Articles - 27 May 2008
artistcareer.com.au
A new website and online community for visual art, craft and design practitioners
artistcareer.com.au is a new website for visual art, craft and design practitioner that was launched on the world wide web on 9 May 2008. If you are looking for information to help sustain you in making a full time living from your craft practice, then artistcareer.com.au is an essential website for you.
artistcareer.com.au is an independent, non-commercial website that offers high-quality resources and information to support artists' professional and business skills development.
The aim of artistcareer is to be the first port of call for artists who seek information and advice on professional and business development located in the one place. It is an online service with free membership. Once registered, you can network and exchange information with others.
artistcareer.com.au is a joint initiative of the Australia Business Arts Foundation (AbaF) and the National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA).
Background to the project
In 2006 AbaF was commissioned by the Australian Government to implement strategies to improve the capacity of Australian artists to earn a better income from their art. One of the key needs identified was a website which offered a single information portal for Australian visual art, craft and design practitioners.
This proposal was a key recommendation of research commissioned by NAVA in 2005 that examined the training and resource needs of Australian artists.
Resources provided to AbaF through the support of the Australian Government have enabled the development of artistcareer.com.au
What information and services are available at artistcareer?
'Explore', 'connect and contribute', and 'ask' are the three central features of the website.
Explore
This section contains listings for direct links to up-to-date information on topics such as:
- Knowing your business: for example issues to consider when setting up a studio, finance and grants to access and codes and standards for visual artists.
- Managing your business: essential information about copyright, contracts, legal issues, risk management and insurance.
- Going to market: articles and information to help you with marketing, media and promotion and documenting your work, how to build your supporters base and network, documenting your work, internet and e-commerce.
- Exhibition and sales opportunities: exhibition spaces around Australia and information about prizes, competitions and visual arts related retailers.
- Broader horizons: ideas and debates in arts practice, residencies and public art opportunities.
- Courses: information about non-accredited short courses, workshops and seminars.
Connect and contribute
artistcareer is an online community and the strength of the website lies with the diversity of contributors exchanging information. A tip you share could be the very piece of information another craft artist in a different part of Australia could be looking for, and likewise this could work for you too. Registration is free and when you register you create a profile which enables you to share resources and connect with other members (and there is no need to worry that your personal contact details will be displayed).
Ask
There are answers to frequently asked questions such as "Do I need to have an ABN?", "What is the best business structure for me?" or "Why should I have a written contract or agreement with my gallery?"
Another great aspect of the website is that if you have a question that you can't find an answer to on the website, then you can send in your question and receive an answer from one of the expert advisors within two weeks. This is a free service.
Other features of artistcareer include a regular e-newsletter and RSS feeds. RSS stands for 'really simple syndication' and is a summary of the latest content from a website that you receive in an automated way. This means that if you are interested in receiving information about grants and prizes and nominate this interest on the website, then you will receive any new information coming on to artistcareer about this topic.
Join the community
We welcome you to log on to www.artistcareer.com.au and join the website. While you are there, register and share some information that you think would benefit a fellow craft artist.
Helen Kaptein
Cultural Programs Manager
Australia Business Arts Foundation
www.abaf.org.au
