Skip to main content
Making a Buck Witout

Making A Buck Without Selling Out

Resources & References

Please find below a list of resources and references, organised by module.
If you find any broken links please let us know!

1. Professional or Entrepreneur?

Resources

Journaling

Morning Pages by Julia Cameron, from The Artist’s Way (1992)
https://juliacameronlive.com/#morningPages

The Journaling System that changed my life by Campbell Walker
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8RQsJ0Q3Mo

Atomic Habits (2018), by James Clear
https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits

Atoms, the Atomic Habits app by James Clear
https://atoms.jamesclear.com/

Atomic Journals
https://www.atomicjolt.com/atomic-journals

How I journal on my iPad in Notability
https://www.hellobrio.com/blog/digital-journaling-on-ipad

Journaling for Beginners, Day One
https://dayoneapp.com/blog/journaling/

Further reading, listening & viewing

Professional or Entrepreneur
Professional Practice
The creative entrepreneur
Precarity & Labour
How do artists make a living?
Critique of performance and creativity

2. Voice & Visibility (You & Your Work)

Resources

Writing artist statements, bios and CVs
    Manifesto-writing
    Free website platforms
    • Neocities Free, ad-free platform for building handmade websites, with a strong DIY web culture and community
    • WordPress.com Free open-source website builder, or you may prefer the self-hosted version WordPress.org
    • Hotglue Very basic and easy website builder
    • Glitch Offers several tools and one of them is a simple website builder, there is a free account option
    • Scrollytelling Versatile tool to create a standalone website or add to your existing website
    • Wix User-friendly website builder
    • Squarespace User-friendly website builder, perhaps a bit more complex than Wix
    • Google Sites Easy website builder
    • Tilda Intuitive features and templates for a new website, online store, landing page, or blog
    • Shopify Website Builder (free with Shopify plan)
    Blogs & Newsletters

    Substack
    https://substack.com

    Ghost (open-source Substack alternative)
    https://ghost.org

    WordPress.com (hosted)
    https://wordpress.com

    WordPress.org (self-hosted)
    https://wordpress.org/

    Paragraph
    https://paragraph.com/

    Medium
    https://medium.com

    Tumblr (still used in art/writing/music scenes)
    https://www.tumblr.com

    Buttondown
    https://buttondown.com/ 

    Beehiiv
    https://www.beehiiv.com/

    Web 3.0 Decentralised networks

    Scuttlebutt
    https://www.scuttlebutt.nz/

    Bluesky
    https://bsky.app

    Mastodon (decentralised, multiple instances)
    https://mastodon.social

    Discord (servers/communities)
    https://discord.com

    Signal (channels, groups)
    https://signal.org

    Nostr
    https://nostr.com/

    Resizing images

    Below are three different guides on how to resize images in any operating system and with various tools, including Adobe Photoshop, Gimp, free online converters and plug-ins.

    Training

    Digital Culture Network (Arts Council England)
    https://digitalculturenetwork.org.uk/

    Business & IP Centre, British Library
    https://events.bl.uk/whats-on/online-bipc-events

    HdK
    https://wearehdk.com/ 

    digitalboost
    https://digitalboost.org.uk/

    Online Marketplaces

    Redbubble
    https://www.redbubble.com

    Society6
    https://society6.com

    Etsy
    https://www.etsy.com

    Metalabel (collaborative releases)
    https://metalabel.com

    BigCartel
    https://www.bigcartel.com

    Shopify (general e-commerce)
    https://www.shopify.com

    Bandcamp (for sound-based work)
    https://bandcamp.com

    Further reading, listening & viewing

    Writing an artist statement
    Social Media
    Batch Creating Social Media
    Artificial intelligence

    3. Funding Strategies for Artists

    Resources

    Other resources

    a-n Quick Guide to Budgets
    https://web.archive.org/web/20230111043100/http://www.payingartists.org.uk/project/quick-guide-to-budgets/

    Successful funding application library by The White Pube
    https://thewhitepube.co.uk/funding-library/

    Darryl de Prez (2022), 7 Tips For Successful Funding Applications (29 Jul 2022)
    https://www.darryldeprez.com/blog/seven-tips-for-successful-funding-applications

    Funding FAQ by Rachel Dobbs
    https://rachel.we-are-low-profile.com/blog/category/funding-faq/

    ACE: Am I Ready to Apply? Quiz
    www.artscouncil.org.uk/dycp/dycp-am-i-ready-apply

    Crowdfunding for artists, Artquest
    https://artquest.org.uk/how-to-articles/grant-funding-for-artists/

    Rates of Pay, Artist Union England
    https://www.artistsunionengland.org.uk/rates-of-pay/



     

    Further reading, listening & viewing

    Creative Economy

    Oberholtzer, J (2016), The Hustle Economy, Running Press

    Abbing, H (2002), Why Are Artists Poor – The Exceptional Economy of The Arts, Amsterdam University press

    Fundraising

    Jones, S. (ed.). Fundraising: The Artist’s Guide to Planning and Financing Work  a-n Artist Information Company, 1993

    Wright, D., Walmsley, B., & Simmons, K. Fundraising in the Creative and Cultural Industries: Leading Effective Fundraising Strategies Routledge, 2021

    Volpe, M. Fundraising for the Arts Egea, 2020

    Herbert, C. A Guide To Funding For Early Career Artists, May 2024, https://vasw.org.uk/


    4. Opportunities & Initiatives

    Resources

    Residencies

    Artquest Artist Residencies
    https://artquest.org.uk/how-to-articles/artist-residencies/

