Resources for Managing Your Art Business as an Entrepreneur
Growing a successful art business takes more than talent—it requires smart planning, industry knowledge, and the right tools. This collection of art entrepreneurship resources offers support for artists, makers, and creative entrepreneurs, including business databases, mentorship programs, legal tools, market research, conferences, and more. Whether you’re refining your craft, launching a business, or expanding your reach, these resources can help you navigate the professional side of the arts with confidence.
Be sure to check out The Arts Council of Greater Greensboro’s Professional Development Hub for other artist opportunities!
Artists Thrive is an initiative providing resources, practices, and insights to help artists and the arts sector succeed. With a holistic approach, it supports artists in strengthening their careers while fostering thriving arts communities.
Through this Resource Hub, Artists Thrive is making it easier for artists, arts administrators, educators, and others, from across the country, to find and access evergreen professional development content to help them thrive. We also hope to reduce duplication of resources in the sector and encourage the creation of new content addressing learning gaps and emerging trends.
Artwork Archive provides artists, collectors and organizations powerful tools to manage their artwork, career or collection.
Bank of America’s Center for Business Empowerment is a source for information and inspiration, whether you’re launching a new business or running an established one. Their how-tos, insights and resources can help you prosper and grow.
The Greensboro Public Library offers a range of business databases to support entrepreneurs, researchers, and investors. Resources include industry reports, market research tools, business planning guides, legal forms, and investment research.
The Small Business Center Network, comprised of 58 Small Business Centers throughout North Carolina, supports the development of new businesses and the growth of existing businesses by being a community-based provider of training, counseling, and resource information.
Confidential counseling services and access to resource libraries are free of charge. Some seminars and workshops require a minimal registration fee.
The North Carolina Arts Council (NC Arts Council) provides grants, fellowships, and professional development opportunities for the artists and cultural specialists who contribute to the cultural vitality of our state.
The North Carolina Presenters Consortium (NCPC) is a nonprofit membership network of performing arts presenters, artists, agents, and vendors. Focused on collaboration, NCPC works to expand access to professional touring arts and entertainment across North Carolina through affinity groups, showcase opportunities, block booking opportunities, pitch opportunities, professional development sessions, and partnership.
The Nussbaum Center for Entrepreneurship provides knowledge, education and other supportive resources that enable existing small and mid-sized businesses emerging entrepreneurs to innovate and succeed.
The Society of Arts + Crafts supports artists and craftspeople through mentorship and professional development. The One-on-One Mentor Program, launching in 2024, connects emerging makers with experienced mentors to refine their craft, build sustainable businesses, and navigate professional opportunities. The Virtual Mentor Program offers educational talks from industry leaders on business strategies, creative innovation, and the role of craft in today’s world.
South Arts is a nonprofit regional arts organization empowering artists, organizations, and communities, and increasing access to arts and culture. They support artists and organizations across artistic disciplines through a rich and responsive portfolio of grants, fellowships, and programs.
Springboard for the Arts’ mission is to cultivate vibrant communities by connecting artists with the skills, information, and services they need to make a living and a life.
This calculator is designed to help teaching artists understand fair pay rates and advocate for a livable wage. While we recognize that these rates may not yet be feasible for all arts nonprofits, they serve as a benchmark to support sustainable careers in arts education, creative youth development, and community arts.
Working Artists and the Greater Economy (W.A.G.E.) is a New York-based activist organization advocating for fair pay and economic equity for artists. Since 2008, W.A.G.E. has worked to create sustainable relationships between artists and institutions, promoting self-regulation and a more just arts economy.