CARFAC Alberta has developed a free online guide to help artists, including newcomers to Canada and Indigenous people, understand the local visual arts scene.
BECOMING: A Visual Artist offers a wide range of advice on practical aspects of establishing a visual arts practice, from setting up a studio and organizing shows to negotiating contracts and garnering media attention.
The 146-page guide, funded with a project grant from the Edmonton Arts Council, gathers a range of voices, including artists from diverse cultural backgrounds who offer advice on how to develop and maintain an art career.
"The stories and information we provide are a starting point," says CARFAC Alberta. "We hope the real-life experiences of other artists will inspire you and offer ideas and approaches that may work for you. We also provide practical advice about common challenges that artists face and suggest places to go for more information."
"Each artist’s journey is unique, and we know it’s impossible to address every challenge or concern you may have. We have tried to cover basic questions that newcomers to this career may have, while recognizing we all have different understandings of what it means to be an artist, and what we want to achieve."
While some information is specific to Edmonton, much of it is applicable to artists elsewhere in the province and beyond.
CARFAC Alberta is a non-profit provincial organization that works to inform and promote artists and provide professional development opportunities.
To read and download the guide, go to: https://www.carfacalberta.com/becoming-a-visual-artist/.