Visual Artists/Creatives

How to Navigate CreativeGround

Visual and craft artists are individuals primarily working in disciplines such as painting, photography, jewelry-making, crafts, sculpture, design, or multi-media. CreativeGround is a free tool for all New England visual and craft artists to do the following:

• Search CreativeGround to:
  • Connect with potential collaborators by searching for other artists, fabricators, and curators
  • Build your network by finding galleries, schools, arts organizations, and funders 
• Creative work matters. Share your story (and own your own voice) as a member of your local creative community and get counted in regional research and advocacy efforts
  • Data nerd alert: a user generated database that actually gets used in research is very unique - this your opportunity to grab the mic!
• Be a community leader and help everyone thrive: Learn more with the Promo Toolkit.>
• Show off your hard work! Recognize the scope of your work by creating a detailed profile with photos and video and demonstrate the integral role visual artists/creatives play in making our communities vibrant places to live and grow and enjoy.
  • Pro-tips for stellar profiles for visual creatives below

Pro-Tips for Profiles for Visual Artists

Visualize

• As a visual or craft artist, use an image of your work as your profile image. This image shows up next to your profile name in search results and allows users to get a sneak peek at your creations
• Use the 'Media Gallery' to show up to 9 additional images/videos of your work
  • Get technical by checking out the FAQ of what you need to know about uploading media.
• Use the 'Additional Content' section to point your profile viewers to more media hosted online: including platforms like Patreon, publications, blogs, or crowdfunding campaigns.

Describe

• Think about what specific keywords someone might use to search for you and include those keywords in your 'Description of Work and Background' section
  • This includes whatever you feel comfortable sharing about your identity
  • Focus on what you do, not everything you might do ever. You can include more abstract artistic statements; however, this should not be the only content in your description
• Identify yourself as a public artist to be found by organizations commissioning and funding public art projects such as NEFA's Public Art grants program.
• Have you exhibited your pieces or sold at an event? Use the 'I Have Worked With' section to list your top 25 relationships in New England or beyond, e.g. galleries or events at which your work has appeared
• A note on Legal Status: If you file your taxes as an individual, your legal status is likely 'Commercial Business - Sole proprietorship'.

Artists Only

• Use the Artists Only section of the profile to:
  • Show if you are  a teacher or offer residencies.  If so, fill out the 'Teaching Artist' section of the profile to provide information about your fees, curriculum areas, grades served, and other important details for hiring
• Show that you are on a State Arts Agency(SAA) Roster to be found by users searching for vetted teaching artists
  • The vetting processes are done externally to CreativeGround by each respective SAA

Check out these tips for making your profile ready for the spotlight, including the 411 on getting a top profile score for extra visibility. 

FAQs | Dig Deeper: Get Inspired by ways to use the site as a Community Leader