CERF+’s Top 5 Tips
KNOW YOUR RISKS: What assets are critical to your artistic career? What can you least afford to lose? What’s most important to you in your artistic practice? What kinds of emergencies are you vulnerable to based on your geography, the materials you use,...
February 2020 Tip of the Month: Flood Prevention and Recovery
While we welcome the arrival of warmer weather (especially here in Vermont), we also know that it can bring sudden changes in weather that result in dangerous flooding. We’ve already seen record rainfall and flooding across parts of the United States, which increases...
October 2019 Tip of the Month: Health & Wellness During the Busy Season
It’s that time of year again! Many artists depend on sales from the holiday season and ramp up production in order to meet the increased demand. This often involves working long hours, traveling to numerous shows, and extended periods of intense physical activity....
September 2019 Tip of the Month: Mold Mitigation and DIY Recovery
Hurricanes, tropical storms, and the accompanying rain and flooding can wreak havoc on an artist’s career and studio. It’s important to know what to do in the event that your home, studio, or work area has been flooded. Fortunately, CERF+ has a number of resources and...
August 2019 Tip of the Month: Ventilation for Small Studios
Proper ventilation is essential to any healthy practice, yet many artists find themselves working in less-than-ideal situations. While it is true that ventilation systems can be expensive to purchase and install, there are many steps you can take to make your studio...
July 2019 Tip of the Month: Crafting Your Legacy with J. Leko
J. Leko is the principal of J. Leko Furniture Maker, LLC, where he designs and builds specially commissioned custom furniture and woodwork. Leko studied at the Marc Adams School of Woodworking and has had the opportunity to work with some of the world’s finest...
June 2019 Tip of the Month: Get Prepared Together
When artists collaborate, unexpected things happen: inspired pieces of artwork get produced, new conversations open up, and surprising new connections are formed. This type of collaboration is important behind the scenes as well. We’ve found that artists are far more...
May 2019 Tip of the Month: Hurricane Preparedness
With the official start of hurricane season on June 1, you might be surprised to learn that half of the population in the U.S. resides in states that are most threatened by hurricanes. If you live in an area of high risk there are steps you can take to get ready and...
April 2019 Tip of the Month: Post Disaster Scams
In the aftermath of a disaster, an enormous amount of private and public funds are pumped into the affected areas. This flood of money, in addition to an increase in volunteers and first responders, can create a chaotic and confusing situation on the ground....
Financial First Aid Kit
Unanticipated expenses and events are often part of being an independent artist.
Do you have cash or the equivalent on hand to handle a sudden and unforeseen $400 expense?
If a serious emergency occurred, would you have access to funds (via savings, the sale of assets, or borrowing capacity) if you were unable to generate income from your art for three months?
If you answered no to either questions above, you might want to consider developing a Financial First Aid Kit.