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#067: 3 Ways Artists Can Get Ahead As Entrepreneurs

The creator economy is predicted to reach a value of a staggering $200 billion by 2026. Unfortunately, that same study shows that only 4% of creators make over $100,000 a year.

While social media and technology have empowered independent creators with more opportunities than ever, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s easy to access those opportunities. Constantly changing social algorithms, no fair or transparent monetization models, and even regulatory risks that could result in a potential TikTok ban can take independent creators from feeling hopeful to hopeless.

Don’t go losing hope for creative and financial success just yet.

Here’s how you can stay ahead, even when things are changing so quickly.

1) Diversify your sales offerings

One of the best ways for artists to increase sales is by offering a variety of options for people to buy their art. By providing different versions of their art, such as digital downloads, fine art prints, or merchandise, artists can cater to diverse customer preferences and budgets, ultimately appealing to a wider audience and driving more sales.

The added benefit of offering a variety of options for collectors to engage with your art is the ability to test what your audience prefers and invest more of your time and energy into what works. For example, one creator may see more success with selling physical prints while another may make money from art on-chain. It’s essential for artists to both experiment with new ways to share their work and to also meet their collectors where they’re at.

2) Stay up to date on new technology

Being early can be just as important as being good, often giving creators a significant headstart amongst their competitors. This is a trend we’ve seen on various social platforms, such as early YouTube and TikTok in recent years. Right now even in spite of controversy, that big shift for independent creators is with artificial intelligence (AI).

AI can significantly enhance productivity, creative development, and content production, enabling independent artists to accomplish much more with much less. Since every creator runs their own business, staying updated with these changes and adapting is more critical than ever.

While many individuals are excited about AI, many have justified concerns. The good news is that the use of AI is not a zero-sum game, and there are a variety of tools and approaches that can work for every artist while still staying true to one’s values and creative practice.

3) Seek out new opportunities

Art open calls are a common avenue for artists to connect with new opportunities such as exhibitions, grants, residencies, and more. Participating in open calls can inspire new creative projects, provide much-needed confidence boosts, and important lessons from rejection. In the best of circumstances, being selected for an Open Call can help a creator gain professional recognition and even financial gain.

Sourcing these opportunities can be challenging, which is why HUG’s curatorial team actively sources them for artists. To date, HUG has hosted over 200 open calls and distributed over $200,000 in grants and scholarships to independent creators. You can view and apply to existing Open Calls here.

Closing Thoughts

The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step, so what’s the next small step you can take towards making your first sale and building a sustainable living from your art? Challenge yourself to explore different ways to sell and share your art, optimize how you connect with your audience using technology like AI, and identify opportunities you can leverage.

Above all, be kind and patient with yourself as you experiment and learn. Just like art, mastering sales requires creativity, perseverance, and a willingness to try new things. Remember, each step forward, no matter how small, brings you closer to your goal of thriving as a creative entrepreneur in the dynamic world of the creator economy.

See you at the finish line.

Artist Grants and Opportunities

• ✨ Go Big with Immersive Art in Taipei: Go from the small screen to the global stage with a larger-than-life public media installation in Taiwan.

• 🗽 Summer-time Showcase at the Oculus WTC: Transient Labs & Canvas 3.0 are seeking summer-time themed art for exhibition.

• 🖼️ Exhibit Your AI Art in a Gallery: Colonna Contemporary is seeking AI-collaborative artists to display in their physical and virtual gallery space.

• 🌷 Share Art with Impact: Flower Power is curating Adaptive Artists creating art on causes of their choice in social and environmental justice.

• 👾 Showcase your art to thousands in the heart of Vegas: JRNY Gallery is seeking art on the theme of Pixelated Perfection for their monthly First Friday exhibition.

• 💰 HUG is giving away $12,000 USD annually in artist grants in support of emerging artists.

This Week’s Art Drops

Did you know that these are just 8 of hundreds of art drops on HUG? Get a full list of this week’s art drops from HUG here.