Being a professional artist encompasses much more than creating a masterpiece. The business side of being a professional artist can be frustrating and creative individuals may find it difficult to bring all the different pieces together in order to create a thriving business as a professional artist. There is a tremendous amount of detail involved, from the amount of time an artist spends learning and perfecting their craft, to the stories tied to the artwork; from the pricing of the raw materials, to targeting markets and valuing the final product.
Through conversations with artists, arts organizations, and professional folklorists, NCFI discovered there was a shortage of centralized, practical business information available to self-taught and folk artists across the nation. There are many artists who would take advantage of practical resources, if only they knew they were available. Small, independent businesses needed access to resources and answers to common business questions.
Seeing the lack of business guidance available to North Carolina folk and traditional artists, NCFI has provided a free, easy to follow guide to the process of becoming a working artist. The Handbook for North Carolina Folk and Traditional Artists offers helpful information for creating a website, writing an artist statement, and even figuring out a good place to sell your work.