top of page
Blog
What Is a Studio Manager for Visual Artists?
This article defines what an artist studio manager does, how the role differs from gallery representation, assistants, and consultants, and when structured support becomes necessary.
Building an Artist Application Package: How to Set Up Your Artist CV and Statement So Applying Becomes Easy
This article explains how to create a professional artist application package for residencies, grants, and exhibitions by building a sustainable system for your artist CV, statement, bio, images, and documentation. It offers guidance on preparing, customizing, and maintaining materials that align with your evolving practice and institutional opportunities.
How Artists Can Best Harness the Energy of an Artist Residency: What to Do Before, During, and After
This article examines how artists can harness the full energy of an artist residency by approaching it intentionally before arrival, working strategically during the residency period, and integrating its outcomes afterward, with clear guidance on documentation, networking, and marketing as essential parts of the residency experience.
Search
At What Point Can You Call Yourself an Artist? Philosophies, Histories, and the Weight of a Title
The term “artist” is deeply charged, carrying centuries of cultural weight, social expectations, and philosophical contention. It is a...
Feb 23, 20256 min read
What is an Artist, Maker, or Creative? Understanding the Origins and Definitions of Creative Identities
In the modern lexicon, terms like “artist,” “maker,” and “creative” are often used interchangeably to describe those engaged in the act...
Feb 16, 20255 min read
The Role of the Artist as Curator: Origins, Value, and Contemporary Practice
This article explores the origins of the artist-as-curator phenomenon, examines its value to contemporary art, and outlines how artists approach and enact curatorial roles.
Feb 5, 20255 min read
Gentrification and the Arts: The Ethical Dilemma
Gentrification and the arts are inextricably linked in the narratives of urban change. Artists often find themselves portrayed as both...
Jan 26, 20256 min read
“Don’t Say Yes to Everything: How Artists Can Choose the Right Opportunities”
For artists navigating their careers, opportunities often seem like lifelines in a competitive and uncertain industry. Exhibitions, residencies, collaborations, and commissions appear at first glance as unequivocal “yes” moments. But not every opportunity is the right one. Saying yes to everything can dilute your energy, misalign your career trajectory, and even perpetuate a scarcity mindset, a deeply ingrained belief that every chance must be seized because another might not
Jan 5, 20255 min read
Art Writing and Language: When, Why, and How We Use Different Approaches
Art writing plays a crucial role in shaping how works are interpreted, valued, and disseminated. From dense academic texts to...
Jan 1, 20255 min read
Ownership in Gallery Agreements: Why Artists Must Retain Control of Their Work
Ownership of artwork is one of the most fundamental rights an artist holds, yet it is often a point of confusion or contention in gallery...
Jan 1, 20255 min read
Mutual Aid in the Arts: A Framework for Collective Support and Resistance
Exhibition piece on mutual support and aid, as part of Artist’s Way Project. Grand Rapids, Michigan In the face of systemic inequities,...
Dec 31, 20245 min read
Selling Out or Staying True? Authenticity in Art Under Consumer Capitalism
Learn how an artist can remain true to themselves in a consumer capitalist market!
Dec 31, 20245 min read
Feminist Art Theory and the Undervaluation of Artistic Labor
This article explores how artistic labor has been devalued, the systems that perpetuate this inequity, and the structural changes required to address these injustices.
Dec 31, 20245 min read
The Class System Within the Arts: How Late-Stage Capitalism and Hustle Culture Deepen Inequities
The art world has long been romanticized as a meritocracy, where talent and creativity transcend barriers to determine success. This...
Dec 31, 20246 min read
Knowledge as Power: Why We Must Talk About Systemic Issues in the Arts
The arts are often celebrated as a space of creativity, expression, and freedom. Yet, beneath this ideal lies a complex web of systemic...
Dec 31, 20244 min read
Fear of Success in the Arts: Navigating the Paradox of Achievement
Fear of success is a psychological phenomenon where individuals consciously or subconsciously resist achieving their goals due to the...
Dec 31, 20246 min read
The Starving Artist Myth: How Romanticism Shaped Modern Expectations of Artists
The trope of the “starving artist” has cast a long shadow over the arts world, shaping not only how society views artists but also how...
Dec 31, 20244 min read
Exploring Funding Structures in the Arts: Types, Value, and Impact
Funding in the arts is a critical component of sustaining creativity, enabling artists and organizations to produce work, engage...
Dec 31, 20246 min read
Arts Funding 101: Part 1: Dissecting Government Funding for the Arts
How It Works, Where It Comes From, and Why It Matters Government funding for the arts plays a foundational role in fostering cultural...
Dec 31, 20245 min read
Arts Funding 101: Part 3: Earned Income in the Arts
Building Financial Sustainability Through Creative Revenue Streams Earned income is a crucial pillar in the arts funding ecosystem,...
Dec 31, 20245 min read
Arts Funding 101: Part 4: Corporate Sponsorship in the Arts
Origins, Impacts, and Navigating the Complexities of Business Partnerships Corporate sponsorship is a cornerstone of contemporary arts...
Dec 31, 20246 min read
Arts Funding 101: Part 7: Universal Basic Income for Artists
A Radical Approach to Sustaining Creativity and Equity in the Arts Universal Basic Income (UBI) for artists offers a transformative...
Dec 31, 20245 min read
Arts Funding 101: Part 9: The Detrimental Effects of Cities Without Arts Councils
How the Absence of Support Structures Undermines Communities, Artists, and Cultural Ecosystems Arts councils serve as vital cultural...
Dec 31, 20245 min read
bottom of page