Artist Resources

Information, opportunities, and networking to help you thrive.

The business of art

Advice and resources to bridge the gaps between making art and making an art career. Business & professional development for artists.

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Improve your craft

Artist lectures, workshops, apprenticeships and other opportunities in a variety of mediums to take your artistic practice to the next level.

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Finance & Grants

Learn how to build budgets, write grants and find funding and support for your creative projects.

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Marketing your art

Coaching, workshops and resources to help you find your patrons, keep in touch and maintain relationships with collectors.

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Legal Considerations

Guidance and resources on the legal aspects of arts businesses.

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WV Creative Network

Join the creative network to connect with artists and creatives of all kinds living and working across West Virginia.

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Toolkits For The Arts

Straightforward guidance to help individuals, communities, arts councils, and other creative entities implement local initiatives for the visual arts.

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Opportunites & Inspiration

Subscribe to our bi-monthly newsletter to stay updated on opportunities for artists and inspiring stories of creativity happening all over the mountain state.

The Business of Art

Small Business Development Center West Virginia

Learn about SBDC training opportunities (via SBDC WV)

Small Business Administration

Learn about SBA training opportunities (via SBA)

WV Business Incubators & Accelerators

Find assistance for starting or growing your West Virginia based business.

SBA Business Plan Templates

Your business plan is the foundation of your business. Learn how to write a business plan quickly and efficiently with a business plan template. (via SBA)

Business Insurance Guidebook for Artists

E-book including tips on risk management, types of business insurance coverage, steps for getting coverage and more (via CERF+)

CERF+ Insurance Hub

The hub features tips and details on how to get business, disaster, and health insurance coverage for artists (via CERF+)

CERF+ DIY Disaster Recovery

The Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF+) has assembled an in-depth guide to DIY disaster recovery for artists who have been impacted by events such as flooding and fires.

If you have registered as a small business and you have physical artworks (or products) for sale, you need to complete an inventory for the year-end tax requirements. It’s definitely not the most fun, but it is a necessary part of maintaining your career. (via Artwork Archive)

How to Inventory Your Artwork

Know you need to inventory your art, but don’t know where to start? We’ve broken it down into ten simple steps to make it even easier (via Artwork Archive)

Storing Your Artwork

There are a lot of risks when storing art. Although nerve-wracking, if you know what you’re doing, you can save monthly costs by putting together an at-home storage space. Even if you are working with consultants or a storage unit, it’s good to know what you’re looking for. (via Artwork Archive)

Inventory Records

It is critically important to keep accurate and complete Inventory Records of your art work or craft, regardless of whether that work is production, limited edition, commission, or one-of-a-kind work. (via Harriete Estel Berman)

What Is the Difference Between Curated and Juried

Do you know, “What’s the Difference between ‘curated’ and ‘juried’?” Yes, both curators and jurors select work, but there is a BIG difference. (via Harriete Estel Berman)

Top Ten Tips for Getting Into a Juried Exhibition, Craft Show, Book or Magazine

Improve your chances of being accepted into any juried event, exhibition or publication. (via Harriete Estel Berman)

10 Ways to Make Your Booth Trade Show Ready

Tips from industry experts on ensuring your display is ready to present at national trade shows. (via Arts Business Institute)

Artist Checklist for a Successful Show

A series of ten tips to help prepare for a national trade show such as planning your pitch, understanding negotiation, preparing sales materials and others (via Arts Business Institute)

Plan Your Trade Show Marketing Schedule

Review a sample plan with marketing activities broken out into three phases: before, during, and after the trade show. (via Arts Business Institute)

7 To-Dos for Your Trade Show Checklist

There are tons of shows out there that could be a huge break for your business. A lot of the good ones cost a pretty penny to attend, especially if you are exhibiting at them. Here’s how to make the most of them. (via Entrepreneur)

Display Booth Ideas

A resource-rich page featuring ideas on planning and creating booth design, places to purchase materials, transportation/set-up and breakdown, example photos and more (via Craft Professional)

