I must confess, the final step of "The Career Safeguard Project" proved to be quite a challenge for me. Allocating the Shopify funds onto a prepaid virtual gift card was a task that took several months and required a significant amount of assistance to accomplish.
Before this project, all of my art sales were conducted in cash. However, with the imperative, both to sustain my career and to prepare for changing trends in commerce.
Yet, this transition was far from smooth. I encountered numerous obstacles along the way, such as frequently misplacing my financial login information, entering incorrect credentials, and even having my card locked due to seemingly unusual activity on my part. My attempts to purchase a gift card from websites like giftcardgranny.com, giftcards.com, and perfectgift.com often resulted in canceled orders due to suspected fraud. The frustration I experienced during this process cannot be overstated, involving moments of confusion and even some exasperation.
In my state of frustration, I eventually contacted a representative at perfectgift.com. I explained the intricacies of my project, referenced my website, and emphasized the importance of allocating my grant funds onto a gift card to support my Shopify website, as required by the grant. After persistent efforts, the purchase restriction was finally lifted, and I was given the green light to proceed with the gift card purchase.
With some hesitation, I decided to test the waters by purchasing a physical prepaid gift card using the funds from my Shopify website. To my surprise, it worked seamlessly. Although I initially considered canceling the order and attempting to obtain a virtual gift card, as initially stated in my grant application, a conversation with a representative revealed that the refund process for the physical card would take about a week. Given the countless hurdles I had already encountered, waiting was not an appealing option. Consequently, I chose to retain the physical card.
Ultimately, I successfully linked my prepaid Visa gift card to my Shopify website, and it now serves as a reliable source of funding. I couldn't be more thrilled. This journey, although challenging, has been a valuable learning experience. I have gained insights into digital banking, financial literacy, and the vulnerabilities in my art career, particularly when facing emergencies such as having my studio shut down due to any type of emergencies particularly storms, sickness, floods, and how it can be a bit of a learning curve adjusting to landscape changes or emergencies.
Reflecting on this journey, I offer some advice to fellow artists: take the time to assess your vulnerabilities. Identify events or situations that could jeopardize your ability to pursue your passion and take proactive steps to safeguard your career. Planning and execution are significantly easier before a disaster strikes than during or after.
For artists, safeguarding your career is paramount. I invite you to join Touch The Heart Art in this exciting initiative to protect your artistic journey. To learn more about "Get Ready Grants," please visit https://www.artsbr.org/get-ready-grants.
This project is supported by CERF+ and the Mellon Foundation through a grant administered by the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge.
