FOR CURRENT MEMBERS

USEFUL DOCUMENTS

FORMS

MEMBER PROFILE SUBMISSIONS

Please complete this form so we can add you to our website! Once this is complete, email an image, written excerpt, or video link of your artwork to be used on our website to shanae@radianthall.org.

Terms and Conditions: By sending us media work(s), you affirm that you the creator and/or copyright holder of the media work, or are otherwise licensed to distribute the media work for the purposes described above. You further agree that Radiant Hall may, at any time and without payment or compensation of any sort, use and publish the media work on its website for the purposes of advertising and promotion.

Name

First Name

Last Name

Artistic Practice(s)

Website

http://

Artist Statement/Bio

Studio Location

STUDIO MOVE REQUESTS

If you are a current Radiant Hall Studio Member and want to relocate your studio for any reason (upsizing, downsizing, window access, etc.), please fill out this form to let us know.

Our selection criteria: While we prioritize studio interest from current members on our waitlist, there are many things we consider when filling a vacancy. Note that we do not jury artworks as part of the selection process and the criteria below are not ranked. As we strive for a diverse and inclusive community, consideration is always given to the make up of our current community, and how we can better represent a range of artistic/creative practices, backgrounds, and perspectives.

Some things we consider:

How long has the member been a part of Radiant Hall?
Is the current Studio Member part of a temporary residency program?
Does the member have a home zip code in the area or strong connection to neighborhood (if looking to move to a different location)?
Would this member expand the diversity of the artists and practices currently represented in the studio location (if looking to move to a different location)?
When was the date of inquiry?/ How long have they been on the waitlist?
Does the desired move in date align with the availability of the studio?
Is there an urgent need for more/less/different space?

Name

First Name

Last Name

Current Home Zip Code

Where are you looking to move?

Is there a specific location you are looking to move to?

Homewood

Lawrenceville

McKees Rocks

Is there a specific studio space you are interested in?

If applicable, please describe the specific studio you are interested in, or the studio number if known.

What size studio are you looking for?

Half Studio (90-110 sq. ft.)

Full Studio (180-220 sq. ft.)

Double Studio (360-440 sq. ft.)

Private Studio ONLY (note these are in limited supply and high demand)

Window/Natural Lighting ONLY (note these are in limited supply and high demand)

Space Requirements

Do you have any special ventilation, equipment, electricity, sound, etc. needs?

Statement of Need

Why are you looking to move studios? How would a different studio space at Radiant Hall impact your creative practice?

Self-Identification

As Radiant Hall values equity and inclusion, the diversity of our community is important to us. If you would like to share with us your gender identity, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, ability/disability, how you intersect with any of the above, or other important ways you self identify please do so. *this field is not required.

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE NOMINATIONS

The Membership Committee will select one artist member per year to serve as co-chair along with a member of Radiant Hall’s Board of Directors. The role of the committee co-chair is to help set the meeting agenda, encourage member participation, and communicate committee activities to artist members. The co-chair will receive an annual stipend of $300.

Nominee

First Name

Last Name

Statement of Interest or Support

Please describe your interest in serving as Membership Committee Co-Chair (if nominating yourself), or why you think this person should be considered (if nominating someone else).

Self-Nomination?

Yes

MEMBER DUES RELIEF FUND

If you are experiencing financial hardship, you can request that all or a portion of your Radiant Hall membership dues be temporarily waived. Please keep in mind that member dues are crucial to Radiant Hall’s financial stability. As such, we won’t be able to accommodate all requests, but we will do our best to ensure that relief is distributed to those who need it most.

Name

First Name

Last Name

Statement of Critical Need

Please describe your situation in as much detail as you are comfortable sharing. Include information about your finances, estimated loss of income, and the status of any additional support requests from other sources.

Amount Requested

Indicate the amount of dues relief needed on a monthly basis.

Duration

How long do you expect to need support?

GENERAL FEEDBACK

How are we doing?

FORMAL COMPLAINT REPORTING

The following form is intended for reporting violations of the Code of Conduct and other organizational policies. Submissions are received by Radiant Hall’s Managing Director as well as the Vice President of the Board. While this form allows you to report anonymously, please know that using this option may limit our ability to take action. See Page 6 of the Code of Conduct for more information on confidentiality.

ARTIST RESOURCE GUIDE

I need help with:

WRITING MY ARTIST STATEMENT/BIO

GYST-Ink.com is our go-to resource for navigating the business of art. GYST's offerings include an overview, guidelines, and useful words for writing artist statements. Radiant Hall offers free artist statement reviews from Porter Loves Creative to two artist members per month on a first-come, first-served basis.

For advice on writing an artist bio, check out:

Artsy.net - What We Learned from Writing 7,000 Artist Bios
Indie on the Move - How To Write An Effective Artist Bio That Won’t Be Ignored
Artwork Archive - How to Write an Appealing Artist Biography
MICA - Developing Artist Statements & Artist Bios

IMPROVING MY RESUME/CV

Some helpful resources for writing an Artist CV:

The Practical Art World - How to Write an Artist’s CV in 10 Steps
College Art Association - Visual Artist Curriculum Vitae: Recommended Conventions
Art Business Info - The Curriculum Vitae for Artists
Hamilton Arts Council - Writing Your Artist Curriculum Vitae
Emerging Artists Guide - Curriculum Vitae

BUILDING TECHNICAL SKILLS

Lynda.com is an online learning platform that helps anyone learn business, software, technology and creative skills to achieve personal and professional goals. You can access over 1,100 online courses on topics like Photoshop, Illustrator, 3D printing, web development, etc. for free with a Carnegie Library card.

