Financial Strategies for Freelance Artists in a Time of Crisis #ArtistResource on 26 March 2020
Channel: HowlRound Theatre Commons
Date: 2020-03-27

Livestreaming the #ArtistResource panel Financial Strategies for Freelance Artists in a Time of Crisis on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Thursday 26 March 2020 at 8 a.m. HST (Honolulu, UST-10) / 10 a.m. AKDT (Juneau, UTC-8) / 11 a.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC-7) / 1 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC-5) / 2 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4).

Many of us feel embarrassed to talk about financial vulnerability. Our neo-liberal capitalist system tells us that we should be climbing a ladder toward financial success, and that our "successes" and "failures" are indicative of individual strength or weakness. In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, however, these feelings may be even more present as we all experience various states of financial uncertainty and anxiety. In this interactive discussion, financial planner, tax preparer, organizer, and artist Amy Smith will guide individual artists in thinking about both the practical (emergency funds, safety net programs, debt management, taxes, negotiating with lenders) and the philosophical/emotional (understanding shame and impostor syndrome, building collectives, modeling radical transparency) elements of financial preparedness, and offer resources and support to help freelance artists get through this challenging time. This session will also include a question and answer portion. Remember: your debt is not shameful, nor is your financial reality shameful. And we need to work together towards solutions, both immediate and long term.

Amy Smith is a dance and theater artist, educator, and facilitator. She works to dismantle oppressive structures in non-profit organizations and other groups so that artists and low income folks can achieve collective liberation. She does this through financial well-being workshops, consulting with artists and arts organizations, co-facilitating anti-racism sessions, and as a dance and theater educator. Amy co-founded, co-directed, and performed with Headlong, a dance company that transformed into a community arts organization over 25 years. She left Headlong in 2019 to pursue freelance work.