Art profits your humanity more than your economy
In our culture, art is often taken for granted. With today’s technology, it’s easy to access and easy to distribute.
National Arts and Humanities Month is a recognition of the value of the arts and humanities disciplines. And while art is just one of the humanities disciplines, it is the practice of art which connects us to humanity.
From simple products to never-ending content feeds, we are rarely starving for art. The photographers, painters, writers, musicians, and other artists of the world, you are eager to share your creations. You have become daily creators and curators of the art that speaks to you.
What’s more, other creators are often the source of inspiration for your art. Connecting you not only to your humanity, but also to the humanity of your industry.
These networks of creative expression are just the beginning of art’s impact.
Creators and Small Business Owners alike inspired my Balanced-Life Collection by Jabbermax. SBOs, artists, non-profit leaders, and others like you are bettering your communities. You work hard making an impact, you should rest easy and enjoy your craft.
However, this has this become a challenge when industry communities have grown art expression into business-as-usual.
Is the commodity of art at risk of hijacking the humanity of art?
The Economy of Art vs the Humanity of Art
The economic impact of art is impressive, to say the least. In a commerce-driven world, art is one of many thriving humanities industries.
In 2019 art and culture production generated $919.7 billion in economic activity.
Reports published in 2018 by the Americans for the Arts organization show over $160 billion in economic activity in the US was related to the non-profits art industry.
This, of course, included over 1 million creative professionals in the US who yielded almost 50 billion in household income within the same time frame.
Though we know income certainly makes you feel more human – no artist denies that – your creative expression creates a popular culture of art production.
That kind of inspiration contributes to the prosperity of your community. It seems impossible to measure the impact of creative leaders in that regard. This human impact isn’t captured by stats and GDP.
As business owners, freelancers, content creators, and non-profit leaders, you continue to inspire others to try creative outlets. This leads to better mental health outcomes, and more creative business strategies.
Think about when your creative journey started. Whose art inspired you? Which creator gave you the green light to try something new? How did it change you?
However we measure the economic success of art by the numbers – we can ask ourselves – by what factors do we measure human impact with? Hasn’t your creativity improved quality of life for yourself and your community?
Leave your ideas in the comments.
You made art your business, but what about your art
For creative thinkers, business can be a natural transition to connect with your community using your art.
Though I doubt mankind began using art to open a corner store; the bridge between art and business is not as great a chasm as many might believe.
Both require strategy, perspective, and seeing how things fit together. It takes knowledge of how elements play off one another. Business and art require you to know yourself and who you’re creating for – on a personal level.
But what happens when art becomes more about productivity and profit, instead of expression and experience? Does our precious humanity hang in the balance?
What have we shared with the rest of mankind since first forming earth into shapes to tell stories?
Connection and culture.
So how do you protect the humanity of practicing your art, and comfortably give yourself the freedom of commercial profit?
What hours do you set aside to remember the love for the art and not the inventory of your pieces?
Don’t forget, you deserve the balanced life that you promote when you let others enjoy your skill and craft. Creative hearts like yours are often finding joy in something as simple as that.
So, keep a little humanity for yourself. Continue to practice the art for the fun, the challenge, and the unexpected healing that can come from it.
Share it for the sake of connecting to understand others and yourself. Teach others your craft so you can humbly visit the fundamentals through the eyes of others.
Keep challenging others to try new creative ventures, but do so yourself, too. Mastery of one craft can still evolve by learning the fundamentals of another craft.
Art is an essential worker
If your art has inspired a business or impacted your community, you already know the reward it brings.
We know practicing art can produce better ideas.
Many small businesses and organizations will encourage their employees to engage with art to stimulate creativity. Problem-solving can be improved through regular creative activity, as well.
And even purposely-curated artwork for your office walls can improve productivity and community unity.
When creating a culture that cares about the creative health of others, you send a message that they are worth investment. And every good business owner knows they absolutely are.
Think and discuss within your community ways to stay connected to the humanity of art while conducting the business of art.
How often can you reach your community using art education? In what ways can art connect you with the community who helps you keep your business operating, and the community who keeps it profiting.
The true benefit of art is that it impacts the business owner, more than the business. It impacts the people in your market, more than it impacts your marketing.
Stay in touch with your art
The biggest impact art makes in our communities is the impact on our own humanity.
If you are not regularly engaging in art for fun, give yourself the opportunity. It’s a time be reflective, creative, and full of mistakes while learning to trust a process.
Create a space where you can get creative. If you can make it a space that you don’t have to clean up every time, then it can help encourage the practice. Somewhere personal, maybe quiet.
This goes for writing, music, drawing, coloring, painting, woodworking – every craft needs some space.
Next, create a time when you can be creative. Find a time when distractions are minimal. Turn off notifications and turn on music if it help you focus.
Remember this time is not for making inventory. You can mess it up and try again. It takes as long as it takes. There is no deadline to make. It’s just you and your expression.
And You don’t have to look far to find an impact-maker who is ready to teach you the basics – or get in touch to discuss mastery.
Comment your favorite impact-maker artist and creator for the love of humanity.