Resources for Individual Artists

Welcome! This is a resource for people who are invested in improving the lives of artists everywhere.

We have three pages for resources geared towards your work:

• Resources for Organizations Working With Artists
• Resources for Individual Artists
• Resources for Grantmakers

Marketing

Sale Strategies

• Professional Artist - A website for visual artists attempting to improve their art businesses.
• NYFA | Can a Business Model Sustain Art? - Create an innovative business model.
• ArtsyShark | Most of Your Art Marketing Will Fail - Maintaining the right mindset while selling art.
• ArtsyShark | Make Your Art Show Booth into a Gallery - Three takes on setting up an art show booth.
• ArtsyShark | Increase Your Profit Margins: Raise Your Prices
• ArtsyShark | Know Your Customer
• ArtsyShark | Is Your Art Right for the Corporate Market?
• The Abundant Artist | Selling More Paintings with an Annual Secret Sale
• Creator Academy | Build a Business on YouTube

Internet and Social Media

• ArtsyShark | 6 Ways to Boost Your Online Art Sales
• The Abundant Artist | How Many People Do You Need On Your Mailing List?
• The Abundant Artist | 5 Steps to Better Email Marketing for Artists
• Artwork Archive | A Fresh Social Media Strategy for Artists in 2017
• Social Media Week | Location-Based Social Media: An Art Form Worth Perfecting
• Creative Capital Blog | Social Media Tips: It's About Quality, Not Quantity
• YouTube for Artists

Education

• The MFA Years | Fully Funded MFA Programs - A list of affordable MFA programs.
• Vice Creators | The Price to Pay - Four artists weigh in on the merits of getting an MFA
• Artsy | For Artists Who Can’t Afford to Get an MFA, Alternatives Now Abound
• Student Loan Repayment Calculator - Determine how much to budget each month to pay off student loans.

Emergency Resources

• CERF+ | Studio Protector: The Artist's Guide to Emergencies
• For funding options, see Emergency Funding

Funding

Writing a Grant Application

• RISD | Grant and Proposal Tips
• The Abundant Artist | How to Write Grants For Your Art Project - Some steps to earn money for upcoming projects.

Grant Listings

• NYFA Source
• New England Foundation for the Arts
• Arts Midwest
• South Arts
• Mid-America Arts Alliance
• Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation
• Western States Arts Foundation

Individual Grants

• The Alexia Foundation - Funding for students and professional photographers.
• Visura - Funding for photographers.
• The Gordon Parks Foundation - Short-time fellowships for artists who promote social justice.
• The Aaron Siskind Individual Photographers Fellowship Grants - Funding for photographers.
• Art Jewelery Forum - $20,000 grant for midcareer jewelery makers.
• Dorothea Lange-Paul Taylor Prize - $10,000 grant for documentary project writer-photographer duo.
• Pollock-Krasner Foundation - Merit-based and need-based grants for visual artists.
• Women's Studio Workshop - Grants and residencies for artists working in printmaking, papermaking, bookmaking, and ceramics.
• Puffin Foundation - $1,000-$2,500 grants for all kinds of artists whose genre/philosophy is uncommon.
• The Sustainable Arts Foundation - Unrestricted cash awards and residency opportunities to artists with families.
• ART WORKS - Grants for media arts professionals.
• Our Town - Grant for projects that help revitalize communities.
• UrbanGlass - Funding for artists working with medium of glass.
• The Vilcek Foundation - Annual prizes for immigrants in the performing arts.
• Princess Grace Awards - Grants for emerging theater, dance, and film artists.

Crowdfunding

• Patreon - Alternative source for funding through subscription system.
• Emphas.is - Crowdfunding for "meaningful projects."
• Pozible - Crowdfunding for projects.
• RocketHub - Global community for entrepreneurs.
• Indiegogo - Launchpad for entrepreneurial ideas.
• ArtistShare - Crowdfunding resource dedicated to artists.

