THE ART OF SHOWING UP
MANAGING YOUR PROCESS: ACCOUNTABILITY IN COMMUNITY FOR ARTISTS
TAUGHT BY HEATHER GEOFFREY AND KELLY SILLIMAN
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2026 , 5:30 - 7:00 PM
COST: $15-50, SLIDING SCALE
A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP
An artistic practice flourishes when we commit not only to our creative work, but also to ourselves and the communities that inspire, support, and depend on us. Showing up consistently: for your ideas, your practice, and the people you're in relationship with, is an act of care that strengthens both individual artists and the broader creative ecosystem.
Join us for The Art of Showing Up (Managing Your Process: Accountability in Community for Artists), an interactive professional development workshop that explores how accountability can become a sustainable and empowering part of your artistic practice. Together, we'll examine practical approaches to setting meaningful goals, creating supportive routines, navigating creative roadblocks, and cultivating accountability through relationships with peers and collaborators.
Participants will leave with tools for managing their creative process, developing realistic action plans, and building accountability practices that honor both personal growth and collective responsibility. Because when artists show up for themselves, they are better able to show up for their communities; and when communities invest in one another, everyone has greater capacity to create, connect, and thrive.
Participants must register in advance. To register, please email by clicking the button below and include your name, address, and phone number.
Payment can be made by mailing a check made out to NCFA to PO Box 366, Northampton, MA 01061 or by Paypal, Venmo, Apple Pay, Pay Later or Credit Card by clicking the link below.
*Payments on the upper end of the sliding scale help support our continued commitment to accessibility, including sliding scale models and the NCFA Community Fund.
Kelly Silliman and Heather Geoffrey are the Co-Directors of the Northampton Center for the Arts, where they work in partnership to support artists, foster community-centered programming, and steward inclusive cultural spaces in Western Massachusetts.
Kelly Silliman is a dance artist, educator, arts administrator, and community organizer. She holds a BA in Theatre Arts from Stetson University and an MFA in Dance from Smith College, where she has also served as a teaching fellow. Kelly brings decades of experience at the intersection of creative practice and cultural stewardship, having co-founded and led artist collectives, youth ensembles, and performance initiatives in cities across the U.S., including Hartford, Boston, Tucson, and Charlottesville. As Co-Director of the Center, she has helped shape signature programs such as ArtPlay!, the Northampton Artisan Fair, the Youth Performance Festival, and the Community Fund. Kelly is especially passionate about supporting artists in discovering clear, actionable steps to move their visions into reality.
Heather Geoffrey is a multidisciplinary artist and arts consultant whose practice encompasses painting, photography, collage, mixed media, writing, and performance. She holds an MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts from Goddard College, with a body of work deeply rooted in Borderland Theory, spiritual exploration, and the artist’s role as ancestral keeper and imaginative guide. Heather’s artworks invite viewers into richly textured emotional and symbolic landscapes. Alongside her creative practice, she brings over 30 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, advocacy, and organizational development. Her approach to teaching and consulting is grounded in collaboration, curiosity, and a profound respect for each artist’s distinct voice and path.
Together, Kelly and Heather bring a rich blend of artistic insight and administrative expertise to their facilitation - offering participants the tools, confidence, and encouragement to tell their own stories with clarity and authenticity.