PeopleMap Toolkit

The PeopleMap tool is part of The ArtSmart Method, a strategy designed to empower artists in managing their careers effectively. By creating a comprehensive map of their support network, artists can identify opportunities, assess relationships, and make informed decisions about their careers.

The PeopleMap is aimed at creating a detailed record and visualization of an artist's network and community, which includes individuals, organizations, and connections that contribute to support, exposure, or financial opportunities. 

Exposure, support, and money are integral elements in an artist’s career trajectory.

  • Exposure: This refers to the visibility and reach of an artist's work within the art community and beyond. Exposure involves showcasing artwork in galleries, exhibitions, and public spaces, as well as through digital platforms and social media. It's about getting the art seen by a wider audience, gaining recognition, and establishing a reputation within the art world and beyond.

  • Support: Support encompasses the network of individuals, organizations, and resources that contribute to an artist's growth and development. This can include mentors, patrons, galleries, collectors, fellow artists, critics, institutions and strategic alliances offering guidance, encouragement, opportunities, feedback, or assistance.

  • Money: Financial resources are essential for sustaining an art career. This includes funding for materials, studio space, marketing, exhibitions, and living expenses. Money can come from sales of artwork, grants, commissions, sponsorships, or collaborations.

These three components—exposure, support, and money—are interconnected and crucial for an artist’s success. While they often overlap and complement each other, they can also present challenges as they may not always be available simultaneously. Balancing these elements and making strategic decisions to prioritize or compromise on one for the sake of the others is a constant challenge for artists aiming to develop their careers.

How to use?

It's designed with specific fields for inputting data about various contacts, their roles, relationships, and contributions to an artist's career. Please input data to each field or insert an excel spreadsheet with the following headings. What you’ll end up with is a stunning visualization of your extended network and maybe even a view of where your strengths and weaknesses lie. You might notice that you’ve got a lot of Support potential from your network, but very little Money potential—something to think about. 

*The PeopleMap is just one component of the broader ArtSmart Method, which aims to provide artists with various resources and strategies to manage their careers more effectively.