GROUP WORKSHOPS
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN CAREER-BUILDING SKILLS
Robin Cembalest teaches classes in writing, social media, public speaking, self-promotion, and other essential skills at MFA programs, residencies, and professional organizations, in person and online.
Crafted for art professionals of all levels, her workshops include templates, tips, and one-on-one feedback.
A faculty member at School of Visual Arts, longtime instructor at Bronx Museum’s Artist in the Marketplace program, and a career coach at Creative Capital, Robin has helped thousands of artists, curators, educators, advisers, gallerists, and other arts workers to improve their content across all platforms.
What people are saying
WRITING ABOUT ART
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In this empowering workshop, Robin demystifies the distinctive and often challenging process of writing about visual art. In her presentation, she’ll share examples and templates for different types of professional art writing, from press releases to Instagram posts. Then, after Q&A, participants will have the opportunity to share their own text–artist statements, web copy, and other expository writing, up to 200 words. Robin will offer valuable feedback and next steps.
As the longtime editor of ARTnews, Robin taught generations to write professionally. Artist or gallerist, educator or curator, this class will give you the tools, skills, and best practices to write clearly and accessibly, with less stress and more success.
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With texts for websites, social media, grant applications, and e-mail lists, artists are often challenged to write about their own work. In this workshop Robin shares tips for describing your art, from materials and process to intention and meaning. Participants will also have the opportunity to share their own text and receive feedback.
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Every creative professional needs that foundational text that sums up who they are, what they do, and why they do it. Learn how to describe yourself and your artwork, position your practice, and explain the deeper meaning of your art in this intensive writing workshop.
Drawing on her deep expertise in contemporary art and knowledge of the art industry, Robin helps each participant to define and position their practice. Using her experience as an editor, she demystifies the writing process and helps every student to communicate more effectively.
In her presentation, Robin will share templates for artist bios and statements, as well as examples from a wide range of artists. Then she’ll answer questions and offer one-on-one feedback on the bio of each participant.
“We all learned so much! I've never seen our students writing down notes so furiously for such a sustained amount of time.” —Josephine Halvorson, Professor of Art and Chair of Graduate Studies in Painting, The 2022 University Lecturer, School of Visual Arts, College of Fine Arts, Boston University
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So you want to write an art review. How do you get started? Robin shares templates and best practices in this two-hour introductory class, designed for creative professionals of all levels. In the first hour, she breaks down the essential elements of exhibition reviews, including structure, description, and value judgment. In the second hour, she’ll answer questions about getting published, and offer one-on-one feedback on brief writing samples from the participants.
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If you’re working on your artist statement, promoting a show, or would like help with an essay, this class is for you. Channeling her experience as the former editor of ARTnews and a longtime coach and mentor, Robin will review participants’ writing samples and offer constructive advice in a collegial setting. Participants will come away empowered to improve their own texts, and to convey their artistic concepts into clear, accessible language.
NEW! PROMOTING YOUR MFA SHOW
This class will offer tools, and best practices for promoting your MFA show in collaboration with your cohort. Robin will show you how to create a detailed timeline for promoting your exhibition, along with the systems to manage your content. She’ll share strategies to convey your core concepts in clear, accessible language across digital and social media, along with tactics to build buzz and visibility.
With tips on how to announce your show, write your press release, attract media attention, prep for interviews, and expand long-term connections, this class will empower students with skills they will use throughout their careers.
PUBLIC SPEAKING
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Can you describe your art and projects out loud in 30 seconds? In this lively workshop, Robin shares exercises, tips, and one-on-one feedback to teach participants how to craft the classic elevator pitch. After Q&A, each participant will take their turn workshopping their pitch. They’ll come away equipped to make that powerful first impression, whether on Zoom, Instagram Live, or in-person encounters.
Robin will also explain how to apply your pitch tactics to longer interviews with the press, as well as podcasts and other public conversations.
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In this lively workshop, Robin brings her decades of experience as journalist and mentor to help you speak in public with confidence and authenticity.
The former longtime editor of ARTnews, Robin will explain how to define your talking points in clear, accessible language, and how to interweave them for different situations.
With her distinctive teaching method, Robin uses the practice of rehearsed improvisation to help students to develop their voice.
In the first hour of the workshop, she offers a how-to presentation on crafting the classic Elevator Pitch, describing who you are and what you do. Then, she'll explain how to modify your pitch for longer talks and interviews, as well as podcasts and panel discussions.
In the second hour, after Q&A, each participant will take their turn workshopping their pitch, and Robin will offer feedback.
In the art industry, professionals are often called on to explain concepts that are intellectual, theoretical, academic, or abstract. Whether you're an artist, educator, activist, curator, publicist, gallerist, or art advisor, this class will empower you to translate your ideas into words--and to make the most of every opportunity.
CAREER BUILDING
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For many artists, the idea of promoting their work can seem like a burden and a chore. They’d rather be in the studio making art than producing the stream of sound bites, blurbs, Instagram posts, proposals, and submissions that seem required to bring their work to the attention of art professionals and the public. This class empowers artists to build their careers with best practices and creative strategies to get their work out there.
