(by 2 people)
Business Building Blocks for Creative People
I'll discuss how to start an art gallery, an arts education center, franchise models, building your online presence, marketing, buzz, artist management, artist studio options and insider info....
Feel free to join the discussion.
Starting out...
Keep your day job - or get a new mindset
When I first decided to open an arts education center I was motivated by the fact that arts education in my children's school was not nearly as robust a program for them, as it was for me when I was their age. I wanted a place for people to come and be creative.
I was working full time at Duke Clinical Research Institute testing clinical trial software. On my lunch breaks, I'd flip open my journal and continue working on my business plan.
My business plan was fairly standard and looking back was useful in a way. This was the first time I had used a template to determine my marketplace and profits. I found that a lot of my business plan was based on a guess. It is difficult to imagine every facet of what you'll need to get started until you're actually running the business. All I can say about this process is do your best to write down all of your ideas and then pare them down so that you can manage them well. Amazon didn't start out selling everything imaginable. They sold books. They sold them well. Then they grew. I like this strategy.
So my motivations for starting were definitely altruistic. Sometimes the altrustic actually make money. But only when the dream and the plan is BIG.
I was working full time at Duke Clinical Research Institute testing clinical trial software. On my lunch breaks, I'd flip open my journal and continue working on my business plan.
My business plan was fairly standard and looking back was useful in a way. This was the first time I had used a template to determine my marketplace and profits. I found that a lot of my business plan was based on a guess. It is difficult to imagine every facet of what you'll need to get started until you're actually running the business. All I can say about this process is do your best to write down all of your ideas and then pare them down so that you can manage them well. Amazon didn't start out selling everything imaginable. They sold books. They sold them well. Then they grew. I like this strategy.
So my motivations for starting were definitely altruistic. Sometimes the altrustic actually make money. But only when the dream and the plan is BIG.
Why this lens?
Here's an old letter from Power Home Biz
This is the first email I responded to for starting an art gallery online. It captures some, but not nearly all of what it takes. The rest I hope to capture on this lens...
Dear Alexander:
My name is Lise Richards, I am the owner of The Creativity Center, Inc and Red Door Gallery. How exciting that you have a wonderful opportunity to create something new at your grandmother's shop. To answer your question about copyright laws and licensing agreements. Those two areas are not in question when you are displaying work for sale under a consignment agreement. A gallery owner can sell on consignment, and feature work exclusively in the gallery without having to sign a licensing agreement. If you are duplicating the work in some way, say to make greeting cards, then you get into licensing agreements. The artist maintains the rights to their work, unless those rights are transferred in a written agreement to someone else.
Before accepting work from local artists, I suggest that you come up with a theme for your gallery, and specialize in an area. For example, regional, modern art, or more traditional art. Once you have a theme, you will need to create a contract for the artist's to sign. This contract should include information about who's responsibility it is to get the art to the gallery, payment schedules, discounts on the art, promotion, competition in the area, etc. There are many books on the subject that can guide you in the right direction when you begin to write your contract. Or you may want to consult an attorney.
There are also some aesthetic considerations for a gallery space. There are typically three styles of galleries.
A stark space, with art hung sparingly on the walls, and highlighted by spotlights; a gallery with a grouping of all types of art, hung on nearly all the wall space, with prints available for purchase unframed, or a combination of the two. You should consider how the theme you've chosen for your art gallery matches the physical space.
Another area to consider is what your services will consist of. Are you marketing to corporations, interior designers, retail, etc. The art you choose needs to work with whatever market you identify. Larger pieces may appeal to a corporate market, while prints, and lower cost art may appeal to a general retail market.
The total costs involved are hard to pin down, because I'm not sure what you are starting with. A significant cost may involve making the space suitable to hang art, and sending out marketing materials. You will also need a good computer and office equipment. You could get started for under 7k if you have initial stock, and some of the things I already mentioned.
If you need any additional help visit us online at www.centerofcreativity.com . Good luck to you. I wish you much success with your exciting new business venture.