Best Practices for Booth Display

Six best practices to help your display including notes on lighting and signage (via Arts Business Institute)

Evaluate Your Fairs and Festivals

A sample set of questions to ask yourself before considering whether or not to be a vendor at a show and also after vending a show (via Arts Business Institute)

Doing Craft Shows: Simple Tips to Make Your Experience Successful

Ideas for thinking through juried vs. non-juried shows, booth fees and presentation, sales psychology and more (via Handmade Business)

How to get Accepted to More Fairs and Festivals

Fairs and festivals can be a thriving part of your art business strategy. But, with different jurors and application requirements for each, it helps to know how to tackle your applications. Learn what it takes to get accepted. (via Artwork Archive)

What Is the Difference Between Curated and Juried?

Do you know, “What’s the Difference between ‘curated’ and ‘juried’?” Yes, both curators and jurors select work, but there is a BIG difference. (via Harriete Estel Berman)

Top Ten Tips for Getting Into a Juried Exhibition, Craft Show, Book or Magazine

Improve your chances of being accepted into any juried event, exhibition or publication. (via Harriete Estel Berman)

5 Places to Sell Exceptional Handmade Work

Five websites to consider as online marketplaces to sell artwork (via Arts Business Institute)

E-Commerce 101: How to Sell More Online

E-commerce is one of the most important and fastest-growing aspects of today’s retail landscape. Attract and retain customers by keeping up with new e-commerce trends (via Square)

Etsy Pros and Cons From Sellers

Read opinions from Etsy shop owners about the pros and cons of selling on Etsy. (via Aeolidia)

Establishing and Artist Co-Op

Lori McKinney shares details about her artist co-op functions: how it came together, how it functions (and doesn’t), and why it works. (via Create Your State)

How to Get Your Work Displayed in Galleries

Hear from gallery owners about do’s and dont’s for the initial approach or pitch, whether or not to consider consignment, networking and more (via Handmade Business)

Guidelines for Jurying into Tamarack

Juried WV artists and artisans are eligible to wholesale products to Tamarack, The Best of West Virginia. (via Tamarack)

Submitting to National Nonprofit Galleries

Get started researching national nonprofit galleries, and preparing and submitting exhibition proposals. (via Professional Artist)

To Co-Op or Not to Co-Op: A really big question

A few things to consider before joining a co-op (via Harriete Estel Berman)

How to Set Up a Pop Up Art Gallery

A pop-up gallery or store can be a great option for artists and designers. Learn How. (via The Store Front)

How Many Ways Can You Sell Your Art?

There are more options than ever for artists and makers to create income. (via Art Business Institute)

First Steps to Hire an Artist’s Representative

Advice on whether or not hiring an artist’s representative is right for your business plus tips to take the first steps of hiring and preparing a contract (via Handmade Business)

Win Over Art Consultants and Interior Designers

Interior designers and art consultants rely on artists to do their job. Getting on a designer’s radar can make a huge impact on your art business. Learn how. (via Artwork Archive)

Local Arts Rapid Response Kit: Responding to Cuts in Arts Funding

A sample plan including messaging, communications and advocacy strategies plus research to make the case when funding is threatened by legislative bodies (via Americans for the Arts)

Arts and Economic Prosperity IV

This study documents the key role played by the nonprofit arts and culture industry, and their audiences, in strengthening our nation’s economy (via Americans for the Arts)

Shipping and Logistics Strategies for Artists: Part One

Jennifer Pauly of Worldwide Express shares shipping and logistics strategies. Part One (via Worldwide Express)

Shipping and Logistics Strategies for Artists: Part Two

Jennifer Pauly of Worldwide Express shares shipping and logistics strategies. Part Two (via Worldwide Express)

Sell More Art by Talking Benefits

Learn how to use a benefits-focused approach to improve your sales pitch to customers (via Arts Business Institute)

6 Ways to Influence Customers and Grow Sales

Consider this six-step process to close a sale with a prospective buyer (via Handmade Business)

The Trust Factor

Learn to gain trust when marketing and selling your work online. (via Arts Business Institute)

Reasons Customers Buy

Purchasing comes down to addressing two ideas: solutions to problems and good feelings. The latter is easily addressed through artwork, this article poses ideas for creating products to address the former (via Arts Business Institute)

Marketing to Wholesale Customers

A checklist of ways to reach and engage wholesale buyers (via The Arts Business Institute)

Improve Your Craft

Haystack Mountain Craft School Residency

Haystack’s Open Studio Residency fosters a dynamic exchange of ideas among peers and provides two weeks of studio time and an opportunity to work in a supportive community of makers. Those selected attend for free.

