Join the Conversation:
ArtSpan provides forums for working artists in San Francisco to share their knowledge base and pose questions about the professional/business aspects of art-making, including helpful resources, tips, studio listings, and suggestions with regards to marketing, pricing, gallery representation, SF Open Studios, and other topics.
Professional Development Resources:
ArtSpan produces 90-minute workshops designed to sharpen your business skills as a professional artist, prepare you for exhibiting work inside and outside your studio, and help you build community with fellow artists and the public. These workshops are Free for all current SF Open Studios Artists, ArtSpan Members, and Friends of SOMArts. Click here for upcoming workshops and information from past workshops.
SF Open Studios Toolkit
A guide to hosting a successful open studios event, created by successful Open Studios Artists. Tips on verything from building a marketing strategy to serving snacks! Check out the Artist Marketing Toolkit.
Facebook Community Forum
The SF Artists Resources Facebook Group is now over 3,000 artists! This is a great place to ask questions, share your best tips, and find listings of opportunities for artists. It is NOT for promoting yourself or your events, but it’s a great place to get ideas and guidance on how you can.
Open Studios Mentorship Program
New since 2015, a program for matching newer exhibitors with more experienced members to help strategize a great event! https://www.artspan.org/mentorship
General Artist Resources:
The list below is intended for reference and does not indicate particular endorsements of products or services. If you have suggestions to add, or you find outdated links, please write info@artspan.org
NUTS and BOLTS
Business & Sales Tax Information
- Internal Revenue Service - 800-829-4933 or www.irs.gov
- State of California Franchise Tax Board - 800-852-5711 or www.ftb.ca.gov
- Seller's permits and Sales Tax- California Board of Equalization
- Registering a business in San Francisco- City and County Treasurer and Tax Collector
- Information on Employer ID Numbers (EIN)
- Small Business Workshops - Small Business Administration
- Current copyright laws and FAQs - US Copyright Office
- Legal and tax resources for artists - California Lawyers for the Arts
- Taxes and bookkeeping services for artists and non-profits - Treehouse Taxes
- Legal, business, and copyright consulting for artists - Start Art Legal
Artist insurance
- Crimson Business Insurance - License #0G35151, Ambere St. Denis, Founder: ambere@crimsoninsurance.com., San Francisco: 415-572-2173, Los Angeles: 213-394-5215
- Heffernan Insurance Broker - 866-500-6359, 415-778-0300
- Barney & Barney - 415-243-4160
- The Hartford - Small Business Insurance, 866-467-8730
- ACT Insurance - Show and Annual Policies, 844-520-6991
CREATING
General Art Supplies
- Arch Art & Drafting Supply - 10 Carolina Street, Street San Francisco 415-433-2724
- Blick Art Materials - 979 Market Street at 6th, San Francisco 415-441-6075
- Flax Art & Design - Fort Mason Center, 2 Marina Blvd, Bldg D, San Francisco 415-530-3510
- SCRAP Creative Reuse Center - 801 Toland Street, San Francisco 415-647-1746
- Artist & Craftsman Supply - 555 Pacific Avenue, San Francisco 415-931-1900
Metal and Jewelry
- Alan Steel and Supply - 505 E Bayshore Rd, Redwood City, CA 650.369.2526
- C & V Sheet Metal Co - 1430 Yosemite Avenue, Bayview 415.671.2230
- Rio Grande -metals, tools, equipment, findings, jewelry display and packaging
- Sculpt Nouveau -patinas, sealers for metal sculpture
- Wire Sculpture -metal wire from 10 to 34 gage
Framing
- FrameArt Studio - 150 Silliman St, San Francisco
- SF Art Framing -130 Mendell Street, San Francsco
- AC Graphics - 79 Belvedere Street, San Rafael, 415-456-0363
- Back to the Picture - 934 Valencia Street at 20th, 415-826-2321 or 83 10th Street, 415-558-9901
- Cheap Pete’s - Various locations
- OktopusRiot Designs - 689 Bryant St, #23B in the SAS studios, 415-601-5719
- Photoworks - 2279 Market St San Francisco, 415-626-6800
Artwork Photography
- Almac Camera Store - 445 Stockton Street, San Francisco, 415-986-6327
- ArtSquare Photography Services - photography@artsquare.com. - 15% Discount for SFOS artists.
- Hanson Digital - (415) 558 9113 - 15% off 1st job for SF Open Studio Artists
- artpaul Cartier - cartier@igc.org or 415-260-5445
- Jacqueline Neuwirth - Artist Professional Portraits - hello@jacquelineneuwirth.com/510-847-2753
- Arthur Koch Photography - 150 Silliman Street, San Francisco
Making Prints Of Artwork
- Dickerman Prints Photo Lab - 1141 Howard Street, SF - 15% discount for SF Open Studios Artists
- Electric Works Artist Services
- Hanson Digital - (415) 558 9113 - 15% off 1st job for SF Open Studio Artists
- Scale Up Art
- Brady Fine Art
- Photoworks - 2279 Market St San Francisco, 415-626-6800
Packaging & Shipping
- Box Brothers
- Uline
- Erdie Industries (shipping tubes)
Exhibition & Fine Art Services
Marketing
Signage
- 1daybanner.com - Banner Printing
- Fastsigns- Vinyl Lettering
- Industry Printing - Banner Printing
- Dynamite Digital - Sandwich Boards, Indoor & Outdoor Printing
- vistaprint.com -Sandwich Boards, Banners, Signs & Posters
Printing-Postcards/ business cards and other promo
- Clubcard Printing - 553 Pacific at Montgomery, 415-865-1930. Tree-Free printing option
- ePrintFast.com
- GotPrint.com
- PsPrint - 2861 Mandela Parkway, Oakland, 800-511-2009
- Rocket Postcards - 2757 16th Street, 415-357-1509
- sinalite.com
- vistaprint.com
E-mail Newsletter Services
Website Building Resources
- Canva
- Shopify
- Strikingly
- SquareSpace
- Website for Artists
- Weebly
- Wix
- wordpress
- WebsiteSetup.org -Free guide "Online Portfolios: How to Setup & What to Include"
OPPORTUNITIES
Calls for Artists
LEARNING
Blogs and Newsletters
- ArtBiz Coach - Alyson Stanfield
- Art Business- Alan Bamberger
- Artsy Shark
- SF Art News- Michael Yochum
Business and marketing workshops
- ArtSpan Workshops
- Studio Fine Artist Network -Stephen C. Wagner
- WaldmanArts - Private Artist Consultation
COMMUNITY
SF Galleries and Alternative Art Spaces
Bay Area Arts Organizations
- Alliance of Artist Communities - Visual arts residency opportunities
- Intersection for the Arts - Fiscal sponsorship for artists that need short-term nonprofit status to qualify for certain grants
- SF Sketchers, Urban Sketchers, John Muir Laws - Bay Area sketching groups
- Pro Arts-East Bay Open Studios- http://www.proartsgallery.org/