ways of creating. Join fellow artists in an interactive “doing” workshop as they walk you through their unique artistic process.
Collector
Conversations
Meet and build relationships with some of DC’s most prominent collectors in our Collector Conversations workshops. These interactive dialogues offer artists the rare chance to meet and socialize with collectors of all kinds! These workshops are all about relationships and access.
Profesional
Development
The Professional Development track offers artists the chance to advance their professional practice. Previous workshops have covered topics such as improving your artist statement and marketing yourself as an arts professional.