Save the Date | #ArtistHotline Returns to Twitter on September 20

Save the Date | #ArtistHotline Returns to Twitter on September 20

During August’s #ArtistHotline, we discussed residencies and other professional development tips for artists. Stay tuned for our next #ArtistHotline on September 20, 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM EST for more resources and insights!

Every third Wednesday of the month, artists and arts professionals get together on Twitter to brainstorm ideas for creating a more fulfilling and sustainable arts career. If you have questions, or want to network and share your experiences, join us by following the hashtag #ArtistHotline on Twitter!

To participate in #ArtistHotline, all you need is a Twitter account and to use the hashtag in each tweet during the designated timeframe. The next Professional Development Day for Artists on Twitter is on Wednesday, September 20, from 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM EST, and we can’t wait to see you there. Read Participate in #ArtistHotline: Tips to Take Best Advantage of the Day to learn how you can take part.

August Topics

During August’s #ArtistHotline, we covered several subjects, including:

  • Finding funding to support small press anthologies;
  • Seeking grants and other opportunities to support diverse voices;
  • Strategies to ensure a successful crowdfunding campaign;
  • Helpful advice artists have received from mentors

Key Takeaways from the “Residencies 101” Guest Chat

You can count on #ArtistHotline to have your questions answered throughout the day, but for a two-hour window, we focus on one special topic each month. In August, we hosted a “Residencies 101” Guest Chat. We heard from sound artist Maria Chávez, Residency Program Manager at Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts Holly Kranker, and poet Sally Wen Mao.

The guest tweeters shared guidance on how to make the most of an artist’s residency, starting with the research and application process, to staying in touch with fellow residents. Key takeaways:

  • Consider location, length, facilities, cost, and expectations when evaluating residency program options;
  • Research or contact past residents and the program director to get a sense of the program’s values, including the institution’s approach to diversity, and possibly tour the site to see if the facilities are the right fit;
  • Create your best applications with a clear, concise artist statement, defined needs/goals/objectives for the residency, well-documented, recent work samples, and by including a sense of your personality; 
  • Accept that rejection is part of the process, and be sure to reapply;
  • Instead of asking for feedback from busy program staff and panelists, find commonalities in accepted residents for that session;
  • Define the success of your residency based on your needs for rest, time to work on a specific project, or just time to create and explore;
  • Build community with fellow residents, during the residency and afterwards, by staying in touch, supporting other residents’ work, and noting when you’re open to collaborating with others

Read the full day’s conversation in our Wakelet recap, and don’t forget to join us for our next #ArtistHotline Twitter chat on September 20, 2017, 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM EST. As part of the day, we’ll host an “Archiving and Protecting Your Work” Guest Chat from 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM EST. Meanwhile, be sure to follow @nyfacurrent on Twitter for the latest updates!

Inspired by the NYFA Source Hotline, #ArtistHotline is an initiative dedicated to creating an ongoing online conversation around the professional side of artistic practice. #ArtistHotline occurs on the third Wednesday of each month on Twitter. Our goal is to help artists discover the resources needed, online and off, to develop sustainable careers.

This initiative is supported by the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation.

Image: Lisa Nottingham

Amy Aronoff
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