Our mission
The Artists Financial Support Group seeks to: Educate student and professional artists on financial self-advocacy, Advocate legislative and institutional change in the cost of artist education, and Innovate new ways to manage student loan debt and to budget on an erratic income.
Our story |
In the fall of 2010, several alumni of the NYU Graduate Acting Program met in New York. After graduating from one of the foremost artistic training programs in the country, we found ourselves working in the arts, and yet struggling with debt and student loans. We were beginning to realize that we might not be able to afford to be artists, simply because we had gone to school to be artists. Attempting to leave shame and panic aside, we started the Artists Financial Support Group (AFSG). We began to write a book about student loans, and carefully prepared a workshop for the next NYU graduating class. Our goal was to share with those students everything we wished someone had told us when we finished graduate school. We did just that in May of 2011 when we gave our first workshop at NYU. The AFSG has since led workshops at NYU Grad Acting, NYU Grad Design for Stage and Film, Yale School of Drama, Juilliard, Actors Fund, SAG Foundation, Long Beach State University, and Christopher Newport University.
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Meet the team
The AFSG is made up of artists, activists, and educators. If you are struggling with student loan debt, know that we do as well. We are working artists who provide financial advice with a unique perspective: we know what it's like from firsthand experience. You're not alone.
Ben GraneyBen is a co-founder and the president of AFSG. He is the host of our podcast, and lives in Brooklyn. "Put your credit card in the freezer in a block of ice!"
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Timothy SekkTimothy is a co-founder and vice-president of AFSG. He leads the support group meetings we hold monthly for artists with debt in New York. He lives in Harlem with his wife Bryn. "You're not alone, so don't do it alone."
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Freddy ArsenaultFreddy is a co-founder of AFSG, and currently serves as the president of our Board of Directors. He lives in New York City with his wife Gretchen Hall. "The financially savvy artist is a better artist."
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Matthew CarlsonMatt is a co-founder of AFSG. He is the author of our book, Repaid: An Artist's Guide to Student Loans & Financial Self-Advocacy. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife Lesley Shires. "You can't eat a dream."
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Stephen StockingStephen is a member of AFSG. He is the web and graphic designer and lives in Brooklyn. "Let's not freak out, together."
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Adjunct ArtistsKrystel Lucas, Adam McNulty, Laura Weissinger
Board of DirectorsFreddy Arsenault - President of the Board
Amanda Clayman - The Actors Fund Dominic Comperatore - Empire Tax Prep Timothy Thomas - Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Matthew Carlson Timothy Sekk |
The Artists Financial Support Group (AFSG) is a 501c3 non-profit organization.
