The Long Game: Contracts as a Career Strategy Workshop

The Long Game: Contracts as a Career Strategy Contracts are more than legal documents—they are essential tools for building a sustainable and successful creative career. In this workshop, artists will learn how to approach contracts strategically, using them to protect their work, establish clear expectations, and strengthen professional relationships. Through real-world examples and practical guidance, participants will gain a deeper understanding of key contract terms, negotiation strategies, intellectual property rights, payment structures, timelines, and risk management. Whether you’re working with public art commissions, galleries, nonprofits, municipalities, or private clients, this session will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions that support your long-term goals. Rather than viewing contracts as paperwork to sign quickly, participants will learn how to use them as powerful career-building tools that foster trust, reduce conflicts, and create opportunities for lasting professional growth.

About the Artist:

Sam Kirk is a multidisciplinary artist whose vibrant, narrative-driven practice explores identity, culture, place, and belonging through public art, studio work, illustration, design, and community collaboration. Born and raised on Chicago’s South Side, she centers underrepresented stories and examines how memory, lived experience, and moments of personal and collective transition shape individual and shared identities. Known for expressive line-work, saturated color, and layered symbolism, Kirk has developed her practice through a nontraditional path that includes degrees in interior design and marketing communication, more than a decade in advertising, and extensive self-directed and peer-based learning. She currently divides her time between Chicago and New York’s Hudson Valley, teaches at the UIC School of Art and Art History, and works with civic, nonprofit, and cultural organizations as a public art consultant and participatory grant maker. Her work has received industry and community recognition and is held in prominent public, corporate, and private collections nationwide.

Brought to you by Cristian Roldán Aponte in partnership with the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture (NMPRAC).

Please make sure to log on at least 10-15 minutes prior to workshop.

A follow-up email containing the Zoom link will be sent to all registered participants.