Struggling to Sell Your Art or Get Noticed? Here’s Why Waiting Won’t Work Many artists feel stuck, waiting for gallery representation, exhibition invitations, or grant approvals. If you’ve ever felt like you’re stuck waiting for an open call, a grant approval, or a collector to take notice, you’re not alone. But waiting won’t bring you […]

art business, art world demystified, career advice, creative careers, marketing, professional development, selling art

Sheelah Moloney

How to Stop Waiting and Start Creating Opportunities for Art Career Success

art career success exhibition

It’s here, finally!! After a longer wait then usual, applications are now open for the Agility Award 2025. This is a great fund to apply for, particularly if you are an emerging artist. While the Arts Council are now accepting application, don’t rush your submission. There is plenty time to submit your application for the […]

art business, art world demystified, career advice, creative careers, funding

Sheelah Moloney

Agility Award 2025: Get Your Application Started in 3 Easy Steps

What the discount trend tells us about art sales Whoa!! Black ‘Friday’ has grown legs and now stalks its way through November like a rabid beast slathering its reduced price pressure drool over everything it touches. Once just fodder for an ‘And Finally’ news story where our neighbours across the ocean were fighting each other […]

art business, creative careers, marketing, selling art, small business, Uncategorized

Sheelah Moloney

Black Friday

the words black friday with the a and i under a mircroscpe

Lessons from an art fair Art fairs are often seen as the holy grail of art sales and they can be but that’s dependent on a lot of factors and not just simply showing up. Sure, a captive audience turns up with buying in mind but art sales require more than just willing participants on […]

art business, art world demystified, creative careers, selling art

Sheelah Moloney

What art fairs really tell us about art sales

art fair art sales

If you applied for Agility Award funding and didn’t get it, you’re likely feeling disappointed, frustrated and maybe a bit confused. When you’ve put effort into the application and followed the guidelines but you still don’t get the result you hoped for it can feel unfair and despair can start to set in, particularly if […]

art world demystified, career advice, creative careers, funding, Uncategorized

Sheelah Moloney

The Truth About Funding Rejections (Agility Award Edition)

hand held up to reject and say no

Last week I attended an online information session given by the Arts Council on this year’s Agility Award. Here are some of the important things I learned. The Arts Council’s Agility Award is currently open for submissions (deadline 25th April) and this year there have been a few important changes to note and some essentials […]

art world demystified, creative careers, funding, professional development

Sheelah Moloney

5 things to know about the Agility Award (2024)

blog title in search bar

As an artist, understanding what stage your art career is at can be both empowering and insightful. Whether you’re just starting out or have been creating for years, knowing your artistic career stage can help you set goals, make informed decisions and navigate the art world more effectively. So, are you a new, emerging, mid-career, […]

art business, art world demystified, career advice, creative careers, Uncategorized

Sheelah Moloney

How to Determine Your Artistic Career Stage: A Guide for Artists

At this mid point of the year it’s the perfect time to review what has happened so far, what you have achieved and what you want the result for the rest of the year to be. What opportunities you want for your art business. There can be a fear that sets in in June because […]

art business, artists, career advice, creative careers, professional development, selling art

Sheelah Moloney

How to get the opportunities you want for your art business (in 6 months)

Do you remember the meme from a few years back that dominated our Facebook timelines about Don’t be like Jim? Jim would make all kinds of blunders and be used as the example of what not to do. Well, consider this blog post as the Don’t be like Jim for making funding applications 😊 Making […]

career advice, creative careers

Sheelah Moloney

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Your Funding Application

As an artist, you know that summer festivals present an incredible opportunity to showcase your work, gain sales, and increase exposure. These events serve as a practice run for pitching your art to galleries, funding opportunities and residencies and can be a significant stepping stone in your artistic career. If you haven’t applied for any […]

art business, creative careers, professional development, selling art

Sheelah Moloney

Embrace Summer Arts Festivals: Unlock Sales and Exposure for Your Art