By Lookout Staff

November 14, 2014 – “Starving” artists from Santa Monica will have a chance to learn about opportunities and resources available to them during the City’s first Artist Resource Fair on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Camera Obscura Building on 1450 Ocean Avenue.

Free and open to all artists, the fair offers workshops and information about ways to live and work as an artist in the bayside city, which will be presented by Los Angeles-based organizations that help artists in a variety of ways, including affordable housing and health care.

Daniel Kitowski of The Actors Fund will present “Every Artist Insured: Finding Affordable Health Insurance.”

During this workshop, Kitowski will cover information about Covered California, the Affordable Care Act and healthcare for all artists (not only performers).  Participants will have the option of either signing up for a health care plan on the spot (depending on website availability) or will be able to make appointments for one-on-one consultations.

Sarah Letts and Durinda Abraham from the Community Corporation of Santa Monica (CCSM) will review Affordable Housing for Artists.

They will cover topics including tenant selection criteria, application documentation needed and the typical application timeline.

CCSM is a locally based, non-profit organization “committed to developing and managing affordable housing in the LA area.”

Miata Edoga from The Actors Fund will lead a workshop entitled “Financial Wellness for Artists,” providing financial tools designed to instill a sense of confidence and control of money matters in participants.

The focus of the workshop will be on increasing security and productivity – with the idea that financial wellness frees up energy to focus on artistic careers.

The workshop will also include step-by-step strategies to “get organized, create a realistic spending plan, develop goals and pursue one’s passion without being buried under the weight of financial stress.”

There is limited seating for the workshops and it will be first come, first served.

In addition to workshops, the fair will have a variety of information tables with staff available to discuss programs and resources.

Information tables include: The Actors Fund with information on their many programs, including healthcare, retirement and other initiatives and Arts Earth Partnership providing tips on how to become a certified green cultural business and how artists can get involved with sustainability.

Tables will also include Center for Cultural Innovation with information on artist-centered workshops, grants, and incubation programs; California Lawyers for the Arts with details on legal aid for art professionals and the City’s Cultural Affairs Division with information on grants, Artist Fellowships and other opportunities with the City.

For more information and to rsvp, visit http://artistresourcefair.eventbrite.com.