Get Your [Expletive Deleted] Together!

I just want to take a minute of your time to plug a really great organization that has helped hundreds of artists get their $*&# together in terms of their career.  And, it basically has the best name of any organization out there… Getting Your Sh*t Together!

Getting Your Sh*t Together (GYST) 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. Their 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 — a media, installation, public artist, independent curator, and CalArts professor — as a software company, GYST’s products and services include professional practices software, a newsletter, workshops, artist resume and statement review, archiving, and consulting services.

Written for visual artists by visual artists, the dynamic new GYST v.2.8 software manages all the business-related paperwork for your art career, and comes complete with tons of educational and information resources, too. The software easily lets you keep track of your art, exhibition history, prices, sales, invoices, budgets, and your artist statements, resumes, proposals and research notes. It also has a powerful inventory management system integrated with your contacts and mailing lists. With all this great information in one place you can easily keep your sh*t together.

But the software doesn’t stop there. It also includes the ability to create exhibition checklists, budgets, to do lists and will guide you through writing a grant or proposal with detailed instructions. Finally, there are over 300 pages of information artists need to know including how to secure exhibition spaces, negotiate contracts, file taxes, and plan for retirement. GYST 2.8 is also packed with hundreds of helpful web links, suggested readings, and more. GYST 2.8 is available online at www.gyst-ink.com/products.

And Fractured Atlas members are eligible for a $20 discount on GYST software through their website: http://www.gyst-ink.com/buy/buyonline.php. If you are a member, please go here to get the discount code!