Stewardship means to consciously take up our cultural power, investing it intentionally among the seemingly powerless, putting our power at their disposal to enable them to cultivate and create.
Andy Crouch, “Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling”
What if you could help shape culture for the next 50 years?
That’s how long people who are in school now will be making art.
Without help, they are powerless. They’re young, and most won’t learn about the “real world” of an arts career in school. They’ll graduate with artistic ability, but not with realistic expectations and practical skills.
Being an artist is a business. A large nationwide survey of arts alumni (across all disciplines) found that 75% who had ever worked as artists professionally were currently or previously self-employed, independent contractors, or freelancers. Unfortunately, 65% reported they had entered the marketplace with a “skills gap” in financial and business management, and 54% reported a gap in entrepreneurial skills.
Visual and performing arts programs have enough to do without also scrambling to teach their students up-to-date professional practices. But the students will have to learn it somewhere if they want to sustain their careers. If they have to gather the information however they can once they hit the marketplace, they’re losing time that could go to building their networks and gaining experience. And time is of the essence. When I was working with artists in New York City, I often heard that those who didn’t see real progress within 3-5 years usually quit.
I’m writing a book for these young artists, to help them be ready for what they’ll find when they graduate. The working title is:
To give the book the best chance possible, I’m following the advice I give to artists and I’m hiring professionals to help with the areas about which I’m ignorant. Exactly how much it all costs will depend on how publication ends up working – and how publication works may well depend on how much I’m able to spend.
Would you be willing to do as Andy Crouch suggests, and share your power to get the book into students’ hands so they can sustainably create for the next 50 years? Click the button for more information.
If you’re not quite ready to partner financially but want to keep up with the book’s progress and pray for me and the ministry, please sign up for the e-newsletter.
Thank you, and please keep in touch!
Luann
Luann Purcell Jennings 