There's something in the art and craft worlds that doesn't get mentioned much: if you're a career artist or a career craftsperson, then you are a business person.
This is especially true if you work alone and have to do everything. Not only are you designing and making your product, you are responsible for market research, product photography, pricing, marketing, sales, taxes, shipping, grant and residency applications, contracts, and more. Here are some resources to help you feel a little more prepared to tackle the business side of your creative practice.
The Basics
If you're still in the planning stage with your business, check out our How to Write a Business Plan guide. There are all kinds of free resources to help you plan your business, too. I found GoLive's Brand Bio Formula and Brand Statement worksheets particularly helpful in narrowing down the focus of my business into something comprehensible to potential buyers. They even have worksheets to help you get your website live in a reasonable timeline. You can find their free resources here. The Boston Public Library also has monthly programs from our Adult Technology Coordinator on webcraft and using Canva for branding.
Library Programs & Resources
If you've already established your business and website and are looking for ways to up your game, check out the recordings of our ongoing Business of Art: Art of Business speaker series. So far, we've had:
- Curator and retail manager Kristen Odle discussed visual merchandising for brick-and-mortar and online businesses
- Brand strategist, designer, and illustrator Paige Mulhern gave a presentation on brand identity and storytelling
- Fine art photographer Merik Goma spoke about the importance of community and how to keep on going while slogging through grant and residency applications
Keep an eye on BPL's events for more upcoming speakers in the series. We also have an ongoing series for creative entrepreneurs in partnership with the Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston.
If you have business questions, you can also make an appointment with SCORE Boston for mentorship or with local attorneys for intellectual property, contracts, and business matters through our website.
Finally, here's a booklist to check out! It covers everything from how to write an artist's statement to applying for exhibition open calls to business matters big and small for creative entrepreneurs.
Resources to help you develop your career as an artist, craftsperson, or maker.
More Resources
If you're interested in Boston-based resources for artists, check out the City's website here!
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