Craftcation 2026

We are living through unprecedented times, and the strain of launching and marketing and running a creative business is challenging, even on the easiest of days. This panel discussion will share ideas of how we can get through the toughest of situations and can address ideas such as how to keep things running despite wars, tariffs, climate change, the economy, and when you just can't get out of bed.

Curious about how art licensing really works—from the creative side to the business side? In this panel, two presenters share what it takes to get your work licensed and what happens after the ink dries. You’ll learn the basics of licensing, from key terms and types of agreements to finding the right partners, getting paid, and deciding whether licensing or selling outright makes sense for you.

We’ll also dig into the process and costs from the maker’s perspective—what it takes to bring licensed art to life on products, where to find opportunities, and which networking events are worth your time. (We may touch on general pricing, but no legal advice will be given.)

Stick around for Q&A to get your specific questions answered.

A real-talk session for current or aspiring online course creators, telling the story of how I started selling my "Modern Calligraphy 101" Course in 2018, how I scaled to a million dollars in revenue during the pandemic using funnels and Facebook Ads, then burned out from growing too fast, and finally, what's working for me now to bring in multiple six figures at a much less intense scale. I'll use my own experience as a concrete illustration and walk attendees through interactive exercises to create new messaging for their courses that actually works now in a year of A.I., screen fatigue and growing consumer mistrust. Attendees will walk away with a 1) Specific , time-based transformation that their course will deliver, 2) Ways to add human touch-points so they're not just selling information that is readily available on ChatGPT, and 3) Inspiration to inject more of their unique personality and stories into their course marketing.

Back by popular demand! Join Sam Matthews of Propagate Studio and Project Propagate, a pay-what-you-can art supply thrift shop in New Jersey, for this community-favorite event where makers, artists, and creative hoarders (you know who you are) come together to trade treasures. Bring those extra supplies, materials, tools, or crafty odds and ends that deserve a second life, and go home with fresh inspiration while keeping good stuff out of the landfill.

No money, no pressure, just good vibes and creative recycling. Come swap, mingle, and leave with your next great project waiting to happen.