Key OPERA America initiatives have offered artists insights and support for coping with the effects of the pandemic. Two of OA’s annual professional development programs — Career Blueprints for the Singers and Career Transitions for Artists — were shifted online and presented as webinar series, reaching a far greater number of singers than would have been possible in person.

In a sign that many artists are still committed to singing careers, more than 200 people signed up for Career Blueprints for Singers, which focuses on artist entrepreneurship and the practical elements of launching a career in opera. Webinar sessions explored topics like recording techniques, financial planning, social media and digital presence, and working as a portfolio artist.

In light of the number of artists pursuing alternative income sources during the crisis, this year’s edition of Career Transitions for Artists proved to be especially timely. The program introduced participants to the administrative side of the opera industry, and it also helped them identify skills they could use in other sectors. They received advice from former singers who have made successful transitions to new careers, like Ana De Archuleta, president and CEO of ADA Artist Management, and Khori Dastoor, general director of Opera San José.

Thanks to funding from the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation, OA was able to offer free membership to all artists this year, which enabled them to take part in these and other programs without any financial burden. To learn more about OA’s programs and resources for artists, visit operaamerica.org/Artists.