Artist Pipeline Program

You must currently live or work in Allston-Brighton and be able to attend the following cohort meetings at the Harvard Ed Portal (224 Western Ave., Allston)  To use a work address for eligibility purposes, your creative practice/business must be predominantly based there year-round, such as a rehearsal space, studio or arts job. An occasional gig or non-arts job in the area does not count towards this requirement. If you have further questions, contact the Ed Portal. Many of our other offerings are open to city-wide creatives, such as our current Art & Hustle creative entrepreneurship workshop series. If you have any questions about your eligibility, please register for our 10/8 info session or contact the Harvard Ed Portal by email or call 617-496-5022.

Required cohort meetings on Tuesdays in-person at 6:00-9:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted

• December 9, 2025*
• January 13, 2026
• January 27, 2026**
• February 10, 2026
• February 24, 2026*** 
• March 10, 2026
• March 24, 2026***
• April 14, 2026
• April 28, 2026**
• May 12, 2026
• June 9, 2026

*5:00-6:00p.m. (online)

**6:00-7:00p.m.

***6:00-7:30p.m. Optional excursions/Harvard arts insider tour. Attendance is strongly encouraged.

LOCATION: Harvard Ed Portal, 224 Western Ave, Allston, MA

We welcome a variety of performance and 3D or 2D mediums including but not limited to: music, theater, dance, sculpture, painting, illustration, print, and multi-media. Priority will be given to emerging and mid-career artists, plus artists of all experience levels who have rarely had coaching or professional development opportunities.

• October 1: Application Opens
• October 27 at 11:59 pm EST: Application Due
• October 28- November 14:
  • Applications reviewed by HEP staff and a panel of jurors.
  • 12 artists will be selected as semi-finalists and interviewed (Nov. 12-14 online).
• November 17: Selection notices sent
• November 29: Commitments signed
• December 1: Non-selection notices sent
• December 9, 2025: Welcome/Orientation (online)
• January 13, 2026: Program begins!

Sorry, the dates are not flexible. A commitment of 100% attendance is required to receive the completion stipend. All meetings are in-person at the Harvard Ed Portal (224 Western Ave., Allston) unless otherwise noted below.

Required cohort meetings on Tuesdays in-person at 6:00-9:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted

• December 9, 2025*
• January 13, 2026
• January 27, 2026**
• February 10, 2026
• February 24, 2026*** 
• March 10, 2026
• March 24, 2026***
• April 14, 2026
• April 28, 2026**
• May 12, 2026
• June 9, 2026

*5:00-6:00p.m. (online)

**6:00-7:00p.m.

***6:00-7:30p.m. Optional excursions/Harvard arts insider tour. Attendance is strongly encouraged but does not impact the stipend.

Cohort artists (6-8 qty)
Co-leaders (2 qty)
Program staff and intern (3 qty)
Topic experts (4-6 qty)

This program will be co-led by two fantastic consultants from Arts Connect International (ACI): Zakiyyah Sutton (she/her) and Mel Taing (she/her).

They will also both serve as coaches.

Professional development topics at the cohort meetings could include Marketing and Promotion; Artist Finances and Taxes; Applying for Funding Opportunities; Gigging with Institutions; Cultural Equity; Navigating Space Issues; or a topic that is nominated during the application process. We are in the process of confirming guest presenters and will share more details this December in the welcome packet.

We anticipate having a mix of visual artists and performers/musicians from Allston-Brighton.

Since part of the program is tailored to the needs of each individual artist, we want to create space and provide direction for you to achieve your unique challenge and goals outside of group sessions. Each artist will work separately with:

• A coach from ACI who focuses on your professional development and career goals. 
• A Harvard Springboard Director who supports you in navigating Harvard resources and engagement opportunities.

Both serve as coaches and advocates for your growth. They meet with you separately to help you advance your goal(s) and engagement plans. From time to time, you may also get referred to individuals at Harvard or the local community to see if they are available for an informational meeting, coffee, or networking.

In addition to the cohort meeting, participants should budget at least 9 hours a month to work independently to achieve their goals and prepare for meetings. You may receive pre-reading or videos to watch, for example. If your challenge is to find funding opportunities, you might spend time researching grant-funding organizations, drafting applications, and meeting with a topic expert. If you aren’t sure how to get the most out of your time, we will help you find tools or resources, and can be an accountability partner to help you focus. You will need to document your efforts in some way and share it with the cohort when appropriate.

