Where can I turn to find community as an artist?

Apr 18

This post is a part of On Making - a weekly project where I answer questions about how to think about and develop your body of work as a visual artist. Each answer is intended to be a brief read that concludes with a guiding action you can consider immediately. If you’d like to subscribe to this ongoing support, consider joining me on Substack. Each question will be cross-posted for delivery to your inbox.

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In my first couple of years of practicing art, I was hesitant to join any sort of community. I didn’t know how to open my studio to groups of strangers, and I didn’t know how to measure the value of this type of investment. I created quietly while letting solitude hinder my ability to overcome the challenges and pain points I experienced.

With a little nudge from my heart, I convinced the more logical side of me to apply for a mini-mastermind. It was a 45-day container led by a leader in the art industry. Almost instantly, this small community positively impacted both my small creative business and my life. And 3-years later, we’re still active in our space. The group offers me a place to ask questions, work through problem-solving, and talk through real and viable solutions. It has helped me hone in on offering advice and guidance to other artists and find my zone of genius. Most importantly, I experience reciprocity in real life.

I wish I had joined a community much sooner in my artistic career. Leaving the camaraderie of art school, I was faced with silence for aloneness for nearly 5-years. And while it’s great to have family and friends that support my work, there are so many parts that I needed real and honest feedback.

Where can you turn to socialize as an artist? I believe an art community can be found in more than one way.

Find the right type of artist community that will meet your needs.

You want the artist community you join to be the right fit for you. Meaning, you want to ensure that the way the group meets feels natural to you. This makes it a natural extension of your creative practice and an invitation to feel comfortable being vulnerable. This will enable the group to find meaningful depth collectively. Here are a few questions to consider when looking for the right fit artist community.

What type of topics does the group focus on? For example, if you are joining a creative community, is it more focused on business or the creative process? Then assess which area you are looking for long-term support in.
How many people are involved in the community? Is it a small and intimate group or is it a larger more open group? A smaller community might bring you more real and honest feedback while a larger more open group might bring you more camaraderie championing you towards your ideas.
Is the community virtual or are there opportunities to be in person?
How does the group meet? For example, if you are wanting to spend less time on social media, you might search for a group that meets via email, a messaging app, or Zoom.
Is there an individual or group facilitating the community? If yes, what is their mentoring style like? How often are they present?

Search for an artist community either in-person or online.

Check local community centers. Some host art classes or workshops which is an opportunity to meet art teachers and other students. These connections might lead you to a group or you can organically create your own meetups.
Check local art organizations. Local art museums, galleries, and art centers also offer classes, workshops, or events for artists. Many of these organizations also have membership programs that allow artists to connect with other members and participate in exhibitions.
Search for studios. Whether clay studios, sculpture studios, or resident studios, many of these businesses often offer monthly memberships to utilize their services.
Search for local art residencies. Art residencies are an opportunity to meet other artists with similar interests.
Search social media apps for artists whose values you align with. Then, look to see if they host any sort of groups or memberships.
If you have a small group of artists you know (whether online or in-person), consider starting your own community. You can move off social media and use messaging apps like Voxer or Marco Polo.
If you follow or subscribe to an artist you enjoy, reach out and ask if they know of other artists looking for community. I hear this a lot from artists I mentor, and their desire for community. I’m always happy to make introductions and facilitate small community meetings.

And the best advice I’d offer you? Find the courage to lean in. Community is always what you make it, and I often stick with the rule of thumb to give more than I receive. When you find the courage to lean into a community, offer support where you can, and not hold back knowledge you will experience a fuller and more rewarding space. One thought may encourage new thoughts and the domino effect takes place.

Community is the best thing I have ever invested in—not just for my creativity but I have also seen positive effects on both my mental health and wellbeing. If you're an artist looking for genuine connections, I encourage you to find or build a community that works best for you.

If we haven’t had the pleasure of meeting - I’m Lauren Sauder, a landscape artist and artist mentor. If you enjoyed this post, here are a few more ways you can connect with me:

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