Art Café | The Artist as Entrepreneur: Managing Your Practice Like a Business 13th August | 14:00 GMT | Free Online Discussion

Your practice is your business. It’s time to treat it like one.

Art Café returns with a free, open conversation for artists at every stage of their career. This session tackles one of the most pressing challenges in creative life: how do you build a sustainable, thriving practice in today’s art world without losing sight of the work itself?

Joined by an exceptional panel of speakers, we’ll explore the practical, strategic, and mindset shifts that can transform how you approach your art career – from visibility to long-term planning and professional confidence.

This is your space to listen, ask questions, and walk away with something genuinely useful.

Free to attend. All welcome.

Who should attend?

This session is for you if you’re an artist who has ever wondered how to turn passion into something sustainable. Whether you’re just starting out, navigating a career transition, or looking to sharpen how you run your practice, this is a conversation worth having. No business background required — just an open mind and a willingness to think differently about your work.

What we’ll be talking about

• Pricing your work with confidence and knowing your value
• Building visibility and a presence that attracts the right opportunities
• Navigating galleries, prizes, and representation
• Balancing creative freedom with commercial reality
• Long-term career planning: what does success actually look like for you?
• Practical tools and habits for running a professional practice

Speakers

Ellie Damant | Artist

Ellie Damant is the winner of the prestigious Dubel Art Prize 2025/26 and a speaker at VAA in both Masterclasses and Professional Mentoring for Artists. A comprehensive school, Oxford-educated artist based in the UK, Ellie holds two MAs – one in Fine Art and one in Philosophy – and is currently researching for a PhD in art and aesthetics.

Her practice has received international recognition from the Abu Dhabi Arts Society, and her work features in the celebrated collection of Magdalen College, Oxford. Ellie received fine art training in human and comparative anatomy at the Oxford Department of Human Anatomy and Genetics, to the level of Renaissance artists Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, and has undertaken extensive private study of old masters in the King’s Collection at Windsor.

Her current research draws on elements of belief within myths and philosophies of the Far East, India, South America, and the British Isles, forming the basis of a forthcoming exhibition on humanity’s relationship to monetary value. Ellie is also a qualified teacher in art, philosophy, and art history.

Laura O’Hare | VAA Director 

Laura O’Hare leads the artistic and business development of the Visual Artists Association, which she co-founded. With over a decade in the fine arts sector, she serves as Director of the Visual Art Open Prize, the Artist of the Year Award, and the VAA Art100 International Award.

Laura has helped hundreds of artists navigate and thrive at every stage of their careers, drawing on an extensive network spanning arts organisations, galleries, publishers, and commercial partners. Before moving into the arts, Laura practised as a solicitor specialising in Employment Law for over 15 years.

Shirley-Ann O’Neill | VAA Director & Writer

Shirley-Ann O’Neill is a co-founder of the Visual Artists Association and a seasoned arts director and curator with over 20 years of experience working with creatives. She is the co-author of the internationally bestselling art business books Good Art Does Not Sell Itself and Securing Representation, and her curated exhibitions have been featured on BBC, Sky News, and the International New York Times.

Shirley-Ann leads the Visual Art Open Prize and VAA Artist of the Year Awards, and drives the VAA’s CPD and mentorship programme, including courses in Art Curation and Exhibition Management, the Art Sales Academy, and artist development.