Using Personal Loans to Bring Artistic Projects to Life

So you have an artistic project in mind – but you can’t afford it. It’s no secret that securing funds can be difficult if you haven’t “made it” yet. Artists can consider using a personal loan to bring their vision to reality. A loan grants you a lump sum of money you can flexibly use.

Let’s go over how artists can use personal loans to fund their creative ventures, risks to consider, and what makes a suitable loan.

The Financial Landscape for Artists

Traditional funding options

Grants: Many grants exist to fund creative projects. Artists can apply for grants that are related to their project subject or type.

Sponsorships: It’s possible to obtain business sponsors for your art project. Businesses that want to invest in art and music may be happy to support your creative endeavors. However, be careful to not get scammed if you are approached by a potential sponsor out of the blue.

Nontraditional funding options

Crowdfunding: If your art vision comes with a social message or has a specific purpose, you may be able to successfully raise funds through an online crowdfunding platform. Popular options include Kickstarter, GoFundMe, Indiegogo, ArtistShare, and Rocket Fuel.

Contests: Art and film contests can be a way for you to obtain funding for either current or future art projects.

Subscriptions and patrons: A nontraditional funding option is to obtain money from creating online artistic content or Patreon donations. In today’s age, more artists and musicians have begun showcasing their passions with online communities. Other than receiving commissions, it is also possible to receive donations from fans and people sharing similar creative interests.

The benefit of personal loans

If you are unable to fund your artistic project, a personal loan can be a viable and flexible financing method. Here are the potential benefits of a personal loan.

Lower requirements: If you have a good credit score, taking out a personal loan becomes relatively easy. You can use the funds for various personal projects and needs.

Fast funding: Do you have a project or film fest deadline? Personal loans can provide you with a quick disbursement of funds. Some personal loans can grant you the money within days of approval, allowing you to get started with your project as soon as possible.

Lower rates: By meeting the right requirements and finding a suitable lender, you can obtain a personal loan that has a low interest rate. This lets you reduce the cost of borrowing. The average interest rate of a personal loan is 12.2%. A good to excellent credit score can significantly lower the interest rate.

Flexible financial planning: Planning ahead is essential for artists, especially since they may not receive any financial compensation and profits until after a project has been finished. With unpredictable income, having funding with a predictable cost of borrowing can be helpful.

Types of Artistic Projects Funded by Personal Loans

Artists are advised to do their own research regarding the overall cost of their projects, since there is tremendous cost variance depending on your project details and circumstances.

Art exhibitions and installations

The cost of your art exhibition will depend on numerous factors, such as location, type, and size. If you want to put up an art exhibit at a smaller venue, it can cost anything from $400 to thousands of dollars.

Interactive exhibits can cost $500+ per square foot. If you’re renting space at a famous art gallery or a higher end neighborhood, the exhibition cost can cost even more.

Music production and recording

Producing one song usually costs between $500 to $5,000. More elaborate productions, like an EP, will cost up to $20,000.

If you’re looking to create a full length album, you may need funding between $10,000 and $100,000.

A film or TV score can easily cost over $200,000. If you need a significant amount of funding, it is not usually a good idea to obtain a personal loan. Most personal loan providers cap loans at $50,000 or $100,000.

Film and video projects

The length of your film or video project, the quality, the props, the setting, and the actors are just some factors that will affect the required budget. A short film usually costs between $5,000 and $10,000. A feature can be made under $100,000 if you are able to budget and plan well.

Theater productions

If you want to set up a theater production, you can expect to need a lot of funding. Mounting a show costs at least $40,000 if you need to pay union rates for the venue, props, costumes, lighting tech, stage manager, director, actors, and other essentials.

Large-scale sculptures or public art projects

Any large-scale or public project will instantly cost much more money. You might need over $100,000 to design, set up, and secure a public art installation or large sculpture. The structural complexity of large sculptures can make them very expensive to create, transport, and install.

Evaluating Your Need for a Personal Loan

Let’s go over the key points to keep in mind when assessing whether a personal loan is the right choice for funding your artistic project.

Total project cost

The scope, risks, and type of project will be a good way to estimate how much your project will cost in total. If you’re funding a solo project and need to afford props and secure a location, a small personal loan could suffice. On the other and, you could need a large personal loan if you want to install a public art exhibit or create an elaborate film project with actors and behind-the-scenes production.

Existing financial resources and debt

Consider what existing resources you have. If you have a savings account, how much money are you willing to set aside for this artistic project? A good rule of thumb is to always have a solid emergency fund in case the unexpected happens.

If you already have open credit accounts, loans, or debt, it may be difficult to manage a new personal loan.

Alternative funding methods

Taking on the risk of a loan is not usually ideal for the typical art student who doesn’t have good credit yet. It’s important to evaluate what alternative financing strategies are available to you.

