Setting up your arts practice

Contributed by the Australian Business Arts Foundation

A practical way to move your arts practice forward is to set up your own business.

There are a range of resources out there to assist young artists just starting out to set up their own business:

Australian Business Arts Foundation not only has a range of guides and handouts, in particular for visual artists. AbaF also runs a range of workshops for artists and you should regularly check what’s being run in Victoria.

There are a number of things emerging artists can do to get started. Artmilk, an arts organisation, describes five foundations to building an arts practice:

• Know yourself: You are the most important element in your art, because art is an expression of how you see and feel about things. You are more important than technique, so, ask yourself what are you passionate about? What ideas, interests, materials etc appeal to you? Get to know this in great detail.

• Record the list of things you are interested in, on an artist journal. Extend your knowledge of each entry by collecting images, doodles and sketches, articles and information on your areas of interest. Research artists who are interested in the same ideas you are, how do they express them. Stick images of work in the journal. List ideas for works, the things you want to try, buy, books, techniques, etc.

• Play with the ideas you are interested in. If you like color explore that or line or ideas what ever. Do dozens and dozens of test paintings and drawing, no finished works, these are just elements that will build to make work after a period of time

• Studio: Set up a place to work. This can be a room or even a corner in a room. Surround yourself with art materials and books and images that inspire you. Go there to sit and read, to research, play, day-dream and to work. Fix the space up so it works for what you need. If you do not have the space, make a box with all your inspiring things in. Visit this box as your portable studio.

• Think creatively! Get to know your inner critic and your creative intuitive side. Consciously and enthusiastically encourage the creative aspect of yourself to grow and flourish and remember thinking negatively will have a big impact on your development. Don't make work to please others, ever! Don't censor anything!

Applying for Funding

Arts Victoria has developed its Funding Overview Booklet. It provides an overview of Arts Victoria’s funding programs offered this financial year, including guidelines for eligibility and application closing dates.

Arts Victoria funds a range of programs including the Arts Development program to support the development of independent creative ideas by providing project-based funding to Victorian professional artists and small arts organisations. It supports the creation and presentation of new work, and the costs associated with presenting arts programs. It also funds a range of Education programs (including the Artists in Residence and the Extended School Residencies Program).