Funding Beyond Grants: Creative Ways Artists Generate Revenue

Every Friday here at SAEN, we strive to leave new funding opportunities at your door. Often these come in the form of grants and residences, which are general open calls to relatively understood pathways. But what avenues of funding exist beyond these? If grant applications aren’t your thing, and your lifestyle can’t accommodate a residency that would take you away from your daily responsibilities, what options are you left with as an artist? Fortunately, a lot! There are a plethora of ways for an artist to independently grow their business, brand, and bank account without grants and residences, and today we’ll explore a couple of them. 

A great way for artists to build a business is through commissioned work. It can be tough, as you’re breaking into the business, to make a living right off the bat selling original work. For a lot of artists, commission work is the easiest path as they’re getting off the ground. Not only does it widen the scope of your potential clientele, but it allows you to show people what you can do. Commission work is an effective way to build a diverse professional portfolio while simultaneously getting a feel for the tastes and interests of the general public. Then, once you’ve gotten your name out there and established your credibility as an artist, you can use that information to hone the marketing tactics of your own original designs. It’s also a good skill to have in your back pocket around the holidays when people are looking for gift ideas, or during a slow season when you’re looking for a little extra cash! 

Photo credit: Milton Omena

Another great way to turn a profit in the arts is merchandising your brand! If you have an established logo, a slogan, or even just a consistent tone that unites your body of work, it will be recognizable to an audience. It’s important to choose a product that aligns with the work you produce, as well as the audience you’re selling to. For example, if your primary audience is musicians, putting your logo on guitar picks or stickers might make more sense than embroidered kitchen towels. You should also consider how the image you choose will translate to different printed items. Once you have your design, it’s time to choose your manufacturing company. In today’s day and age, there are countless to choose from, and different companies offer varying degrees of involvement in the process - some manufacture the product and send it to you, while others will ship the product straight to the customer. It’s important to research the company you’re leaning towards, and choose the one that feels right for you and your mission. 

Licensing is also an effective way to make your art work for you, and once you've broken into the world, it can become relatively low-effort. Whereas commissions and merchandising are more hands-on, this method enables you to put your established designs to work so that you can put your focus elsewhere. Essentially, to license your work means giving permission to companies to use it for a predetermined length of time. Don’t worry! You’re not selling the rights of your work away. Artists retain the copyright ownership, and are paid royalties typically based on the sales of whatever product their work is being used to advertise for. Of course, you should always ensure that the company you work with aligns with the tone of your brand and is one you trust, but a good licensing agreement works for you, so you can spend more time working on what you love.  

Photo credit: Visual Arts Center of New Jersey

Similarly, teaching and membership platforms are also a way to do this. If there’s a topic you specialize in, teaching a course or putting together an educational toolkit creates another avenue for profit. This can look like a couple different things: Pre-recorded courses that people can pay to access via monthly subscriptions, with different content-based price tiers, is a common way for artists to share their knowledge while using it to make a living. Some programs include the merchandising angle, so subscribers regularly receive physical branded media. Others are geared towards community, meaning people pay to be part of a community that shares a common interest and a safe space for growth and exploration. No matter what your program looks like, it’s a feasible way for artists to connect with others, share their skills, and support themselves.

Figuring out the best way to engage in art in a business-oriented way is tough; for most people, it’s a matter of balancing whichever ones will fit the most seamlessly into an already hectic life schedule and full plate of responsibility, and even seeing them all laid out can feel daunting and overwhelming. We get it. That’s why, in addition to just listing the options, SAEN offers resources that will get your foot in the door. Our bootcamps are designed to help you identify which strategy feels most natural for you, and give you the skills you need to engage with it. Your creative life is just as important as the one you’re living now, and we want to help foster it. Check out our ‘Programs’ tab to get involved in the mission today!