Codecademy is another cool resource that offers free coding classes in 12 different programming languages including Python, Java, JavaScript, Ruby, SQL, and Sass, as well as markup languages HTML and CSS.

DOCUMENTING MY WORK

We can’t emphasize enough how important it is to have professional photos of your work. Documentation is the cornerstone of a strong portfolio, and necessary to have ready for any opportunity that comes your way. Radiant Hall provides professional headshots and candids to artists who participate in Open Studios. If you're looking for a photographer to work with on a regular basis, here are a few talented folks we've worked with: Adam Milliron, Ryan Michael White, Christopher Sprowls, and Julie Kahlbaugh.

For editing purposes, we recommend Photoshop or Lightbox. Adobe programs are available for around $10/month (photography only) or $50/month (all programs). It is well worth the investment to have the proper tools. If you want to learn to use your new Adobe programs and you have a Carnegie Library card, you have access to Lynda.com for free, and can watch unlimited tutorials on any program you’d like!

We highly recommend storing your files on an external hard drive. Raw files take up a ton of space on your computer. Here are some guidelines for saving image files:

raw - for archive purposes, you should always have each image in its original format
print - you'll want a high resolution (300dpi) version saved in CMYK as a .tif for magazines, newspapers, or anyone else who needs a print-ready file.
web - 1080 px wide by however tall saved in RGB as a .png or .jpg. Web should be saved at 72dpi.
thumbnail (optional) - most websites will automatically generate a thumbnail from the web version, so this is optional. Thumbnails are usually square (typically 150px x 150px) but don't have to be.

Decide on a naming system for files that works for your practice and stick to it. It will make searching, inventory, and sharing so much easier. Some suggestions: Lastname_TitleofArtwork_2016-raw or Lastname_TitleofArtwork_detail_2016-raw.

MANAGING MY INVENTORY

Airtable is the inventory software we recommend to keep all of your work and information in one secure place. Airtable spreadsheets have more flexibility than Excel or Google Sheets and can be tailored to your specific needs.

Look through the guide to familiarize yourself with the software, and take a look at the Inventory Spreadsheet we have laid out.

APPLYING FOR GRANTS/RESIDENCIES

GYST's guides to proposals & grants and residencies provide an excellent overview of the process of applying for funding and other artist opportunities.

Creative Capital compiles a list of residencies, grant and award opportunities, and open calls for artists and curators every month. Their blog also offers advice on the grant-writing process. We particularly like their guide to creating a project budget.

The Nonprofit Resource Center at the Carnegie Library provides free access to print and online resources for grantseekers. Visit CLP Main in Oakland to access specialized databases like the Foundation Grants to Individuals database, which includes information on almost 10,000 funders that provide scholarships, fellowships, grants and other types of financial support to artists, students, and researchers.

Other places to look for opportunities include:

A few ongoing opportunities you might want to look into:

The Heinz Endowments - Small Arts Initiative
The Pittsburgh Foundation - Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh and Investing in Professional Artists
GPAC - Artist Opportunity Grants
Awesome Pittsburgh - Microgrants
New Sun Rising - The Vibrancy Funds
Union Project - Soup N'at

CREATING A WEBSITE

Of course, GYST offers a pretty comprehensive overview of building a web presence. If you're looking for website building and hosting suggestions, Radiant Hall uses Squarespace and GoDaddy. Wordpress is also a good option.

Radiant Hall members and alumni can have their bio, photo, and personal website link included in the artist listing on our website.

MANAGING MY FINANCES

This brief guide covers personal budgeting as well as some basics for running a small business. GYST covers finances, budgeting, taxes, etc. for artists in more detail. Radiant Hall uses QuickBooks for invoicing, payment processing, tracking expenses, and other accounting needs. You can use the online version for as little as $10/month.

If you want some personalized guidance, Radiant Hall artist member Lucine Folgueras is a Certified Financial Planner, and offers free confidential advice sessions for other RH members. Send us an email and we'll connect you!

RECOVERING FROM A FINANCIAL EMERGENCY

Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council has established an Emergency Fund for artists who have experienced career-threatening situations such as a fire, flood, or theft. Grants from $300 to $1,000 are offered to assist with replacing materials, equipment, etc. to help get your art practice back on track.

Another useful source is this aggregated list of FREE resources, opportunities, and financial relief options available to artists of all disciplines. This list was compiled in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, however most of these services are not limited to this specific crisis.

GETTING LEGAL OR BUSINESS ADVICE

Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (VLA) provides pro bono legal assistance to low income artists and smaller arts nonprofits for arts-related legal needs. If you are in need of legal help for items like contracts, non-profit designation, copyrights and trademarks, you can apply for assistance through GPAC if you meet certain eligibility criteria.

The Business Volunteers for the Arts (BVA) program will help you get the business help you need at a fraction of the cost. Pittsburgh area business professionals volunteer their expertise in financial and strategic planning, marketing, information technology, human resources and more to assist artists and arts nonprofits. You can learn more and apply through GPAC.

SOMETHING ELSE

GYST-Ink.com has practical guides for just about every aspect of your artistic career. For local resources, check out the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council's artist services. If you can't find the help you need, contact us!