Dear Artist,

Let’s begin with a truth the art world rarely articulates:

You will not be discovered.

This isn’t meant to discourage, only to clarify. Because despite what the narratives suggest—the dinner party stories of sudden recognition, the mythology of the lone genius—real careers in art are not born in a flash of attention. They are built deliberately. They are constructed, often painstakingly, through choices, opportunities, and systems that support your work in the long term.

The problem is, those systems have never been transparent. And in many cases, they’ve never been designed with the artist in mind.

That’s why my wife and I created Praxis Center. After years of interviews with more than 1,700 artists, curators, and thinkers for Yale University Radio—and after writing seven books on professional development for artists—I saw a need that was both obvious and deeply unmet: serious artists needed structure. Not to change their work. Not to sell out. But to expand their reach, increase their income, and feel less alone in the process.

Praxis is a living, breathing community of artists who are actively shaping their careers with weekly live classes, feedback from international curators, and practical tools you won’t find in your average MFA syllabus. It’s where the art world opens up, not through theory, but through action.

Now, a few things are changing—and I want you to know before they do.

Right now, Praxis membership is $595 per year. That gets you access to:

• All of our live weekly Zoom sessions with curators (the real kind—the kind who work with biennials, museums, nonprofits, and global institutions).

• Every course in our artist career curriculum (grants, statements, online sales, time management, etc.).

• And, most importantly for annual members: inclusion in the Praxis Center Portfolio—shared directly with our network of curators.

Soon, the price will rise to $1,200 per year.

That will still be a tremendous value—but for those who’ve been waiting to join, this is the moment. We’ve kept the price low to make this opportunity accessible, and many artists who joined at $595 have gone on to secure exhibitions, residencies, and funding they didn’t think possible.

You can also join on a monthly plan for $120/month, which includes full access to courses and weekly classes. But it’s only annual members who are included in the Portfolio—that quiet but powerful bridge between your studio and the decision-makers who are looking for artists like you.

I’m not interested in hype. What I am interested in is clarity. This work—your work—deserves an ecosystem that supports it, not in a vague or romantic way, but tangibly. Praxis offers that.

If you’ve been circling this idea, considering it, wondering if it’s the right fit, I understand. Artists are asked to invest in a lot, often with little return. But this isn’t a program built by a committee—it’s a project grounded in lived experience, and it exists because artists asked for it.

→ Join before the price doubles

I hope to see you inside.

With respect,

Brainard Carey

Director, Praxis Center for Aesthetic Studies

Author of Making It in the Art World, New Markets for Artists, and more

Interviewer of 1,700+ artists for Yale University Radio.