Scholarships

• The Harriet Hale Woolley Scholarships at the Foundation des Etats-Unis - Funding for graduate-level practice in music and the visual art.
• National Sculpture Society, Inc. Scholarship - Scholarships of $2,000 for students studying sculpture.
• Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Visual Arts Fellowship - Scholarships for artists and art historians who reside in Virginia.
• Worldstudio Foundation AIGA Scholarships - $2,000-3,000 scholarships for arts students from minority or economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
• Union League Civic & Arts Foundation - Scholarships for visual arts students in Chicago.

Emergency Funding

• CERF+ - Voluntary task force supplying temporary relief to artists.
• HOWL Emergency Life Project (HELP) - Emergency support for artists who have participating in the HOWL Festival.
• The Haven - Assistance for artists facing career-threatening emergencies.
• Alliance of Artists Communities (AAC) Residencies for Artists Affected by a Natural Disaster - Short-term residencies for artists affected by natural disasters.
• Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation, Inc. - Typically-$5,000 award to artists facing unexpected disaster.
• Artists' Charitable Fund - Financial support for artists struck by medical, fire or other distaster.
• Joan Mitchell Foundation Emergency Grant - Emergency financial support for artists working with painting, sculpture or drawing.
• Artists' Fellowship, Inc. - Financial assistance for artists "in times of sickness, natural disaster, bereavement or unexpected extreme hardship."
• Max's Kansas City Project - Emergency funding for professionals in the creative arts who live in New York state.
• Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grants - $200-$2500 in funding for artists dealing with hardship or who incur unexpected expenses for projects close to completion date.
• Visual Aid - Assistance to help artists with life-threatening illnesses continue work.
• The Dancers fund - Emergency funding for Chicago-based dancers.

Job Search

• NYFA - Find a Job in the Arts - Advice on looking for jobs and getting your foot in the door.
• NYFA | The Business of Art: A Q&A - Advice and guidance for arts administrators and art educators.
• NYFA | How to Get a Job at a Museum - An overview of the types of museum jobs.
• NYFA | How to Get a Job in Development - An overview of skills needed to get a job in development.
• NYFA | Five Commonly Asked Interview Questions - Common questions for arts professionals.
• NYFA | How Social Media Can Help Your Job Search - Networking on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
• NYFA | How Does A Gallery Find Me? - One gallerist's perspective.

Housing and Studio Space

• Artspace - National group for artist housing.
• Assets for Artists | Space Finder - Selected artist space resources.
• TransArtists | Studio Spaces - Studio space listings around the world.
• Empty Easel | 4 Questions to Consider Before Renting a Space for Your Art Studio
• The Listings Project - Free newsletter of real estate opportunities for artists and creatives.
• SPACE Studios - Affordable studio space in London.
• Brokelyn | Your Guide to Free and Cheap Studio Space in Brooklyn

Residencies

Picking a Residency

• Artist Communities | Choosing the Right Residency for You
• Trans Artists | What are residencies?

Residency Listings

• Asian Cultural Council - Arts exchanges in Asia.
• Japan Foundation - 2-12 month residencies in Japan
• Art Shape Mammoth International Artist Exchange - Exchanges to Iceland, Finland, and China.
• The Nordic Artists' Center - Artistic community in Scandinavia with accomodations provided.
• The American-Scandinavian Foundation - Grants for arts professionals to support intercultural dialogue.
• Arts Envoys - American arts professionals travel overseas to conduct workshops, give performances, and mentor young people.
• US-Cuba Artist Exchange - Encourages cultural dialogue between Cubans and Americas
• Sacatar Foundation - Six-to-twelve week residencies in a beachside town in Brazil.
• Alliance of Artists - United States residencies for all types of artists.
• Res Artist - Worldwide network of artist residencies.
• Trans Artists - Platform supporting international artist residencies.
• Residency Unlimited - Up-to-date information about artist residencies worldwide.
• U.S. National Parks Residency - 2-4 week residencies in North American national parks.
• MesArt Residency Listing - Broad list of residencies.
• China Residencies
• Air_J - Residencies in Japan
• Basil Alkazzi Artist-in-Residence - For painting artists who explore impact of light.
• Lighton International Artists Exchange Program - International residencies for visual artists and arts professionals.
• Woodstock A-I-R - For artists of color working in the medium of photography.
• McColl Center for Visual Art - Charlotte, NC-based residency program.
• Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture - Nine-week residency for painters and sculptors.
• The Millay Colony for the Arts - Residency for visual artists and composers of all experience levels.
• Isabel Stewart Gardner Artist-in-Residence Program - Flexible residencies for artists working in any medium.
• The Mattress Factory - Pittsburgh-based residency where artists create site-specific works.
• The Bemis Center - Residency for all types of artists that includes general stipend.
• Engaging Artists - For NYC-based artists interested in addressing the intersecting issues of labor, immigration, globalization, and economic justice.