Lise Richards
June 04, 2003
Dear Alexander:
My name is Lise Richards, I am the owner of The Creativity Center, Inc and Red Door Gallery. How exciting that you have a wonderful opportunity to create something new at your grandmother's shop. To answer your question about copyright laws and licensing agreements. Those two areas are not in question when you are displaying work for sale under a consignment agreement. A gallery owner can sell on consignment, and feature work exclusively in the gallery without having to sign a licensing agreement. If you are duplicating the work in some way, say to make greeting cards, then you get into licensing agreements. The artist maintains the rights to their work, unless those rights are transferred in a written agreement to someone else.
Before accepting work from local artists, I suggest that you come up with a theme for your gallery, and specialize in an area. For example, regional, modern art, or more traditional art. Once you have a theme, you will need to create a contract for the artist's to sign. This contract should include information about who's responsibility it is to get the art to the gallery, payment schedules, discounts on the art, promotion, competition in the area, etc. There are many books on the subject that can guide you in the right direction when you begin to write your contract. Or you may want to consult an attorney.
There are also some aesthetic considerations for a gallery space. There are typically three styles of galleries.
A stark space, with art hung sparingly on the walls, and highlighted by spotlights; a gallery with a grouping of all types of art, hung on nearly all the wall space, with prints available for purchase unframed, or a combination of the two. You should consider how the theme you've chosen for your art gallery matches the physical space.
Another area to consider is what your services will consist of. Are you marketing to corporations, interior designers, retail, etc. The art you choose needs to work with whatever market you identify. Larger pieces may appeal to a corporate market, while prints, and lower cost art may appeal to a general retail market.
The total costs involved are hard to pin down, because I'm not sure what you are starting with. A significant cost may involve making the space suitable to hang art, and sending out marketing materials. You will also need a good computer and office equipment. You could get started for under 7k if you have initial stock, and some of the things I already mentioned.
If you need any additional help visit us online at www.centerofcreativity.com . Good luck to you. I wish you much success with your exciting new business venture.
Lise Richards
June 04, 2003
- Opening an Art Gallery - PowerHomeBiz.com
- I am an independent contractor for a company that sells art related products (not MLM). I am certified to teach the correct use of the materials.I have the opportunity to take over my grandmothers shop. It is currently a clothing alteration shop. She can no longer run it and would like to pass the shop to me. I want to turn it into an art gallery. My question is what type of copyright laws and licensing are involved with displaying and selling art and how much can I expect this venture to cost me. All of the initial artwork will be from my father, I hope later to include the works of other local artists. -
Alexander, S.
California
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Location Location Location
If you build it, will they come?
There are some special considerations for choosing a location for your new arts business. In many cities there is a viable and beautiful arts scene. Many towns have a culture that embraces the arts. When I started my gallery in my town, there was a frame shop that featured art, but nothing more, and since we closed, nothing since. Though I think the town would embrace a for-profit arts organization today, it does take some time and money to get it rolling. It also takes a promotional strategy that communicates your brand, and turns that into a profit-building entity.So if you have a choice between a well-populated arts environment and one where you are the trailblazer I would do some careful study. You can tag along with other successful galleries and arts programs, but you will be the new kid on the proverbial block. It will still take you time to build your company reputation. Unless you're offering something that immediately stands out to the average consumer - your sales are facing steep competition.
I think it is a balance between educating clients in an area that does not have a viable arts scene; and standing out from the crowd in an area that does.
Your business plan should capture all your thoughts on this topic.
Should you specialize ??
Some gallery owners choose to support clients that walk through their doors. They build relationships, advise, coach and otherwise create art collectors. This is their bread and butter. But there are a number of ways to create multiple streams of income from your gallery by specializing.Here are a few:
1. Support corporate buyers - offer art and consulting for companies. The same skills that you use to create a new collector can be used to create a corporate collector.
2. Sell to the trade - provide discounts and art consulting services to architects, interior designers, and decorators. Provide