2017 Business Accelerator Program and Grants

The Clark Hulings Fund for Visual Artists seeks to transform the art industry by helping visual artists better manage their businesses and overcome specific business challenges so they can be financially independent and make a living through the creation of their art. Through the Business Accelerator Program, CHF offers artists customized business training, direct financial assistance, tools, and one-on-one support to boost their careers and help make their businesses self-sustaining.

A total of 20 artists will receive full tuition for CHF's 2017 Business Accelerator Fellowship, along with individualized feedback from the Business Accelerator team. The year-long web-based fellowship consists of two broad strategic workshops and eight deep dives covering business strategy, marketing, finding buyers, contract negotiation, copyrights, communication, and financial management. Each workshop is led by an expert in that session's topic. Participants also gain access to a video library of previous workshops, customized support from CHF's team, group Q&As, individual consultations with experts, an art-business toolset including a cloud-based inventory and collection-tracking system, PR exposure, introductions to industry leaders, and opportunities to collaborate with other artists.

From among the 20 participants, up to ten artists will be selected to receive direct funding to cover targeted business expenses (total funding not to exceed $10,000 per year) and one-on-one tailored business support from CHF's team. Eligible applicants are professional painters, sculptors, and artists working on paper who employ traditional media (excluding photography, film, or video), have had their work published and/or exhibited professionally, are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, have not previously received a CHF grant, and earn or want to earn their living from the sale of their artwork. Applications are accepted from September 1st through October 2nd, 2016. Selected participants will be announced in November 2016, and grant recipients will be named at the end of 2017's fellowship with funding disbursed in early 2018. The application fee is $30 and requires submission of a resume/CV and up to ten images of work.