The Low Down:
Strategies for Artists During the Recession

Saturday May 16, 9am-4:30pm

The economic crisis is having a large impact on the art world, but what does this mean for individual artists? What can artists do to prepare, survive, and even thrive during a recession? The Spring 2009 Business of Art Conference will look at the recession’s impact on the arts with input from art world professionals, accountants, artists and others.

The Low Down will start with a candid panel discussion about the effects of the current economy on the art world from the perspective of galleries, nonprofits, foundations and city government. An afternoon seminar will provide concrete financial planning advice geared toward the needs of artists. Th afternoon will start with a panel of artists sharing their experiences and new ideas of how to navigate and redefining the art world. The day will conclude with a discussion on what contracts you can use to protect you in uncertain times.

Location:
Barney Building
Department of Art and Art Professions
New York University Steinhardt School of Education
34 Stuyvesant Street
New York, NY 10003

Cost:
Artist Rate: $55 per artist
In response to your feedback, and with the economy in mind NYFA has lowered the artist rate fee from $95 to $55

NYFA Artist Rate: $50
(This includes all NYFA Fellows, NYFA MARK artists and Fiscally Sponsored Artists and Organizations)
Discounts available for current NYU students and staff.
The fee includes all workshops, panels, and a Doctor's Hours Appointment. Please note that all Doctor's Hours events during the conference are on a first come first serve basis..

Registration: THIS CONFERENCE IS SOLD OUT. We are unable to accept walk-in registrations.

Please visit the Community Forum for additional and related material, as well as a list of conference attendees websites at Community Forum

Questions:
Please contact NYFA Learning at learning@nyfa.org or 212- 366-6900 x249.

Conference Schedule
Further information and descriptions will be regularly added here.

9:00am Check-in

9:30am Welcome

9:45-11:00am Panel: Assessing the Recession
Panelists: Sean Elwood, Creative Capital; Stephanie Howe, Artists Space; Kay Takeda, LMCC, and Edward Winkleman, Winkleman Gallery with Moderator: Christa Blatchford, NYFA
Description: This panel will explore how the recession has impacted the art world from the lens of the commercial gallery, the nonprofit exhibition space, the project funder and local arts council. Each panelist will be sharing their experiences, giving advice for artists and speaking about their thoughts on new directions.

11:15-1:15pm Susan Lee: How to get through the Recession
Description: Accountant Susan Lee will focus on financial advice specific to an artists concerns in the recession.

1:15-2:30pm Break. Lunch will not be provided, however you may bring your own.

2:30-4pm Panel: Sustainable Practice: Artists Defining a New Model
Panelists: Jeff Hnilicka, FEAST; Caroll Taveras; Carol Taveras Studio; Francisca Caporali, Artist and curator; Joshua Smith and Denise Kupferschmidt, co-founders of Apartment Show with moderator Suzan Sherman, NYFA
Description: This panel discussion aims to identify ways in which artists can navigate, and possibly re-position themselves and their practice during this changing economy. The question of “what’s next?” looms on the horizon as the economic and social structure of the art world shifts beneath our feet. But what exactly are we standing upon, and is it worthwhile for artists to maintain?

4-4:30pm Jonathan Melber: Protecting Your Art with Paper: Consignment Agreements, Invoices and Other Basic Legal Forms
Description: The author of ART/WORK: Everything You Need To Know (And Do) As You Pursue Your Art Career will explain what you need to write down--and why--when you consign work to a venue, donate to an auction or sell from your studio.

Organized by the New York Foundation for the Arts, the conferences are made possible by a generous grant from McGraw-Hill. Additional support is provided by the Department of Art and Art Professions, New York University Steinhardt School of Education.