Developing Artist Collaboration

Such a great start to our favorite event of the year!!!!

Randee and Lisa came into Emerge wanting clarity, but what they found was something deeper. Randee wanted direction and focus. Lisa wanted a realistic plan for how art could fit into the next chapter of her life.

Over the year, both got more honest about what they actually wanted, and just as importantly, what they didn’t.

For Randee, that meant becoming more intentional about where she put her energy and which opportunities actually made sense.

For Lisa, it meant realizing that success didn’t have to mean turning her art into a full-time business right now.

Their transformations looked different, but the lesson was the same: success doesn’t always mean doing more or earning more. Sometimes it means finally knowing what you want and making decisions from there.

That’s what transformation looked like for Randee + Lisa.

A little love for the DAC SQUAD 🧡 This summer, our team absolutely crushed it!! They showed up, worked hard, took ownership, solved problems, welcomed thousands of guests, and made hundreds of DAC Artist Members feel at home in our programs. And they did so much of it independently with care, energy, and a genuine belief in what we’re building together.

So far in 2026, this crew has helped sell 250+ Cup Clubs and raise $64,250 through DAC’s donation bars at West Side Creative Market and the Artpothecary. That revenue goes right back into the organization and helps us keep creating opportunities for artists to earn, exhibit, connect, and grow.
But the numbers only tell part of it. It’s the artist who gets welcomed by name. The guest who gets pulled into the fun. The bar that gets restocked without anyone asking. The thousand little things that make these programs actually work.

DAC is only as strong as the people who show up and make it happen, and this team had one hell of a summer.
We love you, DAC Squad. THANK YOU. 🫶🎨🍻

Brittney and Mike Jo were already working hard and making things happen when they entered Emerge. What they needed wasn’t another productivity hack or someone else’s perfect system.

They needed structure that actually worked for them.

Over the year, they experimented with tools, scheduling, systems, and different ways of organizing their businesses. The biggest shift was realizing they didn’t have to use any of it exactly the way it was taught. They could adapt it to their own brains, workflows, and creative lives.

That made the work more sustainable, the income more predictable, and the growth easier to hold.

There’s no gold star for doing business “the right way.” The goal is finding a way of working that helps you stay clear, consistent, and able to keep doing the work you love.

That’s what transformation looked like for Brittney + Mike Jo.

Eli came into Emerge with momentum. His work was selling, opportunities were growing, and the next stage of his career was already taking shape.

The challenge was that the business around that growth hadn’t fully caught up yet.

Through Emerge, and especially his work with financial planner Elaine, Eli started looking more closely at cash flow, expenses, structure, ownership, and what sustainable growth would actually require.

The result wasn’t slowing down for the sake of slowing down. It was learning how to build the foundation underneath the growth so he could keep moving forward with more clarity.

His year-to-date creative revenue grew 241% (which is insane!), but the bigger shift was in how intentionally he was building what came next.

Sometimes scaling means pressing the gas. Sometimes it means building the road first.

That’s what transformation looked like for Eli.

Your holiday party does NOT have to be boring. 🎄🍸🎨

Don't be mad at us about posting about the Holidays in September! We’re officially opening bookings for our Curated Holiday Experience at the DAC Artpothecary, a private, art-filled holiday party where we handle the details and you just show up.

✨ Up to 40 guests
🍸 Open bar included
🎨 DIY creative experience
🛍️ Private Artist Sip & Shop
🖼️ Art everywhere
🎄 Holiday décor + dedicated onsite host
⏰ 3 hours
💰 $1,200 all-inclusive

Perfect for company parties, large family gatherings, client celebrations, friend groups, teams, or anyone who wants to do something a little more creative this holiday season.

And the best part? Your party helps local artists build sustainable creative careers. Every booking supports DAC’s nonprofit mission and Artist Development programs.

November + December dates are officially OPEN. Check out https://www.developingarts.org/private-events

All you have to do is show up. We have the rest covered. 🥂