It’s that time of year again. The season when we try to find the perfect gift for family and friends. Something unique and personal? A bunch of little things? Or maybe one big gift?
Finding the right gifts can be challenging for a variety of reasons – cost, shipping issues, changing tastes and interests. But for those trying to give a gift to someone who enjoys the creative arts and/or is a content creator, finding the right gift presents different challenges.
The Hunt For the Perfect Gift
Most Creatives – writers, musicians, artists, graphic designers, photographers, etc… – have a million stacks of supplies. Whether it’s piles of notebooks or boxes of paint and markers, Creatives don’t need more stuff. While we appreciate all the fun and shiny toys of the trade, there are other types of gifts Creatives would appreciate. Providing experiences, rather than more stuff, goes a long way in demonstrating your support for our creative work.
When it comes to giving a gift to a Creative, there are plenty of non-traditional options that demonstrate your support for our work. And there are options to fit any budget and schedule. Some options require a little research and planning, so be sure to do your homework to ensure the gift works for you and your Creative. And, if needed, you might need a way to tell your Creative loved one about their gift if it’s something that won’t happen until a future date. A voucher or gift IOU of sorts.
12 Non-Traditional Gifts For Creatives
If you’re looking for a unique gift to give to the Creatives in your life, here are 12 favorite options you should consider.
- Plan a Trip – If you’re looking for a bold gesture, travel provides a way to both relax and seek inspiration. A change of scenery means exploring new locations for new stories or images. A trip also means a change of routine away from the normal work and life schedules allowing for more creative time. Whether you choose beach resort or hiking through the mountains, some time away from home is the perfect inspiration for creative work.
- Writing Retreat With a Friend – If a longer trip isn’t an option, think locally. Book a nearby rental (Airbnb or the like) for a long weekend. This can be especially fun for your Creative loved one if they can invite a friend or two for a weekend of writing, plotting, painting, photography, or whatever creative media the group decides.
- Hotel Retreat – If your Creative is on a project deadline or just wants a few days of full focus, booking a night or two at a local hotel offers a space to get away from distractions. Even if your Creative has their own workspace, there are always distractions from last minute needs or piles of laundry. Having a few days away from home allows time away from normal duties to focus on creative work. This can be a great alternative to a full retreat in that it doesn’t take as much planning and is usually cheaper, depending on the hotel you choose.
- Tickets to a Museum Exhibition – Creatives get inspiration from being around other creative work. Viewing works of art or other museum exhibits provide both an appreciation for others’ work and can stir their own creative instincts. Visiting a museum can be especially inspiring for authors who use art or history in their work, and for painters or photographers to see how others utilize different techniques.
- Concert or Theatre Performance – Much like the museum, attending a concert or theatrical performance serves as inspiration for their own work. Attending these kinds of events gives your Creative a sense of connection to both the performers and audience members. As part of the audience, they appreciate the hard work and practice that goes into the show. But as a Creative, attending a live show inspires them to continue to work towards their own goals.
- Annual Subscriptions or Tech – Being a Creative is no longer just about picking up a pencil or tapping out a few notes on a piano. Today’s artists need to be able to utilize a wide range of computer programs and other tech in order to create, publish, and promote their work. However, all these things get expensive. Offer to pay for a program or annual subscription to website hosting, graphic design programs, or other tech needs.
- Pay For a Conference or Class – With so many options for Creatives to share and sell their work now, being able to learn various programs and/or marketing tools online can be a great way for Creatives to turn hobbies into a side hustle. But those courses require a financial investment. Offering to pay for one of these courses will be greatly appreciated.
- Gift Cards – Okay, so this one isn’t non-traditional, but gift cards fit the list for gifts that don’t add to the stacks of unused notebooks or pens. Many Creatives like to work away from home occasionally. Find out favorite spots where your Creatives like to work, or even just people watch as inspiration. Places like coffee shops, bookstores, and even a botanical garden can make for an inspiring place to work and watch others. Gift cards or entry passes to places with seating provide a nice change of pace for the traditional office.
- Housecleaner or Babysitting – One of the things that often holds Creatives back from completing projects is the busyness of life. There are kids to take care of, laundry to fold, and groceries to buy. Giving the gift of extra free time would go a long way in helping a Creative make progress. Paying for temporary housecleaning services or babysitting (or other types of errands and household needs) for a week or two would be greatly appreciated.
- Give a Day Off – Pick weekend, or a weekday if that works better for your particular circumstances and give your favorite Creative a day to themselves. Offer to take care of all household chores, errands, and childcare so your Creative can have the full day to work on their projects without the worry of everything getting done.
- Set Up a Dedicated Workspace – While many people are now working from home, it can be difficult to carve out a private space for creative work. Having a dedicated place to work and keep supplies can foster Creatives’ ability to complete projects. Even if you don’t have a room that can be turned into a regular office, a corner of a basement or even a walk-in closet can be turned into a makeshift workspace. Giving your Creative a special place to work demonstrates your support.
- Buy Their Work – The best gift you can give your Creative is your support. That certainly means being a cheerleader for them. But buying something they have created shows them you genuinely care about their success. Buy their book or artwork. Buy a piece of jewelry they designed. Purchasing their work shows them their work matters and allows them to continue creating.
Finding the right gift for your family and friends adds extra stress to the holiday season. When it comes to your creative loved ones, going beyond the traditional gift list demonstrates not only how much thought you put into finding something special, but it also shows them that you support their work and want to help them succeed.
Choosing a non-traditional gift is about providing experiences not stuff. In turn, these experiences promote creativity and motivation.
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