5 Ways You Can Support Creatives in 2026
Easy ways to support the creative community around you
Whether you are a creative yourself or just someone who has a creative friend, there are a few ways you can help and support the creatives around you. Before you ask, monetary support isn’t the only way you can support other artists. Here are a few ways you can support the creative community around you.
1. Be a vocal supporter
This is the foundation for almost every other form of support. In any creative community, advocacy is essential because your personal recommendation carries immense weight. Telling someone about an artist’s work is the highest praise you can give them. Often, even more valuable than a one-time purchase because it builds their reputation.
The Action: Actively look for opportunities to drop a creative’s name into conversation. If someone mentions they need an illustrator, suggest your friend. If a filmmaker needs a musical score, point them toward a musician you know. If a business owner needs a mural for their new office, pull up your friend’s Instagram profile and show them their work on the spot.
Why it helps: Most creatives rely on “warm leads” to grow. By acting as an unofficial agent for the artists you know, you are bridging the gap between their talent and a potential client who might never have found them otherwise.
2. Share their work on social media
Sharing is the digital equivalent of word-of-mouth marketing. It doesn’t always have to be a brand-new post, either; reposting something from an artist’s archive can be just as effective. The goal is simply to get their work in front of a fresh set of eyes: your followers.
The Action: Repost their work to your stories or feed, or take it to other platforms like Reddit. For example, if a friend makes great art, share it in a community like r/illustration. Accounts like @_deziners and @nicezines do this brilliantly by constantly spotlighting zine creators from around the world.
Why it helps: Most artists are limited by their own social circles. When you share, you break that “bubble.” While it might feel like a small gesture, it is an essential part of a healthy creative community, and the artist will be incredibly grateful for the extra reach.
3. Comment on their work online
When you see an artist post their work, don’t just “like” it and scroll past. Social media algorithms prioritize “meaningful social interaction,” which means a comment is worth significantly more than a double-tap. However, the quality of the comment matters.
The Action: Avoid just dropping a single fire or heart emoji. Instead, leave an authentic, real comment. Mention a specific detail you like, ask a question about their process, or describe how the piece makes you feel.
Why it helps: Genuine comments signal to the platform that the content is engaging, which pushes it out to a wider audience. Plus, on a human level, a thoughtful sentence can be the bit of encouragement that keeps an artist creating on a hard day.
4. Create demand for their work
This is a “ninja” way to support artists that people rarely think of. You can help build an artist’s reputation by signaling to the “gatekeepers” (like gallery owners, boutique shop managers, or curators) that people are looking for them.
The Action: If you are in a space that showcases art, ask the staff if they carry work by a specific artist. “Do you have any pieces by [Artist Name]?” or “Have you seen the latest collection from [Artist Name]?”
Why it helps: Even if the gallery doesn’t have the work yet, you’ve planted a seed. Curiosity is a powerful motivator for business owners. When they hear a name mentioned by the public, they are much more likely to seek that artist out for a future exhibition or wholesale deal.
5. Commission the creatives you know
Before you head to a big-box retailer for a generic gift, look at the talent in your own circle. Commissioning work, whether it’s a painting, a custom zine, or a piece of music, is a “win-win.” You get a one-of-a-kind item, and the artist gets a paid opportunity to practice their craft.
The Action: Think of upcoming milestones. Could a friend create a custom zine as a guest thank-you gift for a wedding? Could a local illustrator design a portrait of a friend’s pet for their birthday?
Why it helps: Direct commissions provide the most stable form of financial support. More importantly, it proves that their work has utility and value in the real world, making the gift much more personal than any mass-produced item you could find at a chain store.
Supporting creatives goes far beyond paying for their work. You can be a great supporter of the arts even without ever buying any art. As a creative myself, I have received support from many people over the years, not just those who have purchased some of my work. To mention an apt example, Creative Minds lists my Substack on their “Reads” list. Many of my subscribers discover my Substack through Creative Minds. Both _deziners and nicezines have shared my zines on Instagram. I’m extremely thankful for their support.
How do you support the creatives you know? Tell us in the comments. Maybe you can help more people with your story.