Business

A compendium of online information resources that address many of the challenges facing artist-entrepreneurs and artist-led nonprofit arts organizations.

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Selected National Links

Art Biz Blog
A great resource on business strategies for visual artists.

Artfire
Growing online marketplace for handcrafted goods.

ArtistShare
The earliest major fan-funding site focused on independent musicians/bands, with artists selected through a review process.

Arts Manager: A Kennedy Center Initiative
Open to non-profit 501(c)(3) performing arts organizations who are struggling during the current economic crisis, the initiative provides free and confidential counsel in fundraising, board development, budgeting, marketing, etc.

Arts Marketing.org
Aims to help your organization address its daily marketing needs and longer-term marketing issues.

Crafting an MBA
Terrific blog on “business thinking for designers and makers”.

Etsy
Leading online marketplace for handcrafted goods.

Festival Network Online
Directory of music festivals, craft shows, art festivals and fairs in the U.S. and Canada.

Fractured Atlas
Fractured Atlas is a non-profit organization that serves a national community of artists and arts organizations. Its programs and services facilitate the creation of art by offering vital support to the artists who produce it.

Indiegogo
IndieGoGo offers anyone with an idea – creative, cause-related, or entrepreneurial – the tools to effectively build a campaign and raise money. Started in 2008 with a focus on film, but now serves any artists/creatives/entrepreneurs, and doesn’t have an all-or-nothing policy.

Internal Revenue and Self Employed
Link to the IRS’s site for self-employed individuals, which offers free forms, help and guidance.

NYFA Source about Accountants, Contract and Income Tax Information
Courtesy of New York Foundation for the Arts and their NYFA Source national database of awards services and publications for the arts.

United States Artists
United States Artists (USA) is a grant-making, artist-advocacy organization dedicated to supporting America’s finest artists working across diverse disciplines.

Zatista
An up-and-coming online marketplace for fine art.

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Massachusetts Links

Artists Under the Dome
This organization is an effort to provide a State level forum for Massachusetts artists of all disciplines, the goals of which are to foster a dialogue across artistic disciplines and to assess and address overlapping concerns and needs of the artist community.

ArtSake
A place to dig into the creative, innovative work of Massachusetts artists.

COOL – Cultural Organization of Lowell
COOL is the 501(3)(c) tax-exempt corporation affiliated with the Office of Cultural Affairs & Special Events for the City of Lowell, MA. Its mission is to help create a high quality cultural environment that offers appealing experiences to the city’s diverse population, stimulate economic development in the City, and encourage people to participate in the culture of the community.

Mass Humanities
Mass Humanities supports programs that use history, literature, philosophy, and the other humanities disciplines to enhance and improve civic life throughout Massachusetts. Grants support public programming in the humanities in Massachusetts, including film-, lecture-, reading-, and discussion series; exhibits; media pre-production and distribution; and other public activities.

Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network
The MSBDC Network provides one-to-one free comprehensive and confidential services focusing on, business growth and strategies, financing and loan assistance as well as strategic, marketing and operational analysis.

Media Education Foundation
MEF produces and distributes documentary films and other educational resources to inspire critical reflection on the social, political, and cultural impact of American mass media. MEF welcomes the use of the Frances P. Crowe community meeting room by non-profit organizations engaged in civic, cultural, educational, recreational, and public information meetings.

NEFA New England Foundation for the Arts
NEFA’s mission is to creatively support the movement of people, ideas, and resources in the arts within New England and beyond, make vital connections between artists and communities, and build the strength, knowledge, and leadership of the region’s creative sector.

New Bedford Economic Development Council
NBEDC works collaboratively with local organizations and dozens of agencies at the city, state and federal levels to promote a business-friendly environment. They actively seeks new business investment by marketing New Bedford worldwide as a top location for business growth and expansion.

Northampton Arts Council
The Northampton Arts Council was founded in 1980 as one of only a few Arts Councils in Massachusetts to make grants available to artists every spring.

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Selected Boston Links

Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston
The A&BC of Greater Boston establishes a vital connection between Boston’s dynamic business and legal communities and Boston’s lively arts and culture community through two powerful menus of programs – one for businesses, business professionals, and attorneys, and one for artists and arts organizations.

ARTmorpheus
A Boston-based non-profit organization providing a network of strategies and resources to all artists for support and increased exposure.

Boston Redevelopment Authority
In partnership with communities, the BRA plans Boston’s future while respecting its past. BRA is working with other city agencies including the Mayor’s Office of Arts, Tourism and Special Events and the Department of Neighborhood Development to retain existing spaces for artists and create new ones.

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Selected Berkshire Links

Angel Network
The Berkshire Angel Network links local entrepreneurs with potential investors to purchase interest in start-up or early phase business ventures. The network provides entrepreneurs a source of potential seed capital and investors have an opportunity to explore and analyze prospective business enterprises.

PERC Pittsfield Economic Revitalization Corporation
PERC’s primary purpose is to further the economic development and social welfare of the City of Pittsfield and Berkshire County. Fostering increased employment opportunities and facilitate growth and development of small businesses through different business assistance programs.