Care & Preparedness

Health Care

• Insurance in the Arts
• Actors Fund | Health Insurance Resource Center
• Fractured Artlas | Guide to Insurance for Artists - A collection of resources for health insurance, based on your type of work.
• Actors Fund Health Insurance Resource Center - Information on getting insured and workshops in LA and NYC.
• Actors Fund | Artist Access Program, Woodhull Medical and Mental Health Center - Brooklyn-based program that exchanges $40 health care credits for one hour of creative work.

Insurance & Preparedness

• NYFA | Emergency Preparedness for Artists - Advice on preparing for natural disasters.
• NYFA | An A/V Presentation Primer for Artists - Advice on backing up data.
• NYFA | Business Insurance for Individual Artists - Advice on insuring your professional assets.
• Art Law Journal | The Basics of Insurance for Artists - A broad overview of types of insurance an artist might consider.
• NYFA | Protect Yourself from Fraudelent Job Listings - How to avoid common job scams.
• Agora Gallery | How to Identify and Avoid Art Frauds - Make sure you have the tools to recognize a fraudulent company and protect yourself and your art.

Self Care

• My Art Resources | Self Care for Artists - Five short articles on taking care of yourself to maximize productivity.

Legal Services for Artists

Resources

• ArtBusiness | Common Artist Legal Problems and How to Avoid Them
• Clancoo - News about art law.
• NYFA | Photographers: Let the Shutters Fly - Know your rights as a photographer.
• NYFA | Business of Art: Copyright, Fair Use, and the New Borrowers
• United States Copyright Office

Legal Support

• Lawyers for the Creative Arts
• Volunteer Lawyers for Artists - Chicago - Legal help and open seminars.
• Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts - New York City
• The Artists' and Innovators' Legal Clinic - Boulder, CO
• California Lawyers for the Arts

Personal Finance

For Artists

• sm-artly - Personal finance for artists.
• NYFA | Building a Project Budget - Step-by-step instructions for project budget building.
• NYFA | Are You Ready for Tax Season? - Three tips on thriving during tax season.
• Stockstreet Blog | Personal Finance for Artists - Concise round-up of what artists should know about personal finance
• On the Move - Advice for traveling artists.

General

• Mint - For keeping track of budgets and bills.
• WiseBread - Financial health and general wellbeing.
• Investopedia - News and advice for investing.

Professional Development

Websites

• ArtistsU - Artist-run incubator for changing working conditions for artists.
• Alliance of Artists' Communities
• Chicago Artists Resource
• Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council
• NYFA
• Regional Arts & Culture Council
• Springboard for the Arts
• United States Artist
• Arts Incubator of the Rockies
• Creative Capital - Workshops, Webinars, and Professional Development Resources for Artists]
• Center for Cultural Innovation
• Ask Harriete - Bog by Harriete Estel Berman with practical solutions for issues of artsits.

