Ann Daly Arts Consulting LLC:
"The Successful Artist E-letter"
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What Makes a Successful Artist?
Tis the season, for spring cleaning.
I must admit, it's one of my favorite times of the year.
Tossing out the unused, or unusable.
Making room for what's fresh.
Reminding myself what's essential,
and what's expendable.
And I'm not just talking about throwing out old clothes
and reorganizing the junk drawer in the kitchen.
I'm talking about reflecting on who we are, and what we do.
For artists, that means asking:
"What does it mean to be an artist?"
And, furthermore,
"What does it mean to be a successful artist?"
Our culture's image of the artist is a narrow one.
The world has changed--and continues to change--so radically.
But there remains a limited understanding
of how an artist lives and creates, and succeeds.
What does an artist look like? Act like?
How much does s/he earn, or not?
Is "entrepreneur" a dirty word?
Does an arts organization have to be a 501c3,
with a board of directors and annual fundraiser?
In my work as a clarity coach, I see how outdated beliefs
hold artists back in so many ways.
Until we thoroughly question received definitions
about how to be a practicing artist,
we risk remaining stuck
in an uncomfortable, unproductive, unsustainable place.
Who says that a choreographer
must organize herself into a "company" bearing her name?
Who says that a painter must land an exclusive gallery contract?
Who says that you need to own your theatre building
to be a real theatre group?
Claim your own path to success.
Rather than holding onto the faded, outworn stereotypes
that don't fit anymore,
clean them out to make room for what really does suit you.
That may change from spring to spring,
and that's good, too.
It means that you're growing.
That's a sure sign of the successful artist.
Very best,
Ann
April 2005