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We’re excited to continue expanding our Professional Development Sessions, designed specifically for FordLab Producers and their teams. These sessions are a cornerstone of the incubator program, reflecting our commitment to fostering the growth, development, and success of local producers, artists, and collectives.
Participation is mandatory as part of the program, and at least one representative from each producing partner must attend. At the end of each session, we’ll share a survey to gather your feedback and ensure the program is as effective and impactful as possible.
2026 Professional Development Schedule
2026 Professional Development Schedule
Monday, May 11 | 7-9pm at The Ford
Contracts, Negotiations and Artist Advocacy
Monday, May 11 | 7-9pm at The Ford
Contracts, Negotiations and Artist Advocacy
This session demystifies contracts, sharpens your negotiation strategies, and equips you to advocate for artists. Industry leaders break down real-world deal dynamics, offering tools to protect the creative vision while strengthening leverage. Participants include Josh Ludmir, Entertainment, Media & Sports Lawyer (Greenberg Traurig), Rita Mercado, Senior Business Affairs Executive (Amazon MGM Studios), and Aly Zacharias, Director, Legal, Marketing Communications and Sales. (LA Phil).
Virtual Re-Run May 12 | 7-9pm
Thursday, May 21 | 6:30-7:30pm at The Ford
Thursday, May 21 | 6:30-7:30pm at The Ford
Sponsorship Strategies
Sponsorship Strategies
Turn alignment into investment. Learn how to craft compelling asks, build authentic partnerships, and position your work for funding that expands both investment, reach and impact. This session unpacks how sponsorship can amplify your creative vision. Led by Katie Kennedy, Independent Consultant.
See https://www.fordlab.net/sponsorship
Thursday, May 21 | 8-9:30pm at The Ford
Thursday, May 21 | 8-9:30pm at The Ford
Lighting and Production Workshop
Lighting and Production Workshop
Work alongside LA Phil production managers and IATSE Local 33 members to align your shows lighting needs with the tools available. The workshop will include an orientation on basic to advance lighting for productions as well as live demos of a selection of FordLab shows.
Tuesday, June 16 | 6-9pm at The Ford
Tuesday, June 16 | 6-9pm at The Ford
Conversation Strategies: Navigating Managers and Bookers
Conversation Strategies: Navigating Managers and Bookers
This conversation explores how to effectively engage talent managers and bookers, build trust, and move projects forward in a landscape where timing, relationships, and persistence are everything. Featuring Banch Abegaze, Chief Executive Officer at Amlak Music; Michele Fleischli, Owner, Like Management; Liz Garo, Artistic Director of Grand Performances; Gilbert Gastelum, CEO & Founder, Cosmica Artists; Rafael Marino Senior Program Manager at LA Phil and Johanna Rees, Vice President, Programming and Creative Partnerships at LA Phil.
6-7pm Bites & Mixer
7-9pm Professional Development Workshop
Thursday, July 9 | 7:00pm at The Ford
Thursday, July 9 | 7:00pm at The Ford
Navigating a Career in Performance: Financial Empowerment
Navigating a Career in Performance: Financial Empowerment
Build sustainable creative practices. This workshop breaks down personal finance essentials for creative artists: business structures, recording strategies, and tax strategies, enabling you to operate with clarity, confidence, and long-term vision. Workshop led by authors of Navigating a Career in Performance: Jessica Champagne Hansen is a Los Angeles–based costume designer and technician, Vanessa Mizzone Pellegrini is Theater Arts faculty at East Los Angeles College; Camille Schenkkan, Chief Operating Officer of The Ebell of Los Angeles.
Professional Development Opportunities & Resources:
Professional Development Opportunities & Resources:
This site will be updated on a regular basis as professional development opportunities throughout LA County and beyond arise. The team will email you opportunities as the present themselves.
*Please be sure to check links and designated sites for most up to date information
CITY
LA City Department of Cultural Affairs - https://culturela.org/
COUNTY
Arts for LA - https://www.artsforla.org/
LA Performance Practice - https://performancepractice.la/
LACE - https://welcometolace.org/#
Los Angeles County Arts & Culture - https://www.lacountyarts.org/
STATE
California Arts Council - https://arts.ca.gov/
California Presenters - https://www.calpresenters.org/
Californians for the Arts - https://www.californiansforthearts.org/
Center for Cultural Innovation - https://www.cciarts.org/mission_history.html
NATIONAL
Americans for the Arts - https://www.americansforthearts.org/
National Endowment for The Arts - https://www.arts.gov/
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