Artist Resources for Better Business Practices

Allworth Press provides practical information books for the creative community.

On-line art marketing courses and resources as well as, personalized support and workshops offered by Alyson B. Stanfield. Fee for services. Her artbizblog (www.artbizblog.com) is an excellent free resource for arts business information.

A no-frills site of useful articles, tips, and product reviews for both artists and collectors from art consultant Alan Bamberger

ArtHome helps artists build assets and equity through financial literacy and home-ownership. Online tools include a home buyer’s guide and home budgeting information.

A listing of artists’ resources including free and for purchase publications on a variety of art business-related topics.

Articles on a variety of professional developments and topics, plus resource listings. Artist Trust also has grants and other resources for artists from Washington State

An online platform where artists display their artwork and detail their art careers, and are found by potential clients and customers.

This site includes articles and other resources useful to running a craft business. The articles give a pretty good overview of craft business issues. One caveat: About.com articles are a means to sell advertising, and the advertising links tend not to be very relevant. The trend is for articles on About.com and similar sites to be more superficial, however there is currently some good information here.

Artwork Archive helps manage your art inventory, images, exhibitions, location & provenance history, clients and sales, and scheduling. Plus, get easy ways to present your work with reports, private rooms, web embeds and a discovery profile.

• Sales recording, invoicing and accounting
• Consignment reports and invoices
• Portfolio pages and inventory reports

An astute business and tech savvy blog from metalsmith Harriete Estel Berman. This blog has a wealth of information on all aspects of an artist’s business, including a set of professional guidelines developed by a stellar committee of craft professionals for the Society of North American Goldsmiths (SNAG).

Available for purchase and developed by artists and cultural workers, “The Art of Managing Your Career” provides emerging self-employed artists and cultural workers with information to better manage their careers. Craft is one of the eight art disciplines covered. A booklet, “The Art of Managing Your Career in Crafts,” is of some interest for its definition of craft and outline of craft career issues in Canada.

CCI helps self-employed artists, small arts businesses and the nonprofit arts sector in California start, manage and grow their own businesses. They also teach entrepreneurial training workshops in Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento, and the Bay Area.

Chicago Artists Resource (CAR) is a program of the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs. CAR lists artist profiles, career resources, and opportunities. The resources are primarily of interest to Chicago area artists, although there are also items of national interest.

Famous for their excellent weekend-long intensive art business workshops, Creative Capital has a series of one-topic webinars. You will need a computer with speakers, but no special software. The cost is $25 per 90 minute session. Check their calendar for times and topics.

FCIC of the General Services Administration (GSA), provides information about common consumer issues.

GYST is a software application for PC and MAC for tracking artworks and other career-related items such as artist statements, contacts, etc.

A monthly magazine that focuses on business information for artists working in craft disciplines.

A compendium of online resources on starting, financing, and managing a small business, especially in relation to taxes.

FIELD at the Aspen Institute has compiled this listing of microenterprise programs around the country that help small business owners and low-income entrepreneurs gain access to the training and financial resources they need to succeed. Select “Find Programs” to find programs in your area.

NYFA’s online archive pertaining to the practical side of artmaking — “the Business of Art” — produced by NYFA staff and arranged by category. Includes articles and interviews, links, and podcasts.

NYFA Source provides online access to the nation’s most extensive databank of grants, emergency relief, residencies, publications and sources of information for artists of all disciplines.

Professional Artist magazine offers artists practical advice on business topics and advanced technical applications, listings of Calls to Artists and an online art business community.

Over 6,000 artists responded to the Artists and the Economic Recession Survey, commissioned by Leveraging Investments in Creativity, in collaboration with Helicon Collaborative and Princeton Survey Research Associates International.

Woodshop News contacted the owners of several small cabinet and furniture shops that the magazine has recently profiled to find out what measures they have taken to weather financial downturn.

Put together by New York State’s Small Business Development Center, the guide includes helpful recession-specific tips, techniques, and experiences that can help any small business owner weather tough financial times.

The SBA Learning Center offers online training, videos and chat sessions on a range of small business topics.

SCORE (Counselors to America’s Small Business) is a nonprofit association dedicated to providing entrepreneurs with free, confidential face-to-face and email business counseling. SCORE connects you with mentors and provides business workshops at locations around the country.

Estate planning information-SAI is a nonprofit organization that assists senior artists in understanding the need for and processes involved in organizing their life’s work and by developing programs that provide recognition for senior artists. The site contains several useful articles about how to help assure a favorable disposal of your artworks after death that are compiled in a pdf “Guidelines for Senior Artists;” http://www.seniorartists.org/images/Guidelines.PDF

A great compendium of online advice on starting, financing and managing a small business.

Part of the Small Business Administration, SBDCs offer one-stop assistance to individuals and small businesses by providing a wide variety of business information and guidance in central and easily accessible branch locations. This section provides a directory of offices and programs.

The Small Business Administration’s archive of articles about various aspects of running a business. The site also includes tabs for SBA services, tools, and local resources

“The Professional Guidelines have been developed as a reference to help everyone in the arts and crafts community learn how to handle common but important situations that may arise. These documents are basic tools for improved and equitable business practices, leading toward more standard professional practices.” The guidelines include forms, checklists, and advice on a wide variety of business issues.

Springboard for the Arts provides a variety of resources to artists in the Upper Midwest region. Services include art business workshops, loans, emergency assistance, and a comprehensive state-by-state listing of resources for artists living in the Upper Midwest

State arts agencies are important resources for grants, exhibition opportunities, and professional practices workshops. This site will help you locate your state agency and key personnel.

The Tamarack Foundation for the Arts in West Virginia offers a variety of resources to help artists and creatives learn new skills, build their business and connect with other artists. While the foundation’s focus in West Virginia, many of the resources are of use to all artists.

The Halstead Grant offers start-up funding for a new US silver jewelry artist each summer. The winner receives a $7,500 cash start-up grant plus $1,000 in supplies and other benefits. Top 10 finalists are also recognized with smaller cash prizes. The grant application process is an exercise in goal setting and strategic planning that helps new jewelry studios to start out on the right foot. Deadline is August 1.