Mostly self-employed or relying on part-time teaching jobs, many artists tend to have shaky finances and scant prospects for improving them aside from going into another profession. But some institutions have sprung up to try to help--and ideally Thrive financially at the same time.

Artist Pension Trust, Creative Capital and Fractured Atlas are among the options now for artists with talent but limited wherewithal to pursue it. They offer creative workers financial education, career-planning help, health insurance--even some steady income.

Persistence and patience are still required.

Cindy Bernard knows. An accomplished artist in photography and video, the Californian has received a prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship, founded and runs a non-profit organization in Los Angeles dedicated to experimental music and has taught at Art Center College in Pasadena for six years.