Loom Artist Resources Page

How to videos

Loom “How to” videos and PDF to manage your Loom marketplace, do your taxes, etc.

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Funders and Opportunities – check them out!

The Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona

Arizona Commission of the Arts has several grant opportunities for individual artists like you.  Periodically check their grant page, especially the Artist Opportunity Grant.  Also peruse their Artists Opportunity listings.

Native Arts + Cultures – LIFT grant and SHIFT grant, for emerging and more established artists.  Join their mailing list.
 
CERF+ Emergency Relief for craft artists (rolling deadline). 
CERF+ Craft Emergency Relief Fund offers resources to artists working in craft disciplines includes emergency relief grants, preparedness (Get Ready) grants, and access to preparedness resources. One of the eligibility requirements for the Emergency Relief Grant is having had a recent career-threatening emergency such as serious illness, injury, or significant loss from theft, fire, flood or other disaster.
Telephone: (802) 229-2306 Email: info@craftemergency.org
 
Local First – local business support, including for artists, including: Tribal Community Connections program’s Rooted Relative Fund and

Fuerza Local – Espanol Acelerador de Negocios El programa Acelerador de Negocios de Fuerza Local existe para educar y ayudar a dueños de negocios en el desarrollo y la expansión de sus capacidades empresariales y promover lo que es ser “LOCALISTA”.
 
Nest introduction video – free for artists that make work by hand.  They also have periodic opportunities for emerging artists.  https://www.buildanest.org/
 
MOCA-Tucson has periodic opportunities for artists. They also host the Hamra Arts Club for youth, a free, multilingual arts and mentorship program for youth ages 9–17. The program has grown primarily with Afghan and Syrian youth and more recently, Hispanic and Latinx youth. Register for this spring’s classes.
 
Get on SFA’s Instagram

Creative Capital’s Artist Lab: Free, virtual, on-demand workshops on professional development, grant writing, personal/artistic financial planning, etc.  Also, check out their Artist Opportunities, and the Creative Capital Award.

ATALM has periodic individual opportunities for artists.  Two Loom Network artists, Shane Beeshliagii and Harrison Preston, have participated in their Native Craft Artist Readiness Program.  The program has a resources page from past professional development workshops.  For example, How to Photograph Your Artwork with your iPhone, by Artist Roxanne Best (Colville Confederated Tribes). Get on their mailing list.

NYFA.org Knowledge Base – videos and tutorials, example, “grantwriting basics.”

• Thursday, January 15, 5:30pm – 7pm – Loom Network in-person meeting. Light meal served. Bring an artist friend to join Loom Network.
  Pascua Yaqui Wellness Center
  5305 Calle Torim, Tucson, AZ 85757
  We are meeting in the Mosaic Room
  (on the EAST side of the campus, near the eastern parking lot and the playground)- If you haven’t already, RSVP here
  Light meal served.

2026 Markets – Throughout the year:

• Mission Gardens for Indigenous Artists
• Indigenous Market, hosted by Josie Rios, held in early October and probably springtime, at the Historic 4th Avenue Coalition
• Early February: apply for Made in Tucson (MinT)
• March 7 & 8: Heard Museum Indian Art Market – by application in July in the year prior
• April: AZ Gives Day – virtual fundraising day for non-profits
• Spring and Fall: Made In Tucson by Historic 4th Avenue Coalition (MinT) is a one-day event held twice a year in the spring and fall.
• August: SWAIA, Santa Fe – juried event
• Late August: Hopi Arts & Cultural Festival, Flagstaff Mall
• Late fall or winter: (4th Ave area)
• Third weekend in October: Tucson Meet Yourself
• First full weekend in December: Tumacocari Fiesta
  
• Other resources:
• Native Music Coalition’s Craft Market

Archived: Events and Markets for 2025

• Throughout the year:
• Mission Gardens for Indigenous Artists
• Indigenous Market, hosted by Josie Rios, held in early October and probably springtime, at the Historic 4th Avenue Coalition
  
• Early February: apply for Made in Tucson (MinT)
• March 1-2: Heard Museum Indian Art Market
• March 10 – 14: AZPM video interviews continue
• March 30: Made in Tucson on 4th Ave (deadline early February)
• April: AZ Gives Day
  
• August: Apply for Made in Tucson (MinT) a one-day event twice a year in spring and fall. Organized by Historic 4th Avenue Coalition
• First full weekend in December: Tumacocari Fiesta
• August: SWAIA, Santa Fe – juried event
  
• late August: Hopi Arts & Cultural Festival, Flagstaff Mall
• late fall or winter: Made In Tucson by Historic 4th Avenue Coalition (4th Ave area)
• Third weekend in October: Tucson Meet Yourself

