National Professional Organizations + Resources

Whether you’re interested in job databases or looking to deepen your knowledge of a particular field, these national professional organizations and resources provide in-depth information. In addition to their online and print resources, many organizations listed here hold annual conferences for education and networking.

General

College Art Association
The College Art Association (CAA) promotes the visual arts and their understanding through committed practice and intellectual engagement.

Freelancers Union
Mission statement: Our mission is to promote the interests of independent workers through advocacy, education, and service. We build model solutions to support independent workers so they can be secure and thrive, no matter how they work.

New York Foundation for the Arts
The mission of the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) is to empower artists at critical stages in their creative lives. NYFA serves individual artists by offering direct financial assistance, professional development and information and resources to artists and organizations that serve artists; supports arts programs in the community; and builds collaborative relationships with others who advocate for the arts in New York State and throughout the country.

In addition to the NYFA website there is a blog and noteworthy tool kit section:
NYFA Tool Box

Rocket Hub
RocketHub is a launchpad and community for independent artists and entrepreneurs.

The Art Career Project
This growing new website provides online information and resources to people considering or starting art-related careers.

GYST
GYST-Ink is an artist-run company providing information, technology and solutions created by artists for artists. Our mission is to support artists and arts organizations with an integrated mix of software, services and information in order to keep artists working. GYST–Ink is dedicated to empowering and educating artists so that they can develop sustainable and successful careers on their own terms.

Medium-specific

Architecture

American Institute of Architects
Based in Washington, D.C., the AIA has been the leading professional membership association for licensed architects, emerging professionals, and allied partners since 1857.

Collaborative
Artists Forum
Connecting Artists Online. Forum for artists, photographers, illustrators, fashion designers, sculpters, potters, installation artists, digital artists, textile artists, knitters!

Empty Easel
An online art magazine with practical advice, tips, and tutorials for creating and selling art.

Pelime
Pelime is the unique, flex-built online platform catering exclusively to creative professionals. It encourages like-minded members within the creative industries to showcase their work, collaborate, communicate and share ideas whilst gaining exposure to new opportunities and inspiration.

Spot.Us
Spot.Us is a nonprofit project to pioneer “community powered reporting.”

Ceramics

NCECA
The National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts is a dynamic organization that fosters global education and appreciation for the ceramic arts. NCECA’s programs, exhibitions, publications, opportunities and resources inspire advancement of the field.

Film
Wreckamovie
Star Wreck Studios is a film studio that is specialized in blending the Internet and the film industry together by unleashing the creative potential of Internet communities, and changing the whole chain of filmmaking.

Graphic Design / Communication Design

AIGA
AIGA, the professional association for design, believes designers serve a critical role as communicators, educators and innovators. AIGA sets the national agenda for the role of design in economic, social, political, cultural and creative contexts.

Illustration

Society of Illustrators
The Society’s mission is to promote the art of illustration, to appreciate its history and evolving nature through exhibitions, lectures and education, and to contribute the service of its members to the welfare of the community at large.

Industrial Design

Core 77
This website publishes articles, discussion forums, an extensive event calendar, hosts portfolios, job listings, a database of design firms, schools, vendors and services. Core77 provides a gathering point for designers and enthusiasts alike by producing design competitions, lecture series, parties, and exhibits.

Journalism/Storytelling
Broadcastr
This site enables you to seek out particular stories from around the globe based on content.

Museum Studies

American Association of Museums
The American Association of Museums’ mission is to strengthen museums through leadership, advocacy, collaboration and service.

Music

Kompoz
A collaborative website for music projects in which people.

NewMusicBox
NewMusicBox, a multimedia publication from the American Music Center, is dedicated to the music of American composers and improvisers and their champions.

Savonlinna Opera Festival
Savonlinna Opera Festival launched Opera By You project in May 2010. In the project anyone can contribute to the creation of an opera.

Photography

Emphas.is creative projects in the world.
Emphas.is is a platform for photojournalism that offers a unique bond between photojournalists and their audience, and in the process aims to create a new financial model for photojournalism in the 21st century.

Society for Photographic Education
The Society for Photographic Education is a nonprofit membership organization that provides a forum for the discussion of photography and related media as a means of creative expression and cultural insight.

American Society of Media Photographers (Oregon Chapter) (American Society of Media Photographers (Oregon Chapter))
The ASMP has three purposes: 1) To protect and promote the interests of photographers whose work is for publication. 2) To promote high professional standards and ethics. 3) To cultivate friendship and mutual understanding among photographers.

Printmaking

Southern Graphics Council
SGC International is an educational non-profit organization committed to informing our membership about issues and processes concerning original prints, drawings, book arts, and hand-made paper.

Writing

AWP
The mission of The Association of Writers & Writing Programs is to foster literary achievement, to advance the art of writing as essential to a good education, and to serve the makers, teachers, students, and readers of contemporary writing.

Collegiate Teaching and Academia

Academic Keys
This website contains resources and job listings related to higher education.

Chronicle of Higher Education
The Chronicle of Higher Education is a source of news, information, and jobs for college and university faculty members and administrators.

College Art Association
The College Art Association (CAA) promotes the visual arts and their understanding through committed practice and intellectual engagement.

Edutopia
The George Lucas Educational Foundation is dedicated to improving the K-12 learning process by documenting, disseminating, and advocating for innovative, replicable, and evidence-based strategies that prepare students to thrive in their future education, careers, and adult lives.

The Kennedy Center: Arts Edge
The Kennedy Center opens its doors to thousands of children each year – and hundreds of thousands more step in through ARTSEDGE, our K-12 arts education network.

National Art Education Association (NAEA) (National Art Education Assocation (NAEA))
The National Art Education Association (NAEA) advances visual arts education to fulfill human potential and promote global understanding.

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
The National Endowment for the Arts was established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. To date, the NEA has awarded more than $4 billion to support artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation for the benefit of individuals and communities. The NEA extends its work through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector.

Sheridan Center for Teaching and Learning at Brown University
The Center recognizes the diversity of learning styles and encourages reflective, independent, life-long learning. Through its programs, services and publications, the Sheridan Center explores a variety of pedagogical approaches.

Waiting for Superman
The Waiting for “Superman” social action campaign has one primary goal: to ensure that every child receives a great education. The campaign seeks to build public awareness, ignite personal involvement and inspire real social change.