Common alternatives for funding an art project include:

• Grants
• Scholarships
• Sponsors

Expected return on investment

How much do you expect to make from completing your project? The return on investment (ROI) is a percentage found by subtracting your total expenses from total revenues and then dividing the result by your total expenses.

How much ROI is considered worthwhile depends entirely on the individual. Some people are happy with a 30% ROI on a project.

How to estimate the total financial requirement of a project

It’s often better to take out a single loan with a lower interest rate than have many smaller loans. Make sure to estimate the total cost of your project before committing.

Common expenses include:

• Art supplies
• Exhibit rental costs
• Travel and accommodations
• Booth rentals
• Communication
• Filming equipment
• Pre and post production costs
• Advertising costs

To estimate your total financial requirement to complete the project, estimate everything you will need to bring your project to fruition. Then, add some breathing room in case of accidents and unforeseen expenses.

Choosing the Right Personal Loan

Deciding what personal loan is best for you can be tricky. Let’s discuss the essentials of a personal loan and how to compare loan terms.

Interest rate

The interest rate expresses the cost of borrowing in a percentage. The average interest rate of a personal loan is 12.2% as of this article being written. When obtaining a personal loan, the interest rate offered to you will depend on your credit score, loan amount, loan term, and other factors.

Fixed interest rates will remain the same throughout your loan term. This predictability helps you clearly plan out your budget since the installments are the same every month. However, a fixed interest rate is usually higher than a variable interest rate when you’re taking out the initial loan.

Variable interest rates will fluctuate depending on market conditions. This makes the cost of borrowing more volatile, but could save you money if you expect to quickly pay the loan back while the interest rate is lower.

Repayment term

The repayment term (AKA loan tenure) refers to how long you have to pay back your loan, from the initial date to the loan maturity date.

In general, it is recommended to avoid payday loans and other loans that come with extremely short repayment terms. These have significantly higher interest rates and can be very difficult to repay.

If you want to fund an artistic project, consider how long it will take to complete your project when choosing the loan repayment term.

Lender reputation and flexibility

The loan provider you choose should have a solid financial stability and reputation. Some loan providers are more lenient when it comes to negotiating loan terms. You can look for a flexible lender if you have unique financial needs or goals.

Secured vs. unsecured

A secured loan is backed by collateral. This means that you need to offer up a valuable asset as collateral. If you cannot pay back the loan on time or default, the lender can seize your collateral to mitigate their losses.

Most personal loans are unsecured, which means that loan providers will weigh your creditworthiness more heavily. Unsecured loans typically have higher interest rates than secured, collateral loans.

Mistakes and pitfalls

If a loan seems too good to be true, make sure to reread the loan agreement. Don't sign any contract before thoroughly understanding the terms and conditions.

Some types of loans are important to avoid because of their high risks. Always consider other financing options first. Here are risky loans that are not typically recommended for art projects.

• Payday loans
• Pawn shop loans
• Title loans
• Cash advances

Application Process for Personal Loans

Documentation and preparation

When applying for a loan, you will need to provide complete and accurate information and documents. Here are the list of what to prepare for your loan application process.

• Government-issued ID
• Proof of income (e.g. pay stubs, tax returns)
• Employment verification
• Proof of address
• Credit information
• Purpose of the loan

Common challenges

Artists often face the challenge of not having a good enough credit score to pass the loan application process. Or, the loans you are offered come with high interest rates.

Improving your credit score and building a healthy credit history can help you successfully obtain lower rate loans. To boost your credit score, here are some general tips to follow:

• Keep old credit accounts open for longer credit history
• Pay your bills on time
• Avoid frequently applying for loans and credit extensions
• Diversity your credit mix

Successful Management of Loan Funds

Effective and responsible management of loan funds can improve your financial situation. Here are some general best practices for budgeting loan funds to ensure project completion as well as loan repayment.

1. Keep track of expenditures and stay on budget

2. Manage cash flow

3. Slow down and adapt whenever necessary

4. Pay loan installments on time

5. Communicate with lender if you need to change the loan terms

Summary

Personal loans can be a convenient and valuable financial tool, allowing artists to create the masterpiece of their dreams. However, responsible borrowing and financial management are key to borrowing successfully. Personal loans are a source of debt that can be difficult to repay if you aren’t aware of the terms and conditions. Evaluate your project needs to decide whether a loan is for you.

When planning out your artistic project, consider a personal loan as a valid funding strategy. Here are some reliable personal loan providers with competitive rates.

• Credible Personal Loans
• LightStream
• Lending Tree Personal Loans
• AmONE
• Fiona

About The Author

Ru Chen

Content Writer

Ru Chen is a content writer with several years of experience in creating engaging and well-researched articles. She mostly writes about business, digital marketing, and law. In her free time, she can be found watching horror movies and playing board games with her partner in Brooklyn.

Articles by Ru Chen

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