Art schools have gone a long way to offer classes on the business aspect of art, stressing how active and engaged you must be to turn your creative abilities into a cash flow. Needless to say, as a creative, you will need to be your own finance, business, and marketing manager.

The New York Public Library can help you with resources on subjects ranging from the planning stages of your creative career all the way through to retirement. The Science, Industry and Business Library offers a wide range of classes and programs, and subscription databases are available to find articles on business topics. To access online video courses from lynda.com, you'll need to log in first through our website with your library card number. 

We have recently updated our Guide to Resources for Freelancers and Business Owners, which includes sections on Comprehensive Business Guides, Negotiating and Pitching, Law, Marketing and Branding, Networking, Money, Taxes, and Retirement. In addition, check below for a list of recent career and business resources specifically geared toward creatives.

General 

• Business For Bohemians: Live Well, Make Money by Tom Hodgkinson, 2018
• The Legal Guide For Writers, Artists And Other Creative People: Protect Your Work And Understand The Law by Kenneth P. Norwick with Cooper Knowlton, 2017
• Organizing For Creative People: How To Channel The Chaos Of Creativity Into Career Success by Sheila Chandra, 2017, ebook
• Real Artists Don't Starve: Timeless Strategies For Thriving In The New Creative Age by Jeff Goins, 2017
• What They Didn't Teach You In Art School: What You Need To Know To Survive As An Artist by Rosalind Davis, Annabel Tilley, 2016
• Your Creative Career: Turn Your Passion Into A Fulfilling And Financially Rewarding Lifestyle by Anna Sabino, 2018

Acting 

• Acting Professionally: Raw Facts About Careers In Acting by Robert Cohen and James Calleri, 2017
• The Actor's Life: A Survival Guide by Jenna Fischer, 2017
• Breaking And Entering : A Manual For The Working Actor In Film, Stage And TV: From Auditions To Agents To A Career by Philip Carlson, 2017
• Dealmaking In The Film & Television Industry: From Negotiations To Final Contracts by Mark Litwak, 2016
• Mastering Stand-up: The Complete Guide To Becoming A Successful Comedian by Stephen Rosenfield, 2018
• Preparing For The Business Of Professional Acting by Janet B. Milstein, 2017 
• The Professional Actor's Handbook: From Casting Call to Curtain Call by Julio Agustin with Kathleen Potts, 2017, ebook

Music 

• The 11 Contracts That Every Artist, Songwriter, And Producer Should Know by Steve Gordon, 2017
• How To Make It In The New Music Business: Practical Tips On Building A Loyal Following And Making A Living As A Musician, 2016, ebook
• Introduction To The Music Industry: An Entrepreneurial Approach by Catherine Fitterman Radbill, 2017
• Monetizing Entertainment: An Insider's Handbook For Careers In The Entertainment & Music Industry by Larry Wachoeltz, 2017
• The Music Industry Handbook by Paul Rutter, 2016
• Music Law In The Digital Age: Copyright Essentials For Today's Music Business by Allen Bargfrede
• What They'll Never Tell You About The Music Business by Peter M. Thall, 2016, ebook
   

Visual Arts 

• Art Law: A Concise Guide For Artists, Curators, And Art Educators by Michael E. Jones, 2016
• Artist's Market: How And Where To Sell Your Art
• Becoming A Successful Graphic Designer by Neil Leonard, 2016
• Becoming A Successful Illustrator by Derek Brazell and Jo Davies, 2017
• Design Portfolios: Presentation And Marketing For Interior Designers by Diane Bender, 2017
• The Essential Guide To Business For Artists And Designers by Alison Branagan, 2017
• Photographer's Market: How And Where To Sell Your Photography
• Running A Successful Photography Business by Lisa Pritchard, 2017

Writing

• Letters To A Young Writer: Some Practical And Philosophical Advice by Colum McCann, 2017
• Scratch: Writers, Money, And The Art Of Making A Living  edited by Manjula Martin, 2017, ebook
• Starting Your Career As A Freelance Writer by Moira Allen, 2018
• What Editors Do : The Art, Craft, And Business Of Book Editing edited by Peter Ginna, 2017