Where creative people come to connect & learn

Friday and Saturday, March 7 – 8, 2025

Reiman Gardens
1407 University Blvd., Ames, IA

Connect. Learn. Share. Inspire.

About the Conference

The arts provide meaning in our lives and offer a positive experience in a complicated world. They decrease cognitive decline, have been shown to make our brains grow, and improve critical thinking skills. Regardless of the medium, the arts transform people and communities every day.+ Arts and culture help drive Iowa’s economy, employing over 41,000 people and contributing $5 billion to the state’s economy.* Yet, artists can find it difficult to sustain their practices.

The Octagon Center for the Arts and the Ames Community Arts Council are partnering to present the seventh annual Business of Art Conference on Friday – Saturday, March 7 and 8, 2025. We are dedicated to helping artists grow and succeed and to supporting the impact of art in the world.

This conference is designed to strengthen skills and provide resources for both formally trained and self-taught creatives. Topics this year include taking your artistic practice from hobby to business, developing a daily creative practice, selling your work, and so much more. In addition to professional development sessions, the conference will include networking opportunities throughout the day, giving participants the chance to talk one-on-one with the speakers, other professionals, and each other. Professionals and students in all types of creative work, part time or full time, in all stages of their career are welcome.

Last year’s conference drew nearly 100 professional creatives and students from around the region for a day-and-a-half of information sharing and networking. Participants had high praise for the event: “Keep up the great variety of workshops in the beautiful venue!”

+ Americans for the Arts Impact Explorer Fact Sheet
* National Assembly of State Arts Agencies Creative Economy State Profiles

Introducing Our 2025 Keynote Speaker

Chris Vance

Chris Vance has worked as a professional artist in the Midwest for the past 25 years. His art is rooted in a blend of cartoons, music, graffiti, and skateboard culture. He described his distinctive style in an interview published on a blog called “Seeds of Fruit”:

“I have four kids, and I’ve been influenced by skateboards since I was a kid, plus graffiti, cartoons, and the whole Ren and Stimpy type culture. Cartoon characters that aren’t really Tom and Jerry but they’re a little darker than that, I guess. And I’ve always been inspired by the way my kids draw things — kind of sketchy but there’s an interesting line quality that happens when they’re not really aware of making it perfect. All those things kind of intrigue me, all those things kind of crammed into my head and spit back out!” [https://seedsandfruit.com/chris-vance-painter]

Chris works with corporate accounts, art fairs, murals, and galleries. He graduated from Iowa State University in 2000 with a BFA. In college, he was really influenced by the work of the well-known artist Richard Diebenkorn (American, 1922-93) and the abstract expressionists (Mid-20th century American art movement).

Funding for the Business of Art Conference has been provided by our amazing sponsors!

Hand Over Hand

Questions?