The Harvard engagement opportunity is a chance to advance your goals and put some of your expertise and learnings into practice by having a commitment shortly after the official cohort learning period has wrapped up. It is tailored to fit each individual artist. Through meetings with your Harvard Springboard Director and your ACI coach, you will brainstorm possibilities for a paid gig, project, or class at Harvard: an exhibition, performing arts event, teaching opportunity, community event, enrolling in additional skill-building classes, or something we haven't thought of yet. Your idea may fit within programming at the Ed Portal, or it might occur in partnership with another department at Harvard, such as the Harvard Extension School, Radcliffe Institute, ArtLab, Office for the Arts, Zone3 or others. 

The requirements of an engagement activity are that it must be Harvard-affiliated, artist-defined, approved by their Harvard Engagement Director, start between July 1, 2026-June 1 2027 and serve as a springboard for the artist.

Examples of past engagement opportunities included (but are not limited to): a 1-week teaching fellow for a Radcliffe public art workshop; a 6-week Crossings Gallery exhibit; a 1-night performance in the Harvard Business School chapel; a 2-3 week Art Lab residency; a seasonal part-time Concert Manager job; a 4-week evening arts instructor at the Ed Portal; a free course at the Harvard Extension School; a vendor in a local art market; and a commissioned mural on campus. 

There will be three optional, behind-the-scenes excursions designed to help you discover Harvard’s creative community, spaces, and resources. On these visits, you’ll have the chance to tour studios, labs, or departments, meet staff or faculty, and learn about programs that support artists at Harvard. These events are meant to be fun, informative, and help you expand your network and understanding of Harvard’s offerings.

Attendance is not required—they’re extra opportunities beyond your regular cohort meetings and engagement prep sessions, but they are strongly encouraged. All tour dates will be shared in advance and clearly labeled on the program calendar so you can plan accordingly.  

We updated our mentorship approach: each artist will now be paired with two supporters—a Harvard Springboard Director and an ACI coach—who will act as each artist’s champions and advisors. We’ve also added more skill-building sessions, expanded resource sharing, and opportunities for networking and three behind-the-scenes Harvard art tours.

Our primary mission is to advance the professional development of 6-8 emerging artists in Allston-Brighton with a focus on increasing equitable access to resources at Harvard and beyond. Our goal is for all cohort artists to meet their own self-identified goals by June 30, 2026, complete their engagement project by June 30, 2027, and attend all cohort meetings. The Ed Portal will use survey data, attendance records, and anecdotal feedback to measure how well we met our program goals and what areas of improvement are for the future.

As a "pipeline" program, we aim to catalyze artists' practices and/or careers as they advance in stage, satisfaction, opportunity, and visibility. Evaluation will include surveys on whether or not artists feel they are a step forward in their practice or career, and whether or not they have concrete tools and skills to pursue at least one new opportunity following their Harvard engagement, such as a grant, job, gig, award, program, etc. (This may look like a new bio, CV, portfolio, recommendation letter, experience, resource, network, or mentor).

Program goals include well-executed meetings, engaging and accessible topic experts, all surveys returned, new names for recruitment and outreach, and deep relationships amongst the cohort. We hope artists will report feeling challenged and supported by both Harvard and their local arts community throughout the process, and that they know how to better access Harvard resources.

This program allows us to deepen the lasting impact and support we offer artists in Allston-Brighton by hosting a long-term pipeline program to augment our one-off programs and initiatives. We help local creatives build community, learn together, advance their creative ventures, and more equitably access resources at Harvard and beyond.

This is a chance to share your practice with your peers so they can get to know you and your journey! The format is deliberately flexible and will vary depending on each artist and art. The presentation should be genuine but informal, and reflect how you think about your art. It is not meant to be stressful or a large time commitment.

During the spring, each cohort artist may request up to $1,000 of additional funds towards their Pipeline goal, such as purchasing an iPad and illustration app, an outdoor tent for market vending, a software license, or a road case for touring; paying for consultations on design, taxes, or artist finances, etc.

Grants are awarded at the discretion of Ed Portal program staff with input from coaches.

Participants will help to improve and grow the Artist Pipeline Program by providing constructive feedback at cohort meetings and via surveys. They will help identify candidates for future cohorts and potentially sit on an applicant review committee. Photos of the artist and their program work, as well as testimonials, could appear on the Ed Portal's website. Participants will commit to completing all program requirements and engagement opportunities as part of getting a certificate of completion and $1,000 stipend.

The Harvard Ed Portal is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation(s) for persons with disabilities in connection with its programs and activities. Artist Pipeline Program applicants and participants are welcome to inquire about or request reasonable accommodations. If you would like to request accommodations or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact edportal@harvard.edu or call 617-496-5022.  Requests for American Sign Language interpreters and/or CART providers should be made at least two weeks in advance, if possible. Please note that the University will make every effort to secure services, but that services are subject to availability.