These resources provide information to help artists enhance their professional practices and strengthen their businesses. While most of the resources are specifically for artists, some are good general business resources.
Note: The resources on these pages are listed by priority, with top-rated items appearing first. For more information on the listings and how to submit recommendations for listings, please see the note at the end of Artists' Career Resources.
Photos (L-R): Teri Greeves, Anna Millea, Michael Puryear
Society of North American Goldsmiths (SNAG): Professional Guidelines
"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.
Publications: The Crafts Report Magazine
A monthly magazine that focuses on business information for craft artists.
Ask Harriete: Artist Professional Guidelines Q&A
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).
ArtBizCoach.com: Artist Marketing and Self-Promotion
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 resouce for arts business information.
Senior Artists Initiative
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
New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA): Business of Art Articles
An index art business articles from NYFA.
Artist Trust: Professional Development Resources and Articles
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.
ArtBusiness.com
A no-frills site of useful articles, tips, and product reviews for both artists and collectors from art consultant Alan Bamberger
Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE)
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.
IRS: Small Business and Self-Employed One-Stop Resource
A compendium of online resources on starting, financing, and managing a small business, especially in relation to taxes.
Creativity in Challenging Times
CERF+ interviews four artists about their strategies for surviving and flourishing during difficult economic times.
What Would I Do Differently? Insurance Advice from the Trenches
A cerfnews article highlighting insurance related experiences of and advice from craft artists who have had serious emergencies.
Business Insurance: Can You Afford to Be Without It?
A cerfnews article about acquiring insurance for your craft art business.
New York Foundation for the Arts: NYFA Source
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.
Recession Art: Leveraging Investments in Creativity's 2009 Artists and the Recession Survey
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.
New York Foundation for the Arts: The Profitable Artist
The Profitable Artist is a handbook for artists in the performing, literary and visual arts, compiled by arts professionals and the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA). The book guides the reader through five broad substantive topics that are often overlooked by artists: strategic planning, finance, law, marketing, and fundraising. Each topic area is reinforced by real-world examples and applications of the material.
Springboard for the Arts
Springboard for the Arts provids 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
Chicago Artists Resource (CAR)
Chicago Artists Resource (CAR) is a program of the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs. CAR lists artist profiles, career resources, and opportunites. The resources are primarily of interest to Chicago area artists, although there are also items of national interest.
T-Shirts and Suits: A Guide to the Business of Creativity
A free eBook by David Parrish for creative entrepreneurs to refer to and find information, examples from other businesses, and practical tips about using powerful business ideas in a creative context.
Publications: Allworth Press Business Books for Artists
Allworth Press provides practical information books for the creative community.
Getting Your Sh*t Together (GYST): Software and Services for Artists of All Kinds
GYST is a software application for PC and MAC for tracking artworks and other career-related items such as artist statements, contacts, etc. Cost is approx. $130.
Entrepreneurs’ Help Page
This web site distributes basic information on legal, financial, and management issues that commonly affect people who are just starting up their businesses.
Art Calendar/Professional Artist
Art Calendar/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.
Small Business Development Centers (SBA)
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.
Small Business Administration (SBA)
A great compendium of online advice on starting, financing and managing a smalll business.
Small Business Planner (SBA)
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
Federal Citizen Information Center
FCIC of the General Services Administration (GSA), provides information about common consumer issues.
Microenterprise Programs Directory
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. On the tab above the data, select the US map icon and then select your state to see programs in your area.
A River Worth Crossing: Learning Basic Business Practices to Help Sustain Your Career
Whether you’re just starting out or,looking to give your existing business a boost, implementing basic business practices, from creating an identity and setting prices to writing a business plan and developing a budget, should help make your life as an artist in business a little easier.
State Arts Agency Directory - NASAA
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.
Center for Cultural Innovation (California)
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.
ArtHome
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.
Artist Help Network
A listing of artists' resources including free and for purchase publications on a variety of art business-related topics.
Bruce Baker’s Business Development Workshops and Resources for Artists
Craft Marketing guru Bruce Baker teaches workshops across the country. If you cannot make a workshop, he has CD's about getting into and selling at craft shows for sale..
Arts and Crafts Business at About.com
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.
SBA Podcasts on Small Business Topics
The SBA offers podcast feeds to you on a range of small business topics. New podcasts monthly.
Recession buster: Tips for Weathering the Storm
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.
Canada Cultural Human Resources Council: Artist Career Strengthening Resources
A pdf 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.
Recession Survival Guide for Small Business
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.
