Startup Studio
Community
Connection
Empowerment
Where Studio Talk Gets Real (and Really Good).
Through exclusive talks, professional presentations, and other real world opportunities, Startup Studio supports both process and practice through weekly salon style meetings and monthly presentations by art industry leaders. We also offer drop-in access for non-members for monthly industry presentations.
Tuesday Morning Salons
Our Tuesday Zooms are community building conversations where we delve into art practice quandaries. From prepping for exhibitions to shipping artwork, or fitting the business of art into your creative practice, this is a place to ask for and offer support in a 'rising tides float all boats' mindset.
Monthly Art Conversations
Engage in candid conversations with experts from all corners of the art ecosystem. From dealers and curators to art consultants and public art specialists, our talks shed light on every aspect of artistic practice. Each session concludes with a live Q&A, allowing you to get your burning questions answered directly by industry insiders.
Video Library
Access our growing library of videos at your convenience. Refresh your understanding of key concepts or focus on specific topics that resonate with your current needs. This resource allows you to revisit expert advice and insights, ensuring you can always find guidance relevant to your artistic journey.
Artist Network
Startup Studio maintains a vibrant database of artists. From this network, we organize real-world gatherings, curated exhibitions, pop-ups, and collaborative events, turning our virtual community into a launchpad for visibility and connection in the physical art world.
Not Your Average Artist Support Group.
What’s Included:
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Live monthly talks with Q&A
Unlimited access to video content
Weekly community Zoom calls
Private online community
Free one hour coaching session for annual subscribers
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Access our growing library of videos at your convenience. This resource allows you to revisit past salons and expert talks, ensuring you can always find guidance relevant to your artistic journey.
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Connect with fellow artists and art professionals anytime through our private online community. Suggest new topics, share experiences, offer encouragement, and provide resources that have enriched your practice. This platform fosters a supportive network for ongoing discussions and collaborations.
Upcoming Art Talks
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Building Better Art Worlds: From Curating to Community
Tuesday, November 11, 5pm PST
Rachel Mijares Fick (she/her) is the Co-Founder of Future Fair, together with Rebeca Laliberte. Based in New York City, Rachel has organized 20+ art fairs in New York, Switzerland and Germany. Prior to a career in art fairs she has worked in the curatorial departments of Exit Art, New York and the Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden, Washington, DC. Rachel has been interviewed in the New York Times, Inc., The Observer, ArtNews, and Vogue Philippines; and has spoken about Future Fair at the United Nations, Praxis Roundtable, and Curatorial Program for Research. She holds a BFA in Fine Art from the Corcoran College of Art + Design in 2009.
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Art, Archive, and Imagination
Tuesday December 9, 5pm PST
Please join us for an engaging conversation with Terri Cohn, an independent curator, writer, and art historian dedicated to preserving the contributions of underrecognized artists in the Bay Area. Terri will share insights on how artists can approach their own artwork and legacies—ensuring their creative contributions are preserved and understood for generations to come. Her work centers on oral histories, ecological practices, and the enduring impact of community and artist-run spaces.
Cohn has contributed to numerous publications including Art in America, Artweek, Frieze, Public Art Review, Sculpture Magazine, and SFAQ. She has curated numerous exhibitions for museums and galleries, including the Berkeley Art Museum, where she served as interim Matrix curator.
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From Landfill to Launchpad: Art, Ecology, and Community at Recology
Tuesday Feb 10, 2026, 5pm PST
Join us for a facinating talk with Deborah Munk of Recology SF. Deborah has been the Director of the Artist in Residence Program (AIR) since 2007.
She has also helped guide the implementation of several other AIR programs at Recology facilities in California and Oregon. Prior to joining Recology as AIR Program Coordinator in 2000, she was the assistant editor of Art/Women/California 1950-2000: Parallels and Intersection, published by UC Press. She has been on the board of Cultural Connections since 2023 and is a graduate of San Francisco State University and holds an MA in Educational Technology focusing on art and media.
You have questions? We have answers.
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Startup Studio is designed for visual artists at all stages of their careers who are looking to deepen their knowledge of the art world, strengthen their professional practices, and connect with a supportive creative community. Whether you're emerging, mid-career, or established, if you’re serious about your art practice, you’re welcome here.
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They’re casual, candid, and highly supportive Zoom conversations focused on real-world challenges artists face. Think of it as a virtual studio visit meets professional support group. Topics range from prepping for a solo show, navigating grants, and pricing work, to handling burnout or business questions—all with input from a smart, experienced community of peers.
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Our guest speakers are working professionals from across the art ecosystem—gallerists, curators, consultants, collectors, art fair producers, public art managers, and more. They bring behind-the-scenes insight into how the art world works, what they look for in artists, and how you can better position yourself for opportunities.
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Yes. members have full access to our video library, which includes recordings of all the past talks and Tuesday Salons. It's a great way to catch up on expert advice on your own time and revisit key takeaways when you need them.
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Non-members are welcome to drop in for our monthly art industry presentations. However, membership gives you access to weekly Tuesday Morning Salons, the full video library, and deeper community engagement.
What Artists Are Saying About Startup Studio
What Artists Are Saying About Startup Studio
“As an artist and writer whose work is mostly solitary, I look forward to Tuesday mornings and joining the community that Ray hosts on zoom. It’s a supportive and welcoming group of artists who share practical concerns and provocative questions about their professional challenges and successes. For an added benefit, I enjoy attending events where I meet people I’ve only seen in the zoom room. I hop on the next Tuesday with a greater sense of camaraderie.
Christine Walker
“Ray Beldner‘s Tuesday Morning Salon has been a game changer for my art career. It is addressed more issues than I know I needed to ask. Ray and the participants are first and foremost dedicated to helping each other understand what is most important to focus on for success. For the first time in many years, I do not feel lost as a professional artist. Now I have a clear sense of direction for my success. I do not hesitate to recommend this group for any artist.”
Chris DiRaddo
“Ray Beldner has really created something special here. Every week when I feel like I’m too busy to join the salon, I go on anyway and without fail hear something totally unexpected that fuels my studio practice, that cracks open my idea of what I thought were limitations. It is an exponential bloom of support and solutions to problems all artists face. Thank you Ray and the community!!!”
Amy Thornberry