In this waning economy, if your product is not essential, or your business capable, it could be curtains for you. Even before the tide turned last year, I became aware of how ineffective the gallery system was for the artist and consumer. Galleries take 20-60%commission in return for wall space, clientele, and the promise of representation. Historically, these are not high traffic places, except on opening night, so if the gallery is not proactive, the art is not seen or sold. Are most people just apathetic toward art? Are galleries intimidating? Or just uninviting spaces?
One out of seven galleries that featured me, sold a print. I’ve sold over 20 pieces, marketing myself with proof books, business cards, and CD's. At the salon where I work, I traded exposure for decoration services in lieu of commission. I also look for ways to create visibility thru competitions and museums. I’d hoped the galleries would sell my work, but in the end, keeping all the profit helped me reclaim heavy business costs.
Unless you are an artist, you might not be aware of the expense and time that goes into production. A painter needs tubes of color, brushes, easel, and canvas. A photographer requires a camera, lenses, tripod, computer, memory cards or film, software, printer, and marketing materials. The profit must also include an hourly wage to sustain living as a professional artist. It's difficult to balance the costs of creating art, and its return. But, without the product of art, galleries would have nothing to profit from. In order to survive, galleries must market and preserve the professional artist. The standard gallery business model of “being chosen”, held hostage by exclusivity, and gouged by commissions, is a problematic plan for the business of selling and producing art.
Are galleries an institution worth saving? Can they survive extinction by reinventing themselves? Will artists choose only the galleries with astute marketing skills to represent them? If gallerists approached the business as an equal partnership (rather than entry into an exclusive club) and marketed the product effectively, or created an enticing shopping experience that was intellectually accessible to everyone, I think the system could survive. As it exists, neither party benefits and the future looks grim.
Artists will not stop producing and distributing art, rather, they will find a way to eliminate the ineffective middle man, and share their gifts with the world in a more attainable way.
God saves those who save themselves.
One out of seven galleries that featured me, sold a print. I’ve sold over 20 pieces, marketing myself with proof books, business cards, and CD's. At the salon where I work, I traded exposure for decoration services in lieu of commission. I also look for ways to create visibility thru competitions and museums. I’d hoped the galleries would sell my work, but in the end, keeping all the profit helped me reclaim heavy business costs.
Unless you are an artist, you might not be aware of the expense and time that goes into production. A painter needs tubes of color, brushes, easel, and canvas. A photographer requires a camera, lenses, tripod, computer, memory cards or film, software, printer, and marketing materials. The profit must also include an hourly wage to sustain living as a professional artist. It's difficult to balance the costs of creating art, and its return. But, without the product of art, galleries would have nothing to profit from. In order to survive, galleries must market and preserve the professional artist. The standard gallery business model of “being chosen”, held hostage by exclusivity, and gouged by commissions, is a problematic plan for the business of selling and producing art.
Are galleries an institution worth saving? Can they survive extinction by reinventing themselves? Will artists choose only the galleries with astute marketing skills to represent them? If gallerists approached the business as an equal partnership (rather than entry into an exclusive club) and marketed the product effectively, or created an enticing shopping experience that was intellectually accessible to everyone, I think the system could survive. As it exists, neither party benefits and the future looks grim.
Artists will not stop producing and distributing art, rather, they will find a way to eliminate the ineffective middle man, and share their gifts with the world in a more attainable way.
God saves those who save themselves.
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