Art / work : everything you need to know (and do) as you pursue your art career

The definitive, must-have guide to pursuing an art career—the fully revised and updated edition of Art/Work , now in its fourteenth printing, shares the tools artists of all levels need to make it in this highly competitive field. Originally published in 2009, Art/Work was the first practical guide to address how artists can navigate the crucial business and legal aspects of a fine art career. But the rules have changed since then, due to the proliferation of social media, increasing sophistication of online platforms, and ever more affordable digital technology. Artists have never had to work so hard to distinguish themselves—including by making savvy decisions and forging their own paths. Now Heather Bhandari, with over fifteen years of experience as a director of the popular Chelsea gallery Mixed Greens, and Jonathan Melber, a former arts/entertainment lawyer and director of an art e-commerce startup, advise a new generation of artists on how to make it in the art world. In this revised and updated edition, Bhandari and Melber show artists how to tackle a host of new challenges. How do you diversify income streams to sustain a healthy art practice? How can you find an alternative to the gallery system? How do you review a license agreement? What are digital marketing best practices? Also included are new quotes from over thirty arts professionals, updated commission legal templates, organizational tips, tax information, and advice for artists who don't make objects. An important resource for gallerists, dealers, art consultants, artist-oriented organizations, and artists alike, Art/Work is the resource that all creative entrepreneurs in the art world turn to for advice.

Find Out What They Didn't Teach You In Art School

The Most Comprehensive Guide Of Its Kind, Art/work Gives Artists Of Every Level The Tools They Need To Make It In An Art World So Competitive One Dealer Likens It To The Sopranos, Except Nobody Gets Killed. Whether You're An Art School Grad Looking For A Gallery, A Mid-career Artist Managing A Busy Studio, Or Someone Just Thinking About Becoming A Professional Artist, This Indispensable Resource Will Help You Build Your Career And Protect Yourself Along The Way.

Unlike Other Creative Professionals, Visual Artists Don't Have Agents Or Managers. You Have To Do It All Yourself, At Least Until You Find Gallery Representation -- And Even Then, There Are Important Business And Legal Issues You Need To Understand To Stay In Control Of Your Career And Ensure You're Being Treated Fairly. Heather Darcy Bhandari, A Gallery Director, And Jonathan Melber, An Arts Lawyer, Walk You Through These Issues So That You Can Essentially Act As Your Own Manager And Agent. They Show You, For Example, How To Tackle Business Basics Such As Tracking Inventory And Preparing Invoices; How To Take Legal Precautions Like Registering A Copyright And Drafting Consignment Forms; How To Use Promotional Tools Like Websites And Business Cards; And How To Approach Career Decisions Such As Choosing The Right Venue To Show Your Work.

In Addition To Drawing On Their Own Experiences, Bhandari And Melber Interviewed Nearly One Hundred Curators, Dealers, And Other Arts Professionals, In Cities Across The Country, About What They Expect From And Look For In Artists. The Authors Also Talked To A Host Of Artists About Their Careers And The Lessons They've Learned Navigating The Art World. The Book Is Full Of Their Entertaining Anecdotes And Candid Advice.

No Matter What Kind Of Artist You Are -- Or Want To Be -- This Book Will Help You. Art/work Covers Everything You Need To Know To Succeed, Saving You From Having To Learn It All The Hard Way -- And Letting You Spend More Time Making Art.

Big picture -- Groundwork -- Submission materials -- Websites and business cards -- Opening your studio -- Residencies and grants -- Showing your work -- Rejection: it's not you, it's them -- Getting your work to the show -- Consignments -- Loans and commissions -- The gallery courtship -- Gallery representation -- Representation agreements Big picture Groundwork Submission materials Websites and business cards Opening your studio Residencies and grants Where to show your work Rejection: it's not you, it's them Getting your work to the show Consignments Loans and commissions The gallery courtship Gallery representation Representation agreements. "No matter what kind of artist you are -- or want to be -- this book will help you. Art/Work covers everything you need to know to succeed, saving you from having to learn it all the hard way -- and letting you spend more time making art"--Publisher description The definitive, must-have guide to pursuing an art career. This fully revised and updated edition of Art/work shares the tools artists of all levels need to make it in the highly competitive art world A gallery director and an arts/entertainment lawyer offer aspiring artists the ultimate resource on the business of being an artist.