VISION AND VOICE
WRITING YOUR ARTIST MANIFESTO FOR THE YEAR AHEAD
INSTRUCTORS: HEATHER GEOFFREY AND KELLY SILLIMAN
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2026 , 5:30 - 7:00 PM
COST: $15-50, SLIDING SCALE
A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP
As one year comes to a close, it's the perfect time to reflect, refocus, and set an intentional course for what's next.
Join us for Vision & Voice, a professional development workshop designed to help artists create a manifesto that serves as both a declaration of purpose and a roadmap for the year ahead. Through guided reflection and writing exercises, you'll clarify your artistic values, define your creative and professional goals, and articulate the vision you want to pursue in the coming year.
We'll then turn that vision into action by developing a personalized creative roadmap with realistic milestones, target dates, and deadlines to help you stay accountable throughout the year. Whether you're planning a new body of work, applying for grants, scheduling exhibitions, launching a creative business, or building a more consistent studio practice, you'll leave with a plan that transforms your aspirations into achievable steps.
Participants will leave with:
A draft of their personal and professional artist manifesto.
A clear vision for their creative practice in the year ahead.
A personalized action plan with quarterly milestones, deadlines, and next steps.
Practical tools for staying focused, measuring progress, and adapting their plan as opportunities arise.
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.