Site logo

Urban Art Biz

Providing insight into the professional world and work of Indigenous artists and galleries.

Urban Art Biz is a series of online workshops focusing on the business side of art from an Indigenous perspective, presented in partnership with Urban Shaman Contemporary Aboriginal Art Gallery.

Recent Workshops

Creating art in any discipline takes passion, perseverance, the humility to share your truth, a belief in your voice, and a willingness to embrace and honour your artistic gifts.

From traditional work to contemporary art forms, Indigenous art speaks from the heart, carrying on the legacy of storytelling, drawing on ancestral connections, often critiquing current social conditions that are the consequence of colonial histories of repression, and celebrating resilience in community. The expression and acknowledgment of Indigenous culture through art allows us to share our worldviews and redefine our cultural identity.

For those who are fully embracing their artistic visions and talents, there is an additional element to navigate on their journey towards becoming a successful artist. That is the business of art. What do you need to know, how do your manage your career, what are your next steps, where do you get the funds. Urban Art Biz will take you through some of the most important aspects of being an artist with a selection of esteemed art creators, innovators, and guest panelists. Together we will share discoveries made, lessons learned, how to access funding, navigate protocols, effectively organize your career all the while you are trying to create a new body of work.

Presented in partnership with

Urban Shaman Gallery is an Aboriginal artist-run centre dedicated to meeting the needs of artists by providing a vehicle for artistic expression in all disciplines, presenting contemporary Indigenous Aboriginal art with integrity while taking a leadership role in the cultivation of Indigenous art. Urban Shaman Contemporary Aboriginal Art is a nationally recognized leader in Aboriginal arts programming and one of the foremost venues and voices for Aboriginal art in Canada. Our focus on developing new programming and new ways of presenting it has resulted in increased exposure and the expansion of our activities. Urban Shaman is dedicated to the Aboriginal arts community and the arts community at large.

Previous Urban Art Biz Talks

Urban Art Biz operates as a seasonal series of noon hour talks, available to participate in online. Check out what we’ve done in previous years:

Season One: 2021 - 2022

Season Two: 2022 - 2023

Season Three: 2023 - 2024

Business Resources for Artists