August 20, 2007
Assess Art Venues
How do you
decide where to place your work?
Traditional
exhibit venues include retail galleries, non-profit spaces, museums
and artist co-ops, but exhibitions can be staged almost anywhere
these days. More and more emerging artists are showing their work in
alternative venues, online, and even private home shows. Your
options are unlimited, but should be considered with purpose. What
vision do you have for your career and are your venues matched to
that vision?
At the beginning of your career you are focused on building your
resume and exhibition record. You are dying to get your work out
there and seen by as many people as possible, so you are less picky
about the location. As you begin to settle into your career and
where
it’s headed, you should become more selective. Your goals have
changed. You have accomplished much and are ready for new
challenges. For example you might decide that you no longer need to
show at coffee shops or in juried exhibits.
Consider these questions when assessing a venue . . .
-
How
long has the gallery, festival or owner been in business?
-
What is
the foot traffic like?
-
Is it
easy to find? Easy to park?
-
Does
the neighborhood appear to be attracting those who are
interested in art and culture?
-
Is the
venue sympathetic to your style, medium, subject matter?
-
How is
the Web site?
-
Is
there a rental fee?
-
What
other events are organized there?
-
Is
there a commitment to maintaining regular open hours?
-
Do you
want your work to be shown in this context?
-
Do the
staff members respond to your phone calls and emails?
-
Is the
staff trained in art sales or installations?
-
Is it a
place where people go to buy art?
-
Is your
art safe and insured?
-
Do you
respect the juror, curator, or organizer?
-
What
promotion plan is in place?
-
Is
there advertising?
-
How
many people are on the mailing list?
-
How are
costs and commissions split?
-
Does it
appear in the newspaper reviews or calendars?
-
Is it
dependent on good weather?
There are other questions to be asked
depending on the venue under consideration. See more on the Art
Biz Blog: http://www.artbizblog.com
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