An End to the Starving Artist
Launching and building a successful business is hard. But, is it harder if you’re an artist? Some artists choose the “starving artist” business model, some decide to teach, while a small number find other sustainable paths to success.
The perfect path for you might not be the traditional art fair, teaching or gallery experience. Today there are thousands of alternative markets where you can stand out and sell your work at higher prices (and profit). Markets that allow you to take control of your future. Our mission is to help each artist explore multiple options and provide step by step guidance for growth.
The Arts Business Institute serves a crucial, common need in the fine art and maker communities – practical business education for creative entrepreneurs. Each of our live workshops and online courses presents successful strategies and provides proven tools for launching and growing a local business to a national brand.
Our Unique Strategy
Most creative people struggle with the day-to-day tasks involved in running a business. Often there are few role models to coach or business to follow. Our workshops provide the resources most communities don’t have. Because each artist has unique needs, the Arts Business Institute provides private consultations, 1:1 long term coaching and online courses to help creative people explore new paths and tackle difficult tasks so that they can succeed.
Private Consults
Are you ready for a big art fair, trade show or your first gallery relationship? Is your work properly priced? How can you increase perceived value? The first goal for any professional is to spend your launch or marketing time and money wisely. Private consultations provide you with those safe next steps preventing you from making very expensive mistakes.
We start with a simple assessment of your work, success, failed attempts and objective. A local small business mentor can help you with the basics of budgets, licenses and local promotion… we offer something very different the viewpoint of what best opportunities exist in a marketplace full of competition. We help you identify those niche markets where you can excel, stand out and succeed. We help you find ways to work smart, not hard, to find more profit and higher demand.
Marketing Services
We help artists connect with retailers, art dealers. More than 15,000 verified retailers and galleries specializing in American Made products use our weekly newsletter tips and “Best Selling” resources to fill their shelves with the best in American Made. More
Online eCourses
ABI online courses are designed to provide creative entrepreneurs with strategies to handle both the complex and mundane left-brained business tasks that many artists avoid. ABI workshop presentations break down challenging tasks into a clear manageable process.
Workshops
Each ABI Workshop is customized to meet the needs of a specific audience. Unlike most local small business mentors, the Arts Business Institute provides sector and market specific strategies in the areas of marketing, branding, production schedules, pricing and cost of sale.
Most non-profit arts and educational partners use the workshop event as a fundraising opportunity. Just 30 paid workshop attendees cover most of the expenses. Local community grants and corporate donations provide profit or scholarships for low-income participants. A refundable deposit is required to schedule a workshop. History Course Topics Faculty
What happens in your community after an Arts Business Institute workshop? We think results matter.
The Arts Business Institute tracks graduates with 1:1 coaching, networking and online courses and referral services. The goal of every workshop is to provide artists with the business tools that they need to succeed from online networking, workshops, to long term mentor support. Talk to any one of our successful graduates who credit ABI with their launch success.
