Creative Entrepreneurship + Artist Opportunities
A personal journey with the arts is about growth; in personal spirit and in skill.
Some creatives and artists participate in the arts for passion, for love of the craft, for deeply personal reasons while other creative and artists become interested in how their skills, practice, and works can become an important revenue stream if not a fully committed career option.
Pillar Arts is committed to supporting and uplifting artists of all types, and at all stages of their creative journey with artist opportunities.
Our guide is just a suggestion to help some artists figure out “what comes next”, but as we all know, creativity and learning rarely moves in a straight line, and your specific creative journey through creative entrepreneurship may look very different from what we have here.
Where are You in the Journey?
We’ve been building infrastructure for working artists in South-Central Indiana since 2010. It looks different, and has different value depending on where you are in your practice. For some people, the right first step is getting into the Artists Directory. For others it is applying to show and sell work in one of the galleries, or proposing a workshop. There is no required sequence, there is no right or wrong way to do things. There is just where you are, and what makes sense to you.
The programs and resources listed on this page are organized by stage of artistic development. Take what is useful. Ignore what isn’t.
Explore our Programs & Opportunities
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Becoming Inspired
Visit one of our arts spaces to enrich your curiosity and imagination, participate in community arts.
• Stop by the Arts Alliance Center
• Attend a First Friday reception at By Hand Gallery
• Go to a community arts and culture event
• Share your events with the calendar -
Aspiring Artist
When you are still developing your work and striving to clarify your point of view.
• Join the Artists Directory
• Tour our art galleries
• Take a class or attend a workshop
• Read our arts articles
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Finding Community
Artists grow together. Explore community groups near you, find colleagues and collaborators.
• Explore our Creative Resources Survey
• Find likeminded artists in our Artists Directory
• Stay current with the regional arts scene
• Volunteer with other artists -
Emerging Artist
You are making work and beginning to think about what it means to share it.
• Memberships offer resource discounts
• Produce your first performance
• Propose your first exhibit
• Apply to join a Pilot Lights Cohort -
Establishing Artist
Your work is starting to create income, you are striving to improve.
• Booth at our Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair
• Submit your work for jurying into our galleries
• Submit your creative project for expert 3rd party evaluation (Coming Soon)
• Apply to join an Indiana Arts Council development program (more details Coming Soon) -
Getting Involved
Invest your time and skills in Pillar Arts and learn administration.
• Learn more about who we are
• Pillar Arts organization history
• Read our past press releases
• Inquire about open board or committee seats
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Practicing Artist
Work sells, and your time goes toward finding new patrons and sustaining what you have built.
• Volunteer as an artist mentor
• Propose workshops or classes to teach
• Explore support for your creative project (more details Coming Soon)
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Going Further
Your work is successful, your patronage is established, what you built is growing. You are now a community arts leader.
• Become a supporting sponsor
• Support and lead an area arts group
• Apply to join the Bloomington Arts Commission
• Pursue investment interest
At a Glance
Free or low barrier starting points
- Visit our Galleries
- Visit Pillar Arts while Boothing
- Create a profile in the Bloomington Artist Directory
- Volunteer with Pillar Arts
Membership and gallery programs
Other earning opportunities
- Participate in the annual Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair
- Book the Performance FlexSpace
- Host a workshop (coming soon)
Business development for artists
- Apply to join Pilot Lights Creative Incubator
- Apply to join IAC On-Ramp (coming soon)
- Apply for Fiscal Sponsorship from Pillar Arts (coming soon)
Community arts leadership development
- Sign up for the Pillar Arts twice-monthly newsletter
- Apply to join Pillar Arts Board of Directors (coming soon)
- Explore job + internship opportunities with Pillar Arts
Get Started
Don't wait, get a Pillar Arts membership today, access discounted resources, and get started on your arts journey!
Become a Member of Pillar Arts