Articles, Workshops, & Other Links

• Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council
• WomenArts | Tips for Artists Starting Out - Advice on networking, setting goals, and being realistic
• The Abundant Artist | The Importance of Following Successful Living Artists - Define success and find role models.
• Fast Company | 10 Techniques from Professional Artists for Breaking Through Creative Block - Strategies to spark creativity.
• Americans for the Arts | Professional Development - Webinars and more.
• Artists U | Making Your Life as an Artist
• Art & Business Council of Greater Boston | Artist Webinars
• Arts Council of Indianapolis | Artist Resources
• Arts Incubator of the Rockies | Knowledge Center
• C4 Atlanta | Business Resources for Artists
• Career Transition for Dancers - Video Career Conversations
• Center for Cultural Innovation | Publications
• Chamber Music Ameriac | Video Library
• Chicago Artists Resource | Survival Guide

Consultations & Workshops

• Artist Trust | Workshops & Events
• Artist U | Core Program
• Arts & Business Council fo Greater Boston | Seminars & Workshops
• Arts Council of Indianapolis | Professional Development Series - Workshops to help navigate the business side of the arts, you can sign up for a newsletter on their website to be notified as workshops are announced.
• Asheville Area Arts Council | Artist Resource Center - The Artist Resource Center has a variety of resources and equipment available for artists to use, including computers and creative software.
• Assets for Artists - Available in Massachusetts, Portland, Maine, New York City and Rhode Island, Assets for Artists is a program that sets savings goals and provides financial and business training, and at the end, matches the savings accumulated by the artist up to $2,000. Program is by application.
• C4 | Ignite Lite - A one hour training presentation about developing a business plan, including different business models, goal setting, and core mission and values. C4 serves the Atlanta area.
• C4 | TechsmARTS - A bi-monthly meeting with a moderated panel focusing on using technology as a tool to help artists and arts administrators build their careers. C4 serves the Atlanta area.
• Center for Cultural Innovation | Workshops
• Community Partnerships for Arts and Culture | Counsel and Connections - Consultations for Cleveland-based artists.
• Corzo Center for Creative Economy | Open Office Hours
• Cue Arts | Meeting Artists' Needs - Professional development series for artists of all ages and backgrounds in New York City.
• Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County | Marketing Roundtable
• Delta Arts Alliance | Artist Survival Skills Workshop
• Fresh Arts | Workshops
• Lower Manhattan Cultural Council | Professional Development
• Milwaukee Artists Resource Network | MARN Mentors
• National Alliance for Media Arts and Culture | National Leadership Institute - 5-day workshop for artists and arts professionals.
• NY Designs | Pro(s) Bono - 30 minute consultations in Long Island City.
• Pave Program in the Arts | Entrepreneurship Speaker Series
• Self Employment in the Arts | Workshops and Panels - Based in Glen Elyn, IL.
• Springboard for the Arts | Work of Art Workshops - Twin Cities, MN artist professional development workshops.
• The Arts Council of Greater New Haven | Arts Resource Center
• The Center for Emerging Visual Artists | Direct Dialogues - Lectures for professional visual artists.
• Visual Art Exchange | Artists' Night - Lectures, demonstrations, and workshops for artists.

Books

Professional Development

• The Profitable Artist, Artspire, 2011 ($24.95) - NYFA's collection of "best practices" for planning and organizing a career in the arts.
• The Artist's Guide: How to Make a Living Doing What You Love, Jackie Battenfield, 2009 ($11.00) - Tough love approach with workbook.
• Getting Your Sh*t Together: The Ultimate Business Manual for Every Practicing Artist, Karen Atkinson, 2014, 2014 ($28.99) - An all-encompassing, easy to follow guide for artists looking to better their business practices.
• The Profitable Artist: A Handbook for All Artists in the Performing, Literary, and Visual Arts, Artspire, 2011 ($15.62) - "Best practices" approach with anecdotes, interviews, and case studies.
• The Artist's Guide to Public Art: How to Find and Win Commissions, Lynn Basa, 2008 ($19.95) - Thorough guide to winning commissions.
• Create Your Art Career: Practical Tools, Visualizations, and Self-Assessment Exercises for Empowerment and Success, Rhonda Schaller, 2013 ($11.42) - 50+ career planning exercises.
• Starting Your Career as an Artist: A Guide for Painters, Sculptors, Photographers, and Other Visual Artists , Angie Wojak et al., 2011 ($11.52) - Evaluating goals and creating plans of action.
• ART/WORK: Everything You Need to Know (and Do) As You Pursue Your Art Career, Heather Darcy Bhandari et al. , 2009 ($12.75) - Comprehensive career guide.
• Art, Inc.: The Essential Guide for Building Your Career as an Artist, Lisa Congdon, 2014 ($11.52) - Advice on turning your passion into profit, with chapters on copyrighting, marketing, licensing and more.
• Making Your Life as an Artist - Book and Workbook, Andrew Simonet