2020 Guide to Artist Residencies & Opportunities

If you seek time away from your routine to create in a new environment with new influences, a residency might be a good fit. Residencies vary in their offerings and funding, so make sure to check the fine print section of each listing. (via ArtWork Archive)

Spaces World Artists Program

The SPACES World Artists Program (SWAP) is a 6-8 week residency founded in 2002 to foster cultural exchange between audiences in Northeast Ohio and artists from around the world. SPACES provides each SWAP resident: travel to and from Cleveland, shipping budget, assistance with travel around the city, housing and studio accommodations with wifi, honoraria, a public presentation of new work created, video documentation of the project with critical commentary, and support from SPACES staff in finding materials, developing institutional partnerships and other residency-related activities.

Bernheim Artist in Residency Program

The Bernheim Artist in Residence Program is available to emerging or established visual artists. Bernheim provides living quarters, a stipend up to $2,500.00 USD and studio space in exchange for a site-specific sculpture, project or exhibition, with at least one mutually agreed upon work of art left to the Bernheim Foundation. Also required is some form of public engagement such as a lecture, workshop, or demonstration. Artists are encouraged to explore ideas that reinforce Bernheim’s mission of “connecting people with nature” and to use their residency to take risks, investigate, experiment, and explore new avenues in their own work.

ResArtis

A network of more than 400 arts centers and organizations from 70 countries who offer residencies for artists (via ResArtis)

Arrowmont Artists-in-Residence Program

Each year, five artists working in different media are selected to participate in the 11-month Arrowmont Artists-in-Residence Program. Artists are given a monthly stipend, shared housing, a private studio and the opportunity to sell their work through Arrowmont’s Artist Outfitters Store. (via Arrowmont)

Alliance of Artists Communities

This is an international association of artists’ residencies with more than 1,500 programs worldwide that support artists of any discipline in the development of new creative work (via AAC)

North Mountain Residency

An artist residency near Shanghai, WV that is open to those who work in visual mediums, installation, performance, text, research forms, and sound, who seek dedicated time and space to develop their practice (via North Mountain Residency)

Schools With Craft Workshops & Courses

The American Craft Council lists U.S. schools offering craft workshops and courses by state. (via ACC)

Cedar Lakes Craft Center Workshops

Cedar Lakes Craft Center Workshops Calendar (via Cedar Lakes Craft Center)

Finance & Grants

2020 Guide to Awards, Fellowships & Opportunities

ArtWork Archive’s 2019 list of the top international open calls, residencies, fellowships, and awards. (via ArtWork Archive)

New York Foundation for the Arts Artist Source

Over 12,000 awards, services and publications for individual artists and art professionals (via New York Foundation for the Arts)

WV Department of Arts, Culture & History’s Arts Grants

A list of arts grants available through the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History for individual artists and arts organizations.

Factors to Consider When Pricing Your Art

Factors reviewed include the stage of your career (early to established) as well as setting prices for exhibitions and special events (via Agora Gallery)

Spread Your Price Points to Gain New Collectors

Consider methods to offer work at a range of price points to best capture multiple audiences (via Arts Business Institute)

Introduction to Pricing

Learn about pricing and the impact that it has on the success of your business. From determining your price to implementing your pricing strategy this course will give you the resources to sound pricing strategies. (via SBA)

How to Create an Invoice

An in-depth overview of invoicing, including an example of formulating an invoice for overseas sales as well as links to more resource articles (via Art Business Info)

