NYFA Student Hub Resources: A Comprehensive Guide to Thriving as an Artist

The New York Film Academy (NYFA) Student Hub offers a multitude of resources designed to support students in their artistic journey. From career development and emergency preparedness to coworking spaces and funding opportunities, the Student Hub aims to provide a holistic support system for aspiring artists. In light of recent global events, including the COVID-19 pandemic and various natural disasters, the importance of preparedness and resourcefulness has become more critical than ever for artists looking to protect and sustain their practice. This article will explore the diverse resources available through the NYFA Student Hub, equipping students with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate their careers successfully.

Preparing for the Unexpected: Emergency Preparedness for Artists

Recent global events like the COVID-19 pandemic, severe storms, droughts, wildfires, and even theft have underscored the need for artists to be prepared for unexpected disruptions. Preparedness involves taking proactive steps to protect oneself and artistic assets, fostering resilience and the ability to recover quickly from emergencies.

Assessing Your Assets and Risks

The first step in emergency preparedness is identifying the elements crucial to your artistic practice. Consider the following:

Physical Space: This includes your home (if you work from there), studio, rehearsal space, theater, gallery/sales space, office space, and storage areas.
Physical Items: Inventory your supplies, computers, equipment/gear, sets, props, cameras, manuscripts, fixtures, instruments, recordings/archives, and both paper and digital records, including contracts and vendor/customer contacts.
Events: Consider the impact of emergencies on sales, festivals, performances, rehearsals, classes, workshops, tours, and fundraisers.
Relationships: Identify the relationships that are most vital to your practice and career.

Next, evaluate the risks most likely to occur in your location. These might include:

Strong winds from hurricanes and tornadoes
Flooding
Lightning
Drought
Fire
Blackouts
Terrorism/acts of violence
Theft/vandalism
Cyberhacks

Mitigation and Protection Strategies

Once you've identified your assets and potential risks, brainstorm ways to protect or minimize potential losses. For example:

Data Protection: Invest in cloud storage or transfer data to a hard drive stored off-site to safeguard your archive or digital documentation.
Physical Storage: Store important items off the floor (avoiding attics and basements), away from windows, in airtight containers or acid-free storage, or in a fireproof safe.
Insurance: Buy appropriate insurance plans, remembering that homeowners insurance doesn't cover business losses. Consider business, flood, and renters insurance.
Contracts: Ensure your contracts and agreements account for potential disasters, addressing rescheduling, payment terms, and compensation for losses. Understand Force Majeure (Acts of God) clauses.

Emergency Preparedness Kit and Procedures

Prepare for potential evacuations or the need to shelter in place:

Charge Devices: Keep phones, computers, and portable chargers fully charged.
Shelter-in-Place Supplies: Refer to ready.gov for guidance on what to purchase and do to prepare for sheltering in place.
Evacuation Plan: Determine when and how you'll evacuate, securing your space and assets (including turning off electronics and utilities).
Notification List: Identify who you need to notify about your whereabouts and any canceled events.
Go Kit: Create an emergency "Go Kit" with essential items, including a laminated list of important contacts (also store a copy online).

Career Development Resources

NYFA's Career Development department provides a wide array of resources to help students launch and sustain their careers. These include:

Workshops: Workshops cover topics like professional networking, resume writing, interviewing, job search strategies, marketing, and managing business and legal issues for artists.
Career Fair: An annual Career Fair connects students with professional artists and recruiters from leading creative companies.
Portfolio Reviews: Students receive expert guidance through portfolio reviews.
Campus Visits: Industry professionals visit campus to share their expertise.
Comprehensive Resource Lists: Career Development has compiled lists of resources for various majors and industries, including internship company lists for illustration and comics, and graduate programs.

Coworking Spaces: Collaborative Environments for Artists

Coworking spaces offer alternative collaborative work environments that prioritize productivity, networking, and communal learning. These spaces are ideal for independent professionals, telecommuters, and freelancers who want to share an environment rather than working remotely.