Writing

• The Artist's Guide to Grant Writing: How to Find Funds and Write Foolproof Proposals for the Visual, Literary, and Performing Artist , Gigi Rosenberg, 2010
• Art-Write: The Writing Guide for Visual Artists Vicki Amorose, 2013 ($7.99) - A practical guide on writing about your own art in order to connect with your viewers and advance professionally.
• Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life Anne Lamott, 2007 ($11.99) - Part narrative and part advice, a book about finding your voice in writing.
• On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, Stephen King, 2000 ($9.91) A "revealing and practical view of the writer's craft" that combines memoir and advice.
• The Writing Life Annie Dillard, 2009 ($8.36) - A collection of stories about what to expect in a life as a writer.

Personal Finance

• Arts & Numbers: A Financial Guide for Artists, Writers, Performers, and Other Members of the Creative Class, Elaine Grogan Luttrull , 2013
• The Intelligent Investor: The Definitive Book on Value Investing, Benjamin Graham, 2006 ($12.81) - A well-established guide to investing money.
• Unshakeable: Your Financial Freedom Playbook Tony Robbins 2017, $15.06 - Financial coach shares advice on creating an actionable plan to save money.
• Random Walk Down Wall Street: The Time-Tested Strategy for Successful Investing, Burton G. Malkiel, 2016 ($13.56) - A guide to index-investing that will help you save in the long term.

Fostering Creativity

• The Art Life: On Creativity and Career, Stuart Horodner et al., 2012
• Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative, Austin Kleon, 2012 ($12.95) - A guide to put readers of the digital age in touch with their creative side.
• Creative Confidence: Unleashing the Creative Potential Within Us All, Tom Kelley and David Kelley, 2013 ($32.00) - The founders of IDEO share how to nurture creativity and innovation.
• The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life, Twyla Tharp, 2003 ($7.19) - A set of thirty-two practical exercises to help drive creativity.
• The Artist's Way: 25th Anniversary Edition, Julia Cameron, 1992, $11.55 - A classic book filled with creativity-building exercises.
• Living and Sustaining a Creative Life: Essays by 40 Working Artists, Sharon Louden et al., 2013 ($9.99) - Artists' words on maintaining creativity.
• The Artist as Culture Producer: Living and Sustaining a Creative Life , Sharon Louden et al., 2017 ($41.98) - A sequel.

Productivity

• The War of Art, Steven Pressfield, 2011 ($9.91) - A short, tough-love read about overcoming mental block.
• Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity, David Allen, 2015 ($9.90) - Book on personal organization with actionable plans.
• Thinking Fast and Slow, Daniel Kahneman, 2013 ($8.95) - Practical insights by a psychologist about using "slow thinking" to get things done.

General

• Art & Fear: Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking, David Bayles & Ted Orland, 1993 ($12.95) - Why some art is created and why art often seems to scary to create.
• How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie, 1936 ($9.90) - A timeless book about the best practices to make new acquaintances in order to achieve results.
• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change, Stephen Covey, 1989 ($10.57) - An all-encompassing manual for building great habits.
• Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill, 1937 ($3.99) - A classic, brief book on maintaining a positive mental attitude and achieving personal success.