The Artist’s Guide to Tax Deductions

If you are running your art practice like a business, even if you are operating at a loss, you may be able to claim tax deductions. Once you have determined you qualify, don’t miss out on any of these common deductions. (via Artwork Archive)

How to Hire an Accountant

Learn the benefits of hiring a good accountant and how to get one. (via Entrepreneur)

Financial Statement Basics for Artists

Why Do I Need An Income Statement And Why Should I Care? (via Creatives + Business)

SBA Small Business Tax Guide

Your business will need to meet its federal, state, and local tax obligations to stay in good legal standing. Your business structure and location will influence which taxes your business has to pay. SBA walks you through the process. (via SBA)

Should You Wholesale Your Work or Not?

Consider these factors, such as price point and production methods, before deciding to wholesale your work (via Arts Business Institute)

6 Ways to Increase Business with Your Existing Gallery Accounts

Six ideas to consider to improve your relationship and sales with wholesale buyers you’ve already won over (via Arts Business Institute)

Advice from a Successful Production Artist

WV Woodworker, Matt Thomas, has a success story that happened as a direct result of smart strategies put into place for his first wholesale trade show. (via Art Business Institute)

Setting Up Wholesale Accounts on Shopify

5 ways to sell wholesale on Shopify (via Aeolidia)

Creating a Wholesale Line Sheet

One of the most important elements in your wholesale arsenal is your line sheet. If you are planning to wholesale your products you NEED to have all of your product information in one place. Learn how to make your line sheet in minutes using Canva. (via Carolyn Keating Wholesale for Creatives)

Keys to a Successful Wholesale Website

Key elements you need to wholesale your handmade collection online (via Arts Business Institute)

Financial Transactions at Craft Shows

Selling via cash, checks, credit cards, and merchant accounts as well as tips on scams and managing customer service issues (via Handmade Business)

How to Stage a Successful Artist Open Studio

Open Studios are a popular way to show your latest work to collectors, arts professionals, and the public. They can also be a successful and consistent way to sell your work. Read on to find out how to stage one successfully. (via Art Marketing Secrets)

Planning and Partnering for Your Open Studio

An overview of considerations when planning an open studio event to drive sales plus how to present multiple artists in one studio (via Arts Business Institute)

Tips for Taking Art Commissions

See a commissioned piece of work from start to finish including an overview of promoting commissions on your website and contract negotiations (via Arts Business Institute)

Accepting Credit Card Payments with Square

Getting paid is the bedrock of any business. This guide includes a comprehensive overview of payment processing, how it works, and the latest payment technologies. (via Square)

What are Mobile Payments? And How to Use Them.

Adapting to mobile payment technology is extremely valuable for your business. This guide walks you through everything you need to know about mobile payments—from mobile money transfers to how to accept NFC mobile payments at your business. (via Square)

Credit Card Processing Fees & Rates Explained

In this guide, we explain what a credit card processing fee is, what goes into it, how fees affect your rate, and how you can reduce your transaction fees. (via Square)

Applying for Business Credit

Getting approved for business credit requires proper planning before you apply. To help you better prepare, here are three guidelines for success. (via SBA)

Financing Options for Small Businesses

This self-paced training exercise is an introduction to financing options for your business. Topics include; determining your financial needs, loans, grants, venture capital, angel investors, crowdfunding, and other financial options available to small businesses. (via SBA)

Ecommerce Apps Recommended by Small Biz Owners

Learn about programs and services that save time or money for your business. (via Aeolidia)

Marketing Your Art

The Art of the Headshot: A Guide

The three golden rules and six simple steps to take the perfect professional headshot.