    Res Artis Worldwide Network of Arts Residencies
    https://resartis.org/

    TransArtists International Opportunities
    https://www.transartists.org/en

    On the Move – Resources for international mobility
    https://on-the-move.org/

    Sell

    Selecting Opportunities
    https://artquest.org.uk/how-to-articles/selecting-opportunities/

    a-n – Selling your work: maintaining relationships with clients and collectors
    https://www.a-n.co.uk/resource/selling-your-work-maintaining-relationships-with-clients-and-collectors/

    Artquest – Setting a price for your art work
    https://artquest.org.uk/how-to-articles/pricing-your-work/

    Gallery Deals – the artist / gallery relationship
    https://artquest.org.uk/artlaw-article/gallery-deals/
       

    Artconnect – How to price your art
    https://www.magazine.artconnect.com/resources/how-to-price-your-art

    Craven Arts – The 5 Ps to pricing your art
    https://www.cravenarts.co.uk/single-post/the-five-ps-to-pricing-your-art

    Further reading, listening & viewing

    Living and working as an artist

    Abbing, Hans (2002). Why are artists poor? The exceptional economy of the arts. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press.

    Szreder, Kuba (2021), The ABC of the projectariaat: Living and working in a precarious art world, Manchester Press

    Puente, Gabrielle de la, Zarina Muhammad,(aka The White Pube) (2024). Poor Artists Penguin Books

    Self Organised Opportunities

    Gina Fairlay (2025), I’m an artist, I don’t need to do workshops. Wrong, in ArtsHub UK (27 Jan 2025)

    R.H. Lossin (2015), Value in, garbage out: on AI art and hegemony, in e-flux, 17 Jan 2025


    5. Self-care

    Resources

    Alternative art schools

    Alternative art schools generally invite new members by application once a year. The best way to get a sense of what they do and how to join is to go to one of their public events and see if it is for you.

    For more schools, info and resources see:
    Alternative (Art) Schools & Networks A directory of alternative art schools, peer support networks, projects and vanguards of the alternative education movement.

    Open Crits

    The dates for Open Crits are usually announced on a rolling basis, you must either subscribe to the organisation’s newsletter or keep an eye on listings. Most of them recommend attending a session first before signing up to show your work.

    • Peer Sessions A nomadic crit group providing a forum for the discussion of contemporary art. Monthly meetings aim to offer constructive feedback to practicing artists and engage with current concerns in art and culture.
    • Feedback Sessions Turf Projects Subscribe to the newsletter or check the opportunities to hear about the open call for these.
    • The Conch SLG I haven’t been to this and don’t know how artists are selected, because it is not a public open-access process. Sign up to their newsletter to be notified about the next one, attend and ask how you can show your work, or they may say at the event.
    • Artist Peer Groups Arts & Health Hub
    • Chisenhale Crits Brings members of the public into the gallery to share their work in the company of peers and established artists.
    • Bow Skills, Bow Arts Programme of continuing professional development for artists, informed by an artist-led steering group. Supports artists at all stages of their career with talks, workshops, artist peer support groups, panel discussions, and peer crits. Concession rates available to Bow Arts artists and students.
    • Loop Art Critique International residency and showcase. Apply to an open call or sign up via Eventbrite
    Self-employment

    How to do taxes as a freelance creative
    https://ko-fi.com/s/cf832bc33e

    Contracts
    Fair Pay

    Exhibition Payment: The a-n/AIR Paying Artists Guide
    https://static.a-n.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Paying-Artists-Exhibition-Payment-Guide.pdf

    FRANK
    https://frankfairartistpay.com/

    Artist Union England Rates of Pay
    https://www.artistsunionengland.org.uk/rates-of-pay/

    a-n: Artist’s Fees Toolkit
    https://itool.co.uk/fees/

    Memberships & Advocacy

    Memberships:

    Artist Union England
    https://www.artistsunionengland.org.uk/

    a-n
    https://www.a-n.co.uk/

    axis
    https://axisweb.org/

    DACS
    https://www.dacs.org.uk/join-dacs/members-hub

    Advocacy:
    CVAN – Contemporary Visual Arts Network England
    https://cvan.art/

    DACS – Artist Royalties
    https://www.dacs.org.uk/

    Studios

    Artquest – Artists Studios
    https://artquest.org.uk/how-to-articles/artists-studios/

    Artqest – Studio, Pension and Tax
    https://artquest.org.uk/how-to-articles/studios-pensions-and-tax/

    Key Studio Providers in England

    • Acme Studios – Affordable London spaces, residencies, work/live options. 

    • SPACE Studios – London-wide provider with studios, exhibitions, residencies.

    • ASC Studios – Charity-run, affordable workspaces with mentoring and events across London. 
    • Mother Studios – Artist-run warehouse studios in Hackney Wick & Colchester.
    • Online listings—ArtQuest, Artist Studio Finder.  

    • Networks—London Affordable Artists Studio Network (LAASN).

    Further reading, listening & viewing

    Peer Mentoring Guides
    Alternative Art Education

    Bibliography for a Co-operative Art School Includes sections on alternative art education, pedagogy, self-organisation and other topics.

    Care and self-care

    Subscribe

    * indicates required

    hARTslane will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide updates and news about our work. Please let us know all the ways you would like to hear from us:

    You can change your mind at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in the footer of any email you receive from us, or by contacting us at info@hartslane.org. We will treat your information with respect. For more information about our privacy practices please visit our website. By clicking below, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with these terms.

    We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here.