Level Up
Level Up
Level Up is a professional development series for the arts & culture sector.
Through interactive workshops and expert-led seminars, you will gain valuable skills and insights for growth. Whether you’re looking to improve your fundraising techniques, expand your art business, enhance your curatorial strategies, or foster stronger community engagement, Level Up offers the tools and knowledge to help you succeed.
Program Details
- Level Up registration fee is included with your membership
- Some sessions are exclusive to network Members, while others are open to the public
- Organizational Members are allowed to register multiple staff / board members
- Registration is required for each session
Story to Support: Build Capacity through Social Media
- Thursday October 8, 2026
- 8:30am - 12:00pm
- West Shore Bank - 400 E. 8th St, Traverse City
Led by Marivi Bryant, founder of HOME Agency, a people-first creative and strategy firm based in Traverse City, this workshop explores how arts organizations and artists can use storytelling and social media to inspire connection and drive fundraising. With experience helping mission-driven brands grow through authentic content and community engagement, Marivi will guide participants in identifying their unique stories, translating them into meaningful online communication, and using simple strategies to turn audiences into advocates and supporters.
Attendees will leave with practical tools to:
Clarify and share their story in a way that feels authentic and compelling
Use social media with purpose to grow community and engagement
Connect storytelling to fundraising goals in a sustainable, values-driven way
Cost
- Network Members: Free (Not yet a member? Join now for only $25)
- Non-Members: $150 per individual
Facilitator: Marivi Bryant
Marivi Bryant is the Founder and President of HOME Agency, a people-first marketing and branding firm working with mission-driven organizations and national brands across the country. With nearly 25 years of experience spanning the Phoenix Suns, NASCAR Foundation, State Farm, Blue Cross Blue Shield, New Balance, and more, she built HOME on the belief that purposeful, human-centered marketing drives real impact. Originally from Venezuela, Marivi came to the United States at 13 to pursue tennis, earning a Division I scholarship and developing the resilience that fuels her leadership today. She is an active arts and community advocate, serving on the boards of Slow Burn Theatre Company and Old Town Playhouse, with past roles at the Blumenthal Center for the Performing Arts, Levine Museum of the New South, Arena Stage, and The Salvation Army of South Florida. In 2025, she launched the Values in Action Award, a $100,000 pro bono initiative supporting nonprofits through strategic marketing and storytelling. Marivi lives in Michigan with her husband, Mathew, and their children, Logan and Lyla.
Audience: Who is this for?
This session is designed for:
- All
Details
- Registration is required
AI Tech Toolkit for Arts Admin
- Thursday October 15, 2026
- 8:30am - 12:00pm
- Charlevoix TBA
A Tech Toolkit for the Proactive Arts Admin
For nonprofit professionals, staying organized can often feel like a full-time job in itself. This session is designed to help arts nonprofit professionals transition from "putting out fires" to proactive planning by leveraging the full power of their existing digital ecosystem. We want to help you reclaim your creative energy by shifting from reactive tasks to proactive impact using the tools you already use every day. We’ll dive into "hidden" Google Workspace features to automate your inbox and calendar, followed by high-impact applications for AI tools like Gemini and NotebookLM to streamline grant drafting, program planning, and donor reporting. You’ll walk away with a practical "productivity toolkit" and the confidence to let technology handle the busy work so you can focus on human-centered work.
Cost
- Network Members: Free (Not yet a member? Join now for only $25)
- Non-Members: $150 per individual
Facilitator: Sam Charnes
Sam Charnes is the Associate Vice Provost at Interlochen Center for the Arts, overseeing institutional research and educational technology for a sprawling arts education ecosystem that runs the gamut from a 600-student boarding high school and a 3,500-student summer camp to a variety of online and adult auxiliary programs. Specializing in systems implementation and operational strategy, she is dedicated to using data and technology to drive decision-making and planning. She thrives on creating order out of chaos, values curiosity, strives for continual improvement, and believes that anything is possible with enough coffee and a strong Wi-Fi network.
Audience: Who is this for?
This session is designed for:
- Organizations
Details
- Registration is required
This program is made possible in part by the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Community Foundation and the Charlevoix County Community Foundation
Beyond the Noise: Tightening Strategy & Reducing Mission Drift
- Thursday October 22, 2026
- 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM
- Charlevoix Area- TBA
Too much to do and too little time? You are not alone! Join us for this interactive workshop to explore tools and strategies to help your organization tighten its strategy and focus on what is most important. Learn how to identify what matters most, align your Board and staff around your top priorities, and develop a strategic screen to stay on track. Explore how to reduce mission drift, increase community impact, and prevent employee burnout and turnover.
Cost
- Network Members: Free (Not yet a member? Join now for only $25)
- Non-Members: $150 per individual
Facilitator: Colleen Masterson-Bzdok
Colleen Masterson-Bzdok has over 20 years of experience working with northern Michigan nonprofits as a staff member, board member, volunteer, funder and consultant. She is passionate about helping leaders and organizations improve their culture, align their work around what is most important and maximize their impact in the communities they serve. Learn more about Colleen here.
Audience: Who is this for?
This session is designed for:
- Art & culture administrators
Details
- Registration is required
Past Topics
In response to the topics our members have shared the greatest need for educational opportunities. These programs will be offered in different locations across NW Michigan.
- AI for Capacity Building
- Social Media for the Reluctant Artist
- Grant Writing Unlocked: From Idea to Proposal
- Work of Art: Business Skills for Artists