Establishing yourself as an artist in the cut-throat industry that accompanies it is somewhat tricky. Here are a few tips if you want to stay ahead, make progress to senior positions or change to other market sections.
- Do your research
Whether you are interested in working with old paintings or contemporary pieces, you have to do your research either way. You need to be able to do thorough research of both the market and the works of art. One way to do this is to make a compilation of documents with your observations related to important artists and particular art pieces.
Websites such as Art Tactic and Artnet provide very useful information about the latest news of the industry. When you visit an exhibition which has made an impression on you, research the artist and the museum or the gallery they are exhibiting in. Document the exhibitions you participated in and your market research and put them in your portfolio – it can be convenient at your next job interview.
- Network and create partnerships
Knowing people in the industry can certainly help. You should interact with writers/journalist who are going to write about your art and exhibits, fellow artists who will introduce you to their connections, art aficionados who could be potential buyers, and so on.
Take the time to attend events and meetings, private views and fairs, because that’s where you can meet many people who belong to the same artistic circles that you are interested in, and they are the ones who can help you get ahead. Connect with a group of fellow art enthusiasts and visit shows and exhibitions together.
Securing support and brokering a sponsorship is invaluable. This can happen in a number of ways – you can get press or a publication and receive financial aid or have a similar arrangement. When you are just starting, this kind of help and support is more than welcome.
- Don’t be afraid to take internships
Sometimes you have to make a few risks – you never know what good may come of it. To gain experience, you need experience. An internship is an excellent opportunity to gather insider information about the industry. You can find many internships which are paid and valuable, and you should surely try to get them. But there also smaller galleries which don’t offer paid internships and instead typically require only a few hours of attendance a week but even that short period is enough to gain valuable contacts and references.
- Be present on social media
You know the saying “Pics or it didn’t happen.” Well, something like that can be said for social media these days – if it’s not there, it didn’t happen. Establish your online presence – open a Facebook page, accounts on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc., begin a blog and publish your researches, reviews, links to relevant sites, the latest news in the community – the sky’s the limit. This is where all your creativity can run wild!