Examples of coworking spaces in NYC include:

Coalition Space
Ensemble
Greater Nexus (Queens)
New Work City
Paragraph
We Work Labs NY
Bat Haus (Brooklyn)
The Yard

Accelerator and Incubator Resources

For startups and entrepreneurs, NYFA provides access to accelerator and incubator resources:

Read also: Guide to UC Davis Student Housing

Accelerators: These programs offer financial support (typically $18,000 to $25,000 per startup) and mentorship in exchange for a small equity stake. Examples include Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerators (ERA) and NYC SeedTechstars.
Incubators: Incubators provide business assistance and mentorship, nurturing startups and entrepreneurs. They may take a larger equity stake in exchange for access to their network, expertise, and guidance. Examples include A Common Thread (CFDA) and MakerSpace NYC.

Grants and Funding Resources

NYFA students have access to numerous grants and funding opportunities:

AICAD Post-MFA Teaching Fellowship: (By nomination only)
Art Matters: (Invitation-only grant program)
The Awesome Foundation: $1,000 grants for artists
Bronx Council on the Arts: Funding for Bronx residents
Brooklyn Arts Council: Funding for Brooklyn residents
The Field: Strategic services for performing and media artists
Flushing Council on Culture and the Arts: Funding for Queens residents and artists working in Queens
Fractured Atlas: Fiscal sponsorship, financial education, and digital resources
Humanities New York: Funding for NY State residents
La Maison des Auteurs Residency: For graphic project professionals
Lower Manhattan Cultural Council: Funding for NYC residents
New York Foundation for the Arts: Fellowship Program and fiscal sponsorship
NYFA: Best Practices for Applying to Documentary Grants
Open Society Foundation: Awards for those working toward social change
The Puffin Foundation: Grants for artists who may have difficulty securing funding
Staten Island Arts: Funding for Staten Island residents
Women Arts Funding Resources Overview: List of grants for women artists and writers

Residency Opportunities in NYC

NYFA students can explore various residency opportunities:

Baxter St / NY Camera Club: Photography residency in Manhattan
Edward F. Albee Foundation: Residency in Montauk
LMCC Arts Center at Governors Island: Residency on Governors Island
Residency Unlimited: Residency programs in NYC

Additional Resources and Organizations

Several organizations offer valuable resources for artists:

CERF+ (Craft Emergency Relief Fund): Provides education programs, advocacy, network building, and emergency relief for craft artists.
NCAPER (National Coalition for Arts Preparedness and Emergency Response): A voluntary task force of arts organizations, public agencies, and foundations.
MusiCares: Supports the health and welfare of the music community through direct financial grant programs and crisis relief efforts.
The Performing Arts Readiness project: Addresses the vulnerability of performing arts organizations to disasters and emergencies.

Social Media Tips for Artists

The Student Hub also offers resources on how to effectively use social media to promote your work:

Michelson Galleries, NYC Social Media Tips
How to Get Comic Book Marketing Right, Constant Contact
Instagram for Artists, Illustrators and Designers, Pixartprinting
Instagram: A Healthy Attitude for Creatives, Illustration Age
Tips to Photograph Your Art for Social Media, Illustratorsâ Lounge

Events & Competitions

AOI World Illustration Awards
Brooklyn Art Book Fair
Mocca
New York Comic Con
Toronto Comics Arts Festival

Podcasts

ComicsBitches on Comics
Comic Book Workshop
Make It Then Tell Everybody
Off Panel
Illustration 3 Point Perspective
The Illustration Department Podcast
Illustration Hour
SCBWI Conversations

Blogs, Publications, & Other Resources

Cohere LLC
General Assembly
In Good Company
Working in the UnOffice: A guide to Coworking for Indie Workers, Small Businesses and Nonprofits, by Genevive V. DeGuzman and Andrew I. Tang
The Yard

Search Tools

Candid: Search online for a fee or for free in their library in NYC
Grantspace by Candid: resources and information for grantseekers
Residency Unlimited

Read also: Investigating the Death at Purdue

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