episode 3: Getting It
How to get the money you need to make your work and support yourself is something artists think about a lot. Money-making tactics are sometimes fruitful, sometimes embarrassing, and sometimes funny. In these endeavors, it is the artist’s challenge to meet their financial needs with their artistic vision, and morality, intact.
View all EpisodesFeatured in this Episode
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Elizabeth LeCompte
Director, The Wooster Group ?
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Kate Valk
Founding Member, The Wooster Group ?
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Aaron Landsman
Playwright/Actor ?
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Kate D. Levin
Commissioner, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs ?
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Reggie Watts
Artist/Comedian/Musician ?
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Miguel Gutierrez
Dance Artist ?
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Kahlil Almustafa
Performance Poet ?
Resources:
News
NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman on supply and demand in the nonprofit arts sector.
Calling All Artists, Whoever You AreWall St. Journal article on the challenges of identifying working artists for census purposes.
Polly Carl on perceptions of scarcity and abundance in theatre.
The Arts, The Work and the Gift EconomyFrom Culturebot, an essay on arts funding and “gatekeepers” of the arts.
Why Should We Pay Artists More?This Culturebot blog questions the economics of art-making and whether artists should be paid more.
Accusations Of Fraud In Chase Community Giving Contest On FacebookHuffington Post article on the controversy surrounding Chase Bank’s Community Giving contest.
Massive cutbacks in arts funding by US companies, governmentsAn article about the calamities of US arts funding and where cuts are being felt.
Living the Starving Artist LifeAn article in the Gothamist with advice on living as an artist in New York.
To MFA or not to MFA?Examining whether or not MFA theatre programs are worth the time and cost.
Fleeing ArtistsFrom Crains New York Business an article on how many artists are fleeing New York in such of a realistic and affordable lifestyle.
Jazz Beyond Jazz - Arts funding disparities show philanthropists' prioritiesAn article on how smaller organizations can suffer when it comes to philanthropy.
New York Times - Arts Groups Use Twitter to Compete for GrantLeading arts organizations feel driven to compete on Twitter for grants.
Military Marching BandsNPR reports on the amount of money spent every year on military marching bands.
Art WorkA national conversation about art, work and economics.
Successful Fundraising for Arts Cultural OrganizationsInsights into today's best fundraising strategies for arts and cultural organizations from fundraising experts Karen Brooks Hopkins of the Brooklyn Academy of Music and Carolyn Stolper Friedman of the Contemporary Museum of Art in Chicago.
Organizations
National nonprofit organization that supports artists across disciplines with financial and advisory support.
The Foundation CenterLeading national nonprofit service organization that connects grantmakers, philanthropists and nonprofits.
A bi-monthly magazine and valuable news source for charity leaders, fundraisers, and grant-makers in the US.
Grantmakers in the ArtsNational association of private and public funders of artists and arts organizations.
National Endowment for the ArtsAn independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for arts and culture.
New York Foundation for the ArtsResources for New York artists and art organizations. Information, services, grants, awards, and fiscal sponsorship.
NYSCA - The Theatre ProgramProduction and development support to professional theatre companies.
NYC Department of Consumer AffairsFinancial counseling and workshops for working artists and arts administrators. Focus on reducing debt and managing credit.
NYC Department of Cultural AffairsThe Department of Cultural Affairs offers grants to non-profit cultural institutions, and free art supplies to public school arts education programs through it’s Materials for the Arts program.
Actors ChecklistAn extensive list of grant programs offering funding in the visual and performing arts and creating writing, with a focus on funding for individuals.
A.R.T New YorkSupporting the work and development of nearly 300 member theatre companies. Services include: shared office and rehearsal spaces, a revolving loan fund for real estate, and technical assistance programs for emerging theatres.
Franklin FurnaceAdvocating for avant-garde art! Grants and support for emerging avant-garde artists.
Women ArtsA list of grant programs eligible for women in the arts.
KickstarterA web-based fundraising strategy for creative projects and start-ups.
IndieGoGoAn international alternative to Kickstarter!
International FundingA list of international funding programs for artists. Opportunities for travel, touring, study, and cultural exchange.
Research
Resources for managers of arts organizations on how to reach new audiences and build financial support for their institutions.
Finance For ArtistsFinancial tools for artists.
A selection of reports by ArtsFund about the arts and their economic impact.
Artist Help NetworkCaroll Michels based this website and advice network on her book "How to Survive and Prosper as an Artist: Selling Yourself without Selling Your Soul."
How America Funds the ArtsA detailed report from the National Endowment of the Arts on the sources of funding for the arts in the United States.
Arts Funding Response and Readiness KitA support kit by Americans for the Arts with information on how to survive the economic crisis.
Artists in the Workforce 2000-2005A report by the National Endowment of the Arts with key findings on the representation of different artists in the workforce in the United States.
Artists in the Workforce 1999-2009Key statistics on the number of artists in the workforce and their employment rates.
Art EconomyA vast resource for artists working in the recession. Includes hidden benefits of the recession, and how to create and work within a difficult economy.
Jumper - Diane Ragsdale on what the arts do and why.Diane Ragsdale's blog about the arts and economy, based on her Ph.D. research on cultural economics.
Arts and EconomyA 2009 study on how States can use arts and culture to stimulate their economic development.
Theatre FactsA breakdown of statistics from professional and non profit theatres in the United States. Includes data on salaries, budgets, attendance and openings.
discussions:
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Post a commentWhat did you think about the episodes?
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Pete McCabe said:
“in creating art one get’s the benefit of being looked at, but also the responsability of telling the truth” Someone much smarter than me said that.
In the short story Hellscreen, it shows what someone is willing to do to tell that truth as he sees it. It ends up killing him. I don’t think you have to die to tell the truth, but its personal toll can have ramifications far beyond one’s expectations; even to the disolution of the self. Creating art is about more than not being paid well. What “truth” is… is seemingly undefinable. -
Gabriela Poma said:
Am just getting through the new videos. Wonderful and so inspiring. This angle: the daily life of an artist. No one gets to see the difficulty, the hard work, they things given up for art. And to get a glimpse at the intimate parts of their lives is such a privilege.
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laura peterson said:
About labels and identity: Young Jean Lee’s comment was really gratifying and made me think that a label can be something one earns. It can reflect an amount of discipline and focus in one’s work that leads to a title. Playwright. Choreographer. Whatever it is, which is not to say that it cannot be a blend or a new term, but that it can have weight and purpose and structure.
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Soon-Young Yoon said:
Love the trailer for the madehere project. Looking forward to more…so important a contribution to history.
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Cheri Magid said:
I have been loading up on watching made here and am totally addicted. It’s so reassuring to hear others talk of the same things that you deal with and encouraging to see the ways different people live as artists.
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Alex Zafiris said:
I watched the latest Made Here series. I love the new categorization themes—identity, labels… such a great idea.
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Ximena said:
I don’t see myself as"exploiting myself because I accept low pay or nor pay” My set of values in relationship with my art lies in other places far away from the values applied to the basic needs I must attend as an individual in this society.
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Howardleaten said:
well trevor here is there contact info , they have 15% discount now, mention Howard give you there number
your stories:
Share your story- Give us a personal example of when you felt your work as an artist was valued or not valued.
- What is the strangest thing you have done to raise money for your projects?
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From Sharon Lennon:
Writer and Director Sharon Lennon answers the question: “How have you raised money for your work?”
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From Carrie Stern:
Teacher, writer, choreographer and dancer Carrie Stern answers the question: “What was a time you most felt your work had value?”
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From Tara Sarathy:
Actress Tara Sarathy answers the question: “When do you feel your work is most valued?”
