I recently caught up with an old friend from my SAIC MFA days (2015–2017). Our conversation turned toward a topic I’ve heard again and again: the challenges young artists and creatives face when it comes to networking. Beyond the already harsh environment of the creative world, there’s another shared struggle among many with a fine art background: not knowing how to build connections.
We tend to frame this as “networking,” but that word feels too business-like. Really, it’s about connection, about finding ways to support and grow with others. Yet for many artists, that idea feels foreign, intimidating, or even unnecessary.
Why it Feels Difficult
Part of the root lies in mindset. From the first critiques in school, we are taught to see things as “my piece” and “their piece.” Ownership is central. Original creation is the heart of our training. Collaboration does exist, but it is often framed as secondary, not the main pursuit. Over time, this focus can make us guard not only our work, but also ourselves, too closely.
Another factor is education itself. While most art schools offer some form of professional practice class, it rarely compares to the type of training students in business or communication programs receive. When I studied at DePaul, I learned how to introduce myself, write professional emails, give presentations, even how to attend a networking event (never actually drink, my professor said). At art school, those skills weren’t emphasized, and many of us walked out with strong portfolios but little preparation for relationship-building in the real world.
The Cost of Not Building Connections
The result is often isolation. Without a network, it’s harder to find opportunities, and that can lead to feeling stuck. You might end up relying only on your own energy, which is draining and can quickly turn into burnout. The art world already demands so much resilience, so much soul searching, and going it alone makes the weight heavier.
Connections also open doors in ways that individual effort can’t. Many opportunities don’t come through open calls or applications, they come through conversations and recommendations. Without that, the path forward feels narrower than it really is.
A Shift in Mindset
Before thinking about how to build connections, it helps to reframe why it matters in the first place:
- Redefine success. While almost every artist dreams of being the next breakout name at MoMA, the truth is that such moments are rare. Being part of a community that promotes collective creativity is just as meaningful, and often more sustainable in the long run.
- See connection as an amplifier. Good work doesn’t speak for itself until it is seen. Networking is what amplifies your work. You can wait years to be discovered, or you can actively accelerate that process by building connections. The choice is yours.
- Recognize you lose nothing. Reaching out doesn’t diminish your work or your independence. You keep your art, your vision, your practice. What you gain is the chance for more people to see it and for you to grow through others.
Finding a Way Forward
Building connection is a skill you can build, even if it doesn’t come naturally. Here are a few ways to start:
- Reach out, even just once a week. Write to an old classmate, message someone whose work you admire, or check in with a past collaborator. The hardest part is the first step, but it gets easier the more you do it.
- Collaborate intentionally. Even if your practice is largely solo, find ways to bring others in. Shared projects can shift your mindset away from strict ownership and toward co-creation, which often sparks new ideas.
- Think like a creative entrepreneur. This doesn’t mean abandoning your practice for business, but it does mean creating different modes of operating for yourself. Whether you call it your art business, your studio practice, or your creative venture, framing it this way can make networking feel like part of a larger, sustainable system instead of an awkward extra.
- Give back to the community. If you’re more established, share what you’ve learned. Offer guidance to younger artists, write about your process, or host informal workshops. Giving back helps you formalize your own approach, supports those who need it, and strengthens the creative community as a whole.
I’ve come to see connection as not just a professional tool but as a lifeline. My own most fulfilling opportunities have come from people I’ve met along the way, sometimes years after our first conversation. For artists and creatives, learning to reach out is not about losing independence. It’s about making sure your work and your voice don’t stay isolated, but have the chance to move further into the world.