Do-It-Yourself Headshots

A professional photo is an important part of your personal brand. With a few simple tricks of the trade, you can take a professional-looking headshot with your iPhone, Droid, Samsung, or digital camera. Learn how. (via Linkedin)

Tips for Working with a Professional Photographer

Planning to hire a professional photographer? We’ll discuss creating your budget. Learn what factors affect time and price. We’ll also cover the basics of contracts, usage rights, ownership, copyrights, and releases. (via Marketing Partners)

How to Take Gorgeous Product Photos

Eight simple steps to save money on product photography and improve your online store’s look and performance. (via Practical Ecommerce)

Why Artists Should Harness Podcasting

Podcasting is a useful communication platform for promoting works of art. Thanks to advances in technology it is easier than ever for artists to get on board. (via Professional Artist)

Instagram for Brands: Creating an Instagram Marketing Strategy

Download this white paper to learn an in-depth strategy for planning and executing content, identifying target audiences and more for Instagram (via SproutSocial)

How Artists Can Deal With Difficult Customers

Learn constructive responses when talking with customers who complain, make negative comments or haggle (via Arts Business Institute)

Target Your Market

A list of typical characteristics to consider when building target audiences as well as considerations for finding your niche (via Arts Business Institute)

Discovering My Unique Selling Proposition (USP)

Sample questions for brainstorming a unique selling proposition as well as an artist’s description of applying the concept to her own practice (via Karen Longden-Sarron Art)

The Ultimate Guide to Finding Your Unique Selling Proposition

A detailed explanation of what a Unique Selling Proposition (or USP) is and how it can be used to help you grow your customer base (via Fizzle)

Finding Your Brand’s Voice

An in-depth guide to helping companies find their “voice” – or the language used to speak to audiences on web, print and in-person (via Distilled)

Developing Your Product Line

Learn the basics of creating a successful product line. You will increase your quality, brand your business, and identify your bestsellers in the process. (via Arts Business Institute)

Your Art Portfolio Checklist

How to select and assemble your best possible portfolio, and take photos necessary for professional presentation and effective marketing. (via Artsy Shark)

Smart Strategy: In Situ Photos

In situ photos can increase your sale without using words, only visual presentations. They have many benefits and should be an important part of your portfolio presentation. Here’s why. (via Arts Business Institute)

Sell More Artwork with In Situ Photos

Want to increase sales of your art? Prime your customer’s imagination by showing your work in situ. These step-by-step instructions will get you started. (via Artsy Shark)

How to Use Instagram Stories to Sell More Art

Instagram has surpassed Facebook as the number one platform for art buyers online. The social media giant boasts over 800 million monthly users and 500 million daily users—more than half of which are interacting with the Stories feature daily. We’ll show you the in’s and out’s of mastering Instagram Stories with this in-depth guide for artists. (via Artwork Archive)

Allways Up-to-Date Guide to Social Media Image Sizes

An always up-to-date list of image dimensions for all major social media networks plus a list of image creation tools (via Sprout Social)

Getting Started with Social Media: A Resource Guide

View a roundup of essential starter articles for Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, Pinterest, Instagram, blogging, video, visual content and podcasting (via Social Media Examiner)

7 Steps to Creating a Winning Social Media Marketing Strategy

Download this white paper to learn a 7-step system including creating content, identifying business opportunities, picking your networks and more (via SproutSocial)

How to Set up a Facebook Page for Business

Read a step-by-step article teaching you how to set up a Facebook page for your business (via Social Media Examiner)

4 Easy Steps to Implement a Facebook Marketing Strategy

This step-by-step article covers what you need before starting to use Facebook, goal setting, research and experience building, and measuring progress (via Social Media Examiner)

The Beginner’s Guide to Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Read an in-depth guide to Search Engine Optimization with details like why it’s important, how it works, conducting keyword research and more (via Moz)

Is Your Art Website Mobile-Friendly?

Today, website visitors are surfing the internet on their phones. Are you ready? (via Art Business Institute)

Do’s and Don’ts for Successful Art and Artist Websites

Review straightforward tips for streamlining your website to provide only relevant information in the most compelling light (via Art Business)

Websites and Social Networking for Artists: Use Your Online Profile to Sell More Art

Read an in-depth overview about why it’s important to have and maintain a website, how it should interact and build on your social media profiles, and the pros and cons of building your online presence with shared space on large, collaborative artist websites (via Art Business)

How to Make an Artist Website Using WordPress

A review of the pros and cons of free websites versus custom websites as well as a step-by-step tutorial for setting up a website using WordPress (via Wired Canvas)

