A guide I just recently made discussing how to price your art! This guide was originally written with drawing in mind, but is applicable to any craft! Hope it's helpful!
An art exhibition can be a challenge to organize and put together, particularly for a beginner. This is a quick guide the team at Dauble have put together to help you get started.
Firstly, you need to decide if the motivation behind your exhibition is to showcase your own series of works, collaborate with other artists, or show off your art collection as a collector.
Before You Start:
The Type of Exhibition
Decide whether you are creating a solo or collaborative exhibition. A solo exhibit allows you to get sole exposure, however, it can be harder to market, and it is more cost prohibitive. Collaborative exhibitions allow you to split the costs and increase the chances of reaching a wider audience. Teaming up can also be a great way to display a diverse and well-rounded set of art-works.
A Collaborative Theme
During this step, make sure to consider what you are trying to portray to the audience a, so that you can help them understand what influenced each piece of art.
“An exhibition of pieces portraying world hunger and poverty”
For collaborative exhibitions, a central idea/ concept is important. Your theme should not be so general that it doesn’t make an impact.
Selecting Work
Deciding what to showcase can be tough. Don’t always make assumptions and don’t force your art to fit, for example, you should not get trapped into thinking that you need to showcase all your artworks, only artwork which is relevant should be on display.
For Yourself:
You should aim to include 20 + pieces (depending on size) of your own work, ensuring they are in keeping with your theme. If your exhibition is solely your pieces it would be good to show some older and newer works. It is also a good idea to share at least 2 original or new pieces which have not been shared before.
For Others:
Selecting pieces for a collaborative exhibition can be a challenge. Open communication with the other participants/ artists is important because it allows everyone to be on the same page with regards to the theme, and what he/she should look to contribute. That being said, targeting artists who have a similar style to yourself is always a good idea.
Choosing Mediums
Art can take many forms including; sculptures, prints, paintings, installations and music. Choosing different art mediums to accentuate your event can help make it an immersive and engaging experience. This gives attendees plenty to talk about after the fact, and will help set you up for your next event.
The Finer Details
Planning Specifics
It takes at least 2-3 months to plan specifics. Consider the availability of the public, so aim to book near a weekend and avoid public holidays where potential attendees will be busy.
Venue
Galleries and studios are a fan favourite and they certainly encourage those from the “art world” to attend, however, you may want to consider alternative venues such as restaurants, community centres, cafés and local businesses. These can be low key, cost effective and fun spaces for public exposure.
A side note for consideration: You will need to let the venue know key details including:
Floor space
Unusual requirements (e.g. mounts, hanging fixings or special lighting)
Health or safety factors
Your details
Event details
Pricing
When pricing out each piece of art consider the time spent on each piece as well as its complexity and the resources it has taken to create it. Ensure that you have a wide range of different priced items from the more affordable to the larger, expensive items - this makes your event appealing and accessible to everyone.
Promotion & Marketing
Some ideas for advertising include: posters, leaflets, advertising in local art hangouts, café’s and local schools, colleges and art classes. Also, be sure to market your event on social media and ask friends and family to share your events and posts. Art Apps can also be a great resource for attracting your target audience.
With this guide you should have an excellent place to start and we hope your first art exhibition is a resounding success. If you are looking for artists, or to connect socially with other collectors, Dauble is an art app for artists, collectors and galleries, that will help you achieve your purpose.
