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Handling Discounts Professionally as an Artist
Requests for discounts are common in the creative industries, but they can be fraught with emotional and professional challenges. Artists...
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...
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...
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Feb 236 min read
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...
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Feb 26 min read
What Counts as Art? Cultural Capital in Creative Fields (Part One)
What counts as art is not simply a matter of individual taste or artistic intent but the result of a complex web of social, cultural, and...
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Jan 285 min read
Decolonizing the Arts: Structural Change, Not Just Representation
In discussions of decolonizing the arts, the term is too often conflated with surface-level efforts: temporary exhibitions of...
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Jan 266 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...
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Dec 315 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,...
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Dec 315 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!
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Dec 315 min read
Feminist Art Theory and the Undervaluation of Artistic Labor
The art world has long been shaped by systems of power and privilege that define not only what is valued as art but also whose labor is...
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Dec 316 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...
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Dec 31, 20244 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...
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Dec 31, 20246 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...
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Dec 31, 20246 min read
Learned Helplessness in the Arts: Psychological and Sociological Effects of Creative Paralysis
Learned helplessness, first studied by psychologists Martin Seligman and Steven Maier in the 1960s, describes a condition where repeated...
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Dec 31, 20246 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...
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Dec 31, 20245 min read
Arts Funding 101: Part 2: Private Philanthropy in the Arts
How It Works, Where to Find It, and Why It Matters Private philanthropy is a vital source of funding for the arts, filling gaps left by...
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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,...
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Dec 31, 20246 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...
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Dec 31, 20246 min read
Arts Funding 101: Part 5: Crowdfunding in the Arts
Empowering Artists Through Direct Support Crowdfunding has emerged as a transformative force in the arts, enabling artists, collectives,...
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Dec 31, 20246 min read
Arts Funding 101: Part 6: Individual Artist Grants
Origins, Types, Value, and the Consequences of Their Absence Individual artist grants are essential funding mechanisms that enable...
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Dec 31, 20245 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...
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Dec 31, 20246 min read
Arts Funding 101: Part 8: Arts Councils and Regional Arts Centers
Supporting Local Creativity and Community Development Arts councils and regional arts centers are vital institutions in the U.S. arts...
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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...
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