I’m so grateful to the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, the CERF+, and the Mellon Foundation for offering Get Ready Grants for artists like me to protect my artistic careers. It can be difficult for an artist to make a living during stable times. But in times of uncertainty it can be a dreadful terrain to navigate. No one saw the March 2020 pandemic coming. No one knew entire businesses and facilities would have to shut down. No one knew we’d have to shelter in place. Because of this, during the pandemic, for 1-2 years, I relied solely on my income from my restaurant job. I did not make a single sale because proximity plays a vital role in how I showcase my art. When guests pass by Community Renewal Office or Highland Center, they can view my art and request a commission. When the government mandated the closure of facilities and minimal foot traffic volume, I realized my art career was in jeopardy. Not just in this instance but also when there are storms or floods and most facilities are forced to shut down, which is common in my area. How could I showcase my art then and get people to buy portraits, sketches, and illustrations?
I never really thought about how vulnerable the art community is to disaster. I figured the riskiness was a part of being an artist. But to know that a grant is available that takes that under consideration and helps you to plug in a few of those vulnerable spots that pose a risk to your career is pretty cool.
With this grant, one of the first things I did was hire a website designer to make me a Shopify website for $158.25. This way, I would have a consistent online portfolio indifferent to closure emergencies that could minimize a considerable career risk. I allocated $538 to a prepaid virtual visa gift card to pay for my website for about one-three years (ideally three years, likely less due to website price plan changes and discounts no longer available).
I also purchased two online Udemy courses: 1 x Udemy Course: How To Become A Shopify Expert (From Zero To Hero!) and eCommerce Website: Shopify, Dropshipping, Amazon, and more, both on sale for $49.05, to help me better understand and learn how to navigate the online website/eCommerce world. Admitably, these courses were pretty intimidating at first. Based on what I have learned so far, it has been great! I have gained knowledge on how to begin using Shopify, how to navigate its interface, how to showcase and sell my merchandise online, the payment and checkout procedures, and useful marketing strategies to safeguard my profession while also boosting it.
Since I also do most of my work from a workspace in the Highland Center. When it closes, working on my projects proves difficult. And since downsizing to a smaller space, the main risk to my workspace at the time is the spread of germs and viruses. So to minimize this risk, I installed 15 Desk Sneeze Guards for the workspace for $103.38. I also purchased 1 Adjustable Art Desk with a Stool for $131.98 to better support a sneeze guard and replace the one I had in the workspace so that I can take it home and work on commissions from home when issues, emergency, or disaster arises and I can’t work there.
And finally, to conclude this project, I purchased an all-in-one Square POS system to take card purchases, track inventory, document transactions, and monitor and archive business operations.. The POS system included a Square POS Stand (2nd generation), a 10.2” iPad WiFi 64GB - Space Grey, 1x Square Reader for magstripe (Included free), and Square POS Software (Included free) for $521.26. Before the pandemic, I could only accept accepted cash because I didn’t have a bank account. Due to the pandemic, a decreasing number of individuals have been using money to limit the spread of germs. And even today, cash is exchanged considerably less often than before. Now with the POS System, I can accept credit cards. I even have a bank account. I used the POS to record my first portrait sale for $300 and deliver a receipt one month after setting it up. That is pretty incredible!
The $1,500 Get Ready Grant and subsequent “Career Safeguard Project” has blessed me. This project did more than provide me with the resources and tools to protect my career. It also encouraged me to become more financially literate and adopt new ways of thinking, banking, and working as an artist for the better. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to protect what I love to do. And I’m even appreciative of the past years of the pandemic and the hard times because it opened my eyes to how vulnerable my art career is and forced me to face reality and do something about it. I encourage all visual, performative, craft artists who love what they do to do the same. Apply for a Get Ready Grant at https://www.artsbr.org/get-ready-grants. A thriving community of artists is great for us all. We are all in this together. Thank you again to the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, the CERF+, and the Mellon Foundation for offering these Get Ready Grants for artists like me to protect my career, and I hope to see many more artists blessed as well!
This project is supported by CERF+ and the Mellon Foundation through a grant administered by the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge.
