Best Free Resources For Artists Business Growth Online
Let's be real, making a living as an artist is no easy feat. It takes hard work, dedication, and a solid understanding of the business side of things. So, here’s some resources to help turn your passion for making art into a sustainable career.
GETTING ORGANIZED
Building a sustainable career in the arts means getting organized!
Through personal experience, I discovered the five spreadsheets below are the best tools for artists to adopt a more business-oriented approach to their art careers. These spreadsheets are the key to selling more art, getting more shows, keeping track of progress, managing finances, and planning for future goals.
Inventory Sample Spreadsheet
If you don’t want to use professional inventory software like ArtworkArchive this sample spreadsheet can set up your own inventory database.Operations Spreadsheet
Free standard “Operations” list. It includes tabs for Pricing, Show Takeaways, Brand Guide, Resource Rolodex, and Brand GuideRecording VIP artworld contacts and gatekeepers. If I could give one piece of advice to younger artists it would be to start writing down and organizing your VIP contacts now!
KPI
KPI (key performance indicators) for artists and art business professionals. This is where you track your performance over time and document your wins.OUTREACH
One of the most important things for any art business is constant research and outreach. This is where you store all those potential connections and art business ideas.
If you’re not familiar with google sheets, I’ve recorded a quick 10 min intro to the platform with everything you need to know!
MORE FREE RESOURCES AND DOWNLOADS FOR ARTISTS
EXHIBITION CHECKLIST (mid-career contemporary artist)
In-depth checklist for mid-career artist exhibitions, covering everything you should be thinking about within a standard timeline. Including press outreach, gallery communications, follow-ups, and more.
Check out out our in depth exploration on artist studio visits in this post
➡️ Download our studio visit checklist here
➡️ Download our virtual studio visit template
➡️ Studio Visit Rules of Engagement by john ros