Other resources:
Native Music Coalition’s Craft Market

Archived: Events for 2024

• Loom Artist Meet-Up (in-person) at the Tucson Art and Design Center, Group activities/discussion: “How can Loom best serve you and your community?” Photo workshop.
• March 1: deadline to complete Artist Pages
• March 11 – March28: preview and Silent Auction
• Thursday, March 28, 5-7pm: Auction Closing Happy Hour, Bar Crisol, downtown Tucson.
• April 2: AZ Gives Day
• May 13: Special Meet Up, Pascua Yaqui Wellness Center – Mosaic Room
• August 17: possible in-person “pop-up” market in southern Tucson, save the date!
• Nov. 23: Meeting at Louis Market, AZPM video shoot
• Dec. 22: AZPM airs Loom Market 5-minute feature

Archived: Live Markets 2024

• August 17: possible live Loom “pop-up” market in southern Tucson, save the date
• August: Apply for Made in Tucson (MinT) a one-day event twice a year in spring and fall. Organized by Historic Fourth Avenue Coalition
• August: Apply for the Native Music Coalition’s Craft Market
• Tumacocari Fiesta
• SWAIA, Santa Fe
• Heard Museum Indian Art Market
• Hopi Festival, Flagstaff
• October 4-6: Tucson Meet Yourself
• Tribal community conferences
• Indigenous Market, hosted by Josie Rios, held in early October and probably springtime, at the Historic 4th Avenue Coalition space
• November: Mission Gardens
• December: Made In Tucson (4th Ave area)
  
  Resources:
• Local First (for small, local businesses, workshops and possible funding sources)
• CERF+ (Craft and Emergency Funds) Grants, Self-care, Workshops – they fund BIPOC artists to grow businesses, and also for emergency relief funds.
• ATALM – Native Craft Residency Program
  

ARCHIVE

2023

• Friday Nov 10 – New artists onboarded to Loom
• Thurs October 5, 5 pm – 6:30 pm PST – Tax workshop for Loom Artists, with Elaine Grogan Luttrull, Minerva Financial Arts (on Zoom)
• Fri – Sun Oct 13-16 – Tucson Meet Yourself Festival – come visit this free festival; many Loom artists participate annually
• Sun Nov 12, 1 pm-3 pm – Loom Artist Meet-Up (in-person) at the Tucson Art and Design Center, to prepare for the upcoming live market.  
• Friday, December 1, 11 am – 7pm – Exclusive live market and silent auction, Pima County Historic Courthouse (in-person, all-day event)

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FAQs for Artists

Q: Where did the idea for Loom come from?
A: During the pandemic, we asked traditional artists in Arizona what their needs were. Many said a virtual marketplace, since many could not meet in person. 

Q: Does Loom take a commission or charge overhead for my artwork?
A: No, the Southwest Folklife Alliance does not charge commission or overhead.  However, we do invite each Loom artist to donate an artwork of their choice to an annual  auction (to be held every October at the Tucson Meet Yourself Folklife Festival).  All funds generated at that auction go directly back into Loom.

Q: How do people know my work is for sale on Loom?
A: Tell your customers, family, friends and community to visit your products online at loom.market. You can link to the market from your social media, share via word of mouth, send emails, hand out cards, etc. This virtual platform is for you, and will serve you best the more you share it.

Q: How do I know when a customer purchases something?
A: You will get an email alerting you to the sale. Please check your email regularly. Please read the Order Notes – sometimes customers will write something there as well.

Q: How quickly do I need to ship out orders?
A: Ideally, within 3-5 business days.

Q: What if I do not want to allow returns on certain items?
A: You must write “non-returnable item” in the description box for each item that you do not want open for returns.

Q: If I do allow returns, how does that work?
A: We will alert you if a customer wants to return an item. If they are returning it because they do not like/want it, then they pay to return it to you the same way you shipped it out to them. If the item arrived damaged, then you will send them a shipping label to cover the return cost (we can help you with this part). You could also make an insurance claim, if you had insurance on your outgoing shipping.

Q: Who do I ask questions of or contact if I need help or have feedback?
A: The Loom Admin Team welcomes your questions and feedback. Email sfaloom@gamil.com.

Q: How will I get paid?
A: You will be paid by either electronic payment to your bank account or by paper check, depending on how you set up your payments.

Q: Am I taxed for my artwork I sell on Loom?
A: Since this is your business, you are responsible for any local, tribal, city or state taxes related to artwork you sell. As a Loom Artist, you complete a W-9 when you sign up to join the site. You will receive a 1099 from us in early February each year. This means you will need to submit this 1099 when you do your taxes. 

Q: Help! I don’t know what that means!
A: Don’t panic! We will be hold business and tax workshops open to all Loom Artists, so you can learn the best ways to keep track of your business expenses and income.

Q: Once I’m a Loom Artist, how do I apply to the Loom Investment Fund, to get financial support for technology?
A: You can fill out this simple Loom Artist Investment Fund form here.

Q: What if I need more technical help uploading products?
A: Go to our How To page.