The dots between is a financial coaching program for artists and creatives who are motivated to address their financial practices, nurture their relationship with money, and establish the structures that will support their long term fiscal health. The program is administered virtually for six-months and offered at no cost for up to thirty BIPOC artists and artists from historically marginalized or underrepresented communities* living in Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado of the US and up to ten BIPOC artists located throughout the rest of the country.
*We understand the complex and fluid nature of identity and the ways in which terms often fall short of encapsulating what fully needs to be said. With that in mind, we welcome applicants who identify as BIPOC as well as applicants who come from ethnic/cultural/religious backgrounds that have been underrepresented, underserved, or marginalized, such as artists from traditional and/or Indigenous communities who may not categorically identify as BIPOC.
Program content is based on your individual questions around financial literacy topics like managing uneven income, building credit, how to structure debt, creating a retirement plan and how to plan financially for family members. We will meet occasionally as a group to help each other with core questions around our arts businesses practices. Sheetal Prajapati and other experts will present four workshops on arts business management including content on how to charge for your time, best teaching practices, networking and fundraising. For more details on content, see the applying tab.
the dots between program outline
We will explore these core topics:
is this right for you?
"I really appreciate that I can ask questions beyond my art practice and we can talk about financial concerns within my family life. The program is not just benefiting me but my whole family and that is an amazing gift I was not expecting."
"The program has opened my eyes on how to manage my finances and art work. I feel more confident about getting paid and not being afraid of asking for the money that I think my work is worth. Also I have been able to create a much healthier financial dialogue at home with my partner."
"Since starting this fellowship, I have begun to consider my relationship with money as a spiritual practice. Money is one element of wealth and to really be spiritually and emotionally abundant, I need to work on that relationship. I feel like I'm learning how to talk about and appreciate the resource that helps keep a roof over my head and food in my stomach."
The dots between began at the start of COVID-19 when Santa Fe cancelled its major art markets. Knowing that these art markets were often the sole source of income for participants, Tamara created a 6 month program to help artists diversify their revenue sources and strengthen their financial understanding to emerge strongly from the pandemic. Staff members and former awardees at Creative Capital gave early advice to help create a pipeline of artists in the Southwest who could apply and win the Creative Capital award. Tamara is also grateful to the founding advisors listed below who gave their time and expertise to promote and grow the program.
