GYST INK: THE COMPLETE ART BUSINESS PRODUCT & SERVICES ENVIRONMENT

WHO

GYST: Getting Your Sh*t Together is an artist run company that applies the creativity of an artist's mind to the complex and daunting world of professional practices in contemporary art. Our mission is to support artists and arts organizations with an integrated mix of software, services and information in order to keep artists working. Founded in 2000 by Karen Atkinson as a software company, GYST's products and services now include professional practices software, a newsletter, workshops, artist resume and statement review, archiving, and consulting services.

PRODUCTS

Getting Your Sh*t Together software was created by Los Angeles artist Karen Atkinson for artists to keep track of just about anything in their art lives, enabling them to spend more time working in the studio, and making business management of their careers easy.

The dynamic, recently released version 2.1.1 is a highly efficient platform available for both Mac and PC that helps artists plan their project and manage their inventory and contacts while also housing an in-depth library of information that artists need to be organized and manage their art practice. The software includes:

• A database with a friendly interface so you can easily keep track of all the shit you've done:
  • A robust structure to help you label and organize your artwork so you know when it was made, what project it is part of, where it is, the price, sales information, invoices for sales, labels and more
  • A single place so all the artwork you have made - from images to audio and video clips - and related materials - such as artist statement and resume - can be organized easily accessed and viewed in multiple ways to manage your practice
  • Mailing list manager with unique features such as allowing you to easily pick works to include in a mailing and E-mail capabilities in which you can sort by categories
  • Information on how to store and ship your art work

• Project and career planning guide so you can get your shit together for current and future projects:
  • Proposal tracking
  • Easily print out an artwork checklist for each exhibition
  • Create budgets and to do lists
  • Detailed information to guide you through writing a grant or proposal
  • A place to keep track of research notes including quotes and the ability for keyword searches
  • Links and resources to web sites as well as a reading list.
  • Information on 37 business issues artist's should know about such as Billing and Collection, Business License, Charitable Contributions, Commissions, Pricing, Studio visits, Taxes, Teaching and many more
  • Over 300 pages of information artists need to know from how to write an artist statement and resume, to how to deal with a gallery, to working independently as an artist with a studio or conceptually based/post-studio practice, to working as a curator or organizer

This software and information enables and empowers artists to have an easy transition into the professional realm of running their art career. We created the software to allow artists to be savvy and independent about their business and tracking of their artwork. . As an artists-run company, we understand the need for studio time - but how can this be accomplished if your business is unorganized?

The software includes: 21 sections including a career survey, Planning, Checklists & Guides, Exhibition Forms Presentation Ideas, Master To Do List, Artwork Inventory, Getting the Word Out, Proposal Tracking, Grants & Proposals, Legal & Contracts, Artist's Statements, Resume, Mailing List, Documentation, ; Research Notes, Business Issues, Links and Resources, Estate Planning, Shipping and Crating and a Users Guide.

SERVICES

Ten-week Getting Your Sh*t Together workshops are held twice a year simultaneously at Side Street Projects (Pasadena, CA) and at CalArts (Valencia, CA). Side Street Projects, a non-profit also founded by Karen Atkinson, currently offers additional new GYST classes on grant writing, critique groups, and web design. Sign up for all SSP workshops on their website: http://www.sidestreet.org/ Additionally, GYST does custom tailored workshops regionally and nationally at your local nonprofit. Please check out website or request a workshop in your area through our website: www.gyst-ink.com.

GYST Ink publishes a thematic newsletter ARTISTs* AT WORK with great information about professional practices. The first issue (August 2007) is about studio visits, which includes articles, information, checklists, and a column about Artists who run their own businesses. Sign up for the newsletter on our website: www.gyst-ink.com.

Individual artists can now send in their artist's statement or resume to have a qualified professional review, edit, and suggest changes or additions. Please see our website for more information: www.gyst-ink.com.

Do you live in Los Angeles and use the GYST software but don't have time to do the data entry? Do you have a large body of work that you need help organizing and archiving? Let GYST help, by hiring our trained GYST data entry manager to input all of your data and images into the software. Additional, GYST makes house calls in Los Angeles, to determine how much you really do or don't have your sh*t together. We work with you to create a package of custom archiving services tailored to your needs. Please see our website for various pricing and premium services available: www.gyst-ink.com.

Are you thinking of starting an organization or does your organization want to take a fresh look at how it serves its audience? We provide consulting service to both for profit and non profit arts organizations by drawing on a unique, multi-disciplinary team of experts in marketing, gallery management, strategy, planning, accounting and law. We stand alone in our ability to be sensitive to the dynamics of the art world while also being attuned to the circumstances of running a market-driven, sustainable organization that succeeds on multiple levels.

WHERE

Are you interested in taking our professional practices classes? GYST Ink teaches workshops from three hours to one day or ten weeks (also called Getting Your Sh*t Together). These workshops are a great introduction to the GYST mission and to network with local Los Angeles artists just like you! If you live in the Los Angeles area and are interested in taking a workshop, please contact Jon Lapointe at Side Street Projects, a non-profit organization in Pasadena.