Robin will share tools and skills to help you discover–and make the most of–every opportunity. She’ll show you how to craft your digital presence, define your message, find and submit to open calls and other exhibition opportunities, attract media attention, and expand long-term visibility and connections. With a mix of practical tips and professional wisdom from Robin’s long career in the art industry, this workshop offers invaluable advice for any artist.
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This class will offer tools, and best practices for promoting your MFA show in collaboration with your cohort. Robin will show you how to create a detailed timeline for promoting your exhibition, along with the systems to manage your content. She’ll share strategies to convey your core concepts in clear, accessible language across digital and social media, along with tactics to build buzz and visibility. With tips on how to announce your show, write your press release, attract media attention, prep for interviews, and expand long-term connections, this class will empower students with skills they will use throughout their careers. Item description
ART COMMUNICATIONS ESSENTIALS
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This five-class package lays the foundation that every artist, nonprofit worker, gallery team, art advisor, and museum worker needs to feel confident speaking about art and building their career.
Websites, mailing lists, and social media: artists today have to produce more promotional content than ever before. This introductory class shows artists how to craft their message and disseminate it across various platforms.
Robin’s insights into social media and how to best get your name and work out there invigorated our AiR to refocus and try new things. Robin teaches the things you don't learn in school. How to talk, share, and promote your work.” —Michael Ano, Director of Public Programs and Engagement, 18th Street Arts -
Covering Facebook, Bluesky, Twitter, and Instagram, this class explains how to start and maintain a social media strategy, craft profiles, build networks, and more.
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Can you describe your art and projects in 30 seconds? This spoken-word workshop provides exercises and tips for developing the classic Elevator Pitch.
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Call it your bio, “about blurb,” or statement: Every creative professional needs a paragraph (or two) that sums up their practice. Using examples from various artists, the class offers templates for describing your art practice in about 150 words.
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From flat files to open calls, this class looks at ways to get your work out there.
Price List
Give the gift of professional training
I offer gift cards for group classes and personal coaching, ideal for arts workers of all levels.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Whether you’re new to Instagram or you want to update your skills, this class will teach you content strategies that produce long-term results–building visibility for you and your artwork, expanding networks, and creating relationships that will help you achieve your goals.
Using examples from a wide range of artists, Robin will share essential tools for conveying your identity and your art practice. She’ll provide tips for crafting profiles, chronicling your process, and explaining the larger meaning of your work. She’ll show you best practices for Reels, Stories, hashtags, and she’ll explain what artists really need to know about that mysterious algorithm.
After her presentation, she’ll review the Instagram of all participants and offer action steps.
“She gives artists and curators plenty of immediate, individualized feedback, and guidance that gets them to keep thinking about how to best communicate about what they do long after the workshop has ended.” —Alison Kuo, Director of Programs, International Studio & Curatorial Program
Class available in Spanish
Whether you’re a curator or gallerist, publicist or art advisor, Instagram is a vital tool for building visibility for yourself and your projects. In this class, Robin will share creative strategies, best practices, and the latest Instagram updates that art professionals need to know.
Participants will learn to craft a dynamic profile, create content that conveys their message and goals, write about artworks and exhibitions, sharpen art direction and photo editing skills, promote projects, and connect with their target audience. After her presentation, and Q&A, Robin will review the Instagram of all participants and offer action steps.
“Robin is a social media guru with a sharp eye and discerning voice, an essential guide for our world of information and media overload.” — Lisa Kim, Gallery Director, Ford Foundation
“Robin’s core knowledge of communication strategies, coupled with her inspiring comfort within an ever evolving landscape, make her an invaluable resource for catching up on, and exploring, social media and online marketing realities.” —Derek Webster, Director of Common Good & Creative Careers at Yale University
Whether you’re a visual artist, dancer, or architect, Instagram is an essential tool to share your story, your vision, and your work. In this lively workshop for creators in all fields, Robin will share strategies and best practices for promoting yourself and your art.
Using examples from a wide range figures across art, design, and other creative fields, she’ll offer valuable tips for crafting profiles, chronicling your process, and explaining the distinctive qualities of your work. She’ll teach you how to leverage Reels, Stories, and hashtags, along with skills for expanding visibility and networks. After her presentation, she’ll review the Instagram of all participants and offer action steps.
In this new workshop, created for the College Art Association’s 2024 annual conterence, Robin shares shares best practices for the art-historically inclined. With examples from across the field, she’ll show how scholars and museum professionals are using Instagram to build audience and thought leadership, promote projects, change minds and policies, and connect with allies, media, and donors.
How do you chronicle the transformative power of art to change hearts, minds, lives, and policy — through posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram? In this focused session, Robin looks at how artists working in the field of social justice can use organic content to build narratives, connect with allies and partners, and get their message out.
Class available in Spanish
I had spent my entire career in art journalism when ARTnews, the magazine where I was the top editor, was sold. It was 2014. I was in my ‘50s, with a skill set forged in the era of print.
Ten years later, I retain my press and VIP access, though I haven’t written an article in years. People routinely come up to me at galleries and elsewhere to say they follow my Instagram and that they find my content useful and empowering. All in all, I’m better known than ever.
In this personal talk/workshop, I’ll explain how I used social media to rebrand and reposition myself, adapting my editorial skills for a digital era and turning my focus to professional training. Along the way, I’ll offer tips for other career-changers on crafting your message and getting your story out.