The Ultimate Guide: How to build your own artist website

A step-by-step guide to building your own website written by an artist. This guide is free of jargon and is written to a beginner level. Sections include planning, building and adding the professional touch (via Textile Artist)

Tips for Personal Artist Websites

A run down of what types of information are needed on our website such as artist statement, biography, and information about sales, as well as an explanation of how to structure your website (via Agora Gallery)

Creating a Killer Online Portfolio Website Using WordPress

An overview of the importance of a portfolio website along with a list of helpful plugins for displaying artwork; plugins that allows existing portfolio sites on community platforms (e.g. Deviant Art) to integrate into an independent site; and good example themes (via Elegant Themes)

The Art of Writing About Art for Websites

An array of tools for writing about art for an online platform including general rules; best practices for specific pages such as the About, Artist Statement and Press pages; and how to organize and write for portfolio pages.

Creating Content for an Artist Website

Instructions on the types of pages to include in an artist website as well as a description of the information that should be included on each page (via Slade School of Fine Art)

SEO for Artist Websites

An explanation of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) as it relates to artist websites as well as an outline and description of best practices for implementing SEO on a creative website (via Agora Gallery)

How to Create a Professional Looking Press Release

Following this format, and using a well written, newsworthy post, artists dramatically increase their chances of having a news editor accept their press release for publication. (via Light Space Time)

Artist Press Kit

Learn the main components of an artist press kit and how to compile, format and package your own. (via LightSpaceTime)

Press Kits with the “Wow Factor”

Learn to create a press kit that gets exposure and publicity. (via Art Business Institute)

8 Ways to Build Your Email Marketing List

Learn eight potential audience groups to target and activities to employ to grow your email list (via Arts Business Institute)

How to Start an Email Marketing Program

Understand the basics of using email marketing campaigns to build your business (via Arts Business Institute)

8 Ways to Share Your Art with Subscribers

Find ideas for eight different types of stories to publish in an artist or creative e-newsletter such as studio tours, behind the scenes looks, and others (via Arts Business Institute)

Is Your Booth Display Good Enough?

Six tips for creating a winning booth display including use of lighting, signage and how to organize your work (via Arts Business Institute)

Spotlight on Lighting

Read an interview with a lighting expert who advises on the best ways to showcase your work through proper lighting techniques (via Arts Business Institute)

7 Types of Advertising that Don’t Cost an Arm and a Leg

Most of us couldn’t afford a 30-second national TV ad during a big championship game. Affordable options are available. The SBA shares 7 types of advertising that can fit within a small business budget.

Boost Posts or Promoted Posts on Facebook: Which is Better?

When should you “promote” a post? When should you “boost” a post? Learn the difference between these two Facebook advertising tactics (via Social Media Examiner)

6 Tips for Creating Artist Business Cards that Sell Your Art

Creating a memorable business card increases the chances of potential buyers and gallery owners think of you when they are ready to make a purchase or need a last-minute fill-in for gallery openings. (via Empty Easel)

Preparing for Small Business Saturday

From posters and flyers to email templates and social posts, customizable marketing materials help let customers know that your business is taking part in the annual small business Saturday holiday shopping tradition.

Product Photography Tips

Three professional photographers share their expert advice on topics from when to use props and styling to backgrounds and more. (via Folksy)

Q&A on Hiring a Professional Photographer

Why should you hire a professional photographer? What are you paying for? What should you expect? (via Susan Wilson Photography)

Guide to Professional Quality Images

A checklist to review and critically evaluate the photography of your art or craft (via Harriete Estel Berman)

Packaging Design Tips From Store Owners

6 tips from retail store owners that will make your product stand out from the crowd. (via Aeolidia)

Mastering Product Photography in a Tight Budget

The most successful online selling channels are the ones that post unique, high-quality images. 67% of consumers consider image quality “very important” when making a purchase online. Before you grab your phone and begin taking pictures of your product, learn how simple it is to produce incredible photos with these inexpensive photography tips and tools. (via Big Commerce)