Do you wonder if Teaching Artist programs are for you? In this roundtable discussion that took place in April of 2021, arts administrators and artists who are experts in these programs discussed what Artists-In-Schools programs look like now.

Podcasts are a great way to connect with an audience and two artists from the Triangle have created a podcast about the business and life of being artists with Art Studio Insights, recorded from their studios at ArtSpace in Raleigh.

It’s Grant Season again! Here are the available grants and deadlines we know of right now…

Outdoor art markets are booming and busy - our Market Runners Forum connects the folks that bring you events like the outdoor Apex Night Market, shown here.

Do you have have skills to share with the Triangle’s art community? Our board of directors is actively seeking board candidates. Learn more about what we are looking for and why your voice is wanted as we work for the future of our arts business sector.

With masks, distancing and lots of hand sanitizer, our area art markets are really hopping. Artists are reporting that their sales are up, with ed tickets or multiple days. We are all looking forward to a safe market experience this year. At this time, the following art and craft markets are taking applications:

Just a little over a year ago, we launched an ambitious new initiative, ArtSwell. With a goal to create a comprehensive program of professional development for artists and arts administrators in our region and the support of The Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation and The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation, we partnered with the City of Raleigh: Office of Raleigh Arts, the Orange County Arts Commission and the United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County to begin creating the kind of programming we knew our region needed.

Changes to PPP eligibility in March opened up the potential for self-employed artists to gain larger forgivable loans under the PPP. The SBA previously used net profit as a stand-in for payroll costs for businesses with a sole employee. The March change allows those who are self-employed to use gross income, which usually qualifies them for a larger PPP loan.

Our Market Runners Forum group is looking forward to a busy spring and summer season. Markets are increasing spacing and in some cases limiting the number of vendors or visitors using timed tickets or multiple days. We are all looking forward to a safe market experience this year.

Even though SMASH! has been canceled this year, you won’t miss your annual chance to Quick•Connect, for free, with local business experts. On March 6, we are hosting a Quick•Connect Online.

As the vaccine rollout continues, we are seeing more art and craft markets planning for their 2021 seasons.

Our outreach committee has a message for you

Following the strong success of our recent Mindfulness program for arts administrators, we are expanding the audience and launching an ongoing Creative Centering Mindfulness program for the region’s entire arts community. 

Peel Gallery, a new gallery and community space, is coming to Carrboro in December.

As part of the state’s spending plan for federal CARES Act funding, $9.4 million was designated to provide direct aid to arts councils and arts organizations in an effort to mitigate business disruptions caused by COVID-19. These funds will be distributed through the new North Carolina CARES for Arts Grant program, on a per-capita basis to all North Carolina counties with a population less than 1 million people.

Over the past few months, Artspace has begun a Community Conversation around equity in arts fundraising in the Triangle region. To continue this work, Artspace has partnered with Triangle ArtWorks to take the next steps to foster a community conversation towards achieving systemic change to increase equity in arts fundraising.

Gov. Cooper announced that $40 Million of the NC Cares Act allocation will be targeted for small businesses which have been unable to operate during the Covid-10 shutdowns. The NC Department of Commerce’s new Mortgage, Utility, and Rent Relief (MURR) Program will be available to qualifying businesses to help with some fixed costs. To qualify, your organization must meet certain eligibility criteria.

Raleigh-based Artspace is working to bring a new approach to fundraising for both their own organization and the Triangle arts community. Their community conversations help demystify fundraising and aim to direct organizations towards more equitable fundraising practices.