If your business offers Art classes, you know that finding students is a top priority. It will take time to bolster enrollment in your programs. If you are coming from a traditional classroom teaching role, you likely have not thought much about enrollment, since the school places students in your classes. These ideas will help you innovate and attract more students so your business can thrive.

• Host Free In-Person Events. Even if you teach primarily online, in-person events are a wonderful way to engage with your local community and garner interest in your programs.

  • Tailored Events. Before each event, think about which area of your business you want these clients to be interested in. Are you trying to move away from one-on-one lessons and boost small group class enrollment instead? Bring flyers with coupon codes and sign-up links for group classes. Are you short on time because your schedule has booked up, but you have a great pre-recorded online course students can purchase? Promote it and offer a discount! Do you want more students who need help with portfolio preparation? Market the experience toward them by researching portfolio requirements for popular schools in your area and bringing those requirements to the event, either in a binder or on your laptop/tablet, and include activities that build skills toward a specific skill they need in their portfolio.

    Even if you are offering a hybrid learning session, whereby students primarily meet online and have occasional in-person sessions, these initial in-person encounters will help establish your brand while you make authentic connections with students.

    • Drawing Marathon for Teens and Adults - Rent out a space and host a full day drop-in drawing session with a live model for prospective and existing students. Supply meals, refreshments, and supplies. Using earnings from somewhere else in your company, budget to do this 2-3 times a year free of charge in different communities to spread the word about your programs. It is costly in terms of time, money, and effort, but it can attract new students and is a nice way to show appreciation and build community for existing students.

    • Paint Night Social For Preteens: Rent out a space on a Friday or Saturday evening and offer a drop-in painting session for free. You can do this as an ongoing community-building activity for prospective and existing students.

    • Sip and Paint for Adult Learners: Rent out a space and host a Sunday afternoon event with wine, snacks and supplies for your adult learners.

    • Art in the Park: Secure any permits your municipality requires, and set up for a day of art-making in the park. Bring a table, chairs, simple art materials, and a simple lesson to preview for interested families. The point is for families to get to know your personality and teaching style, not to make the perfect artwork. Let families keep whatever they make, and take photographs of it first so you can post about your event on your blog and social media.

• Host Online Events.

  • Virtual Draw-a-Thon: Have students look at the same image of a still life on your screen, and show them how to draw it. Keep these events brief, to 30 minutes or so, and leave students curious to continue learning from them. At the end of the session, offer sign-up links and discount codes.

  • Virtual Critiques: Offer free critiques, either one-on-one or for small groups, where you point out strengths and areas for improvements. This can be done in a video conference for groups or individuals, or over email.

Ultimately, the most important thing is to get yourself out there and tell people about your business. Consider offering coupon codes, referral discounts, and merch perks for anyone who signs up. Try these tips, and you may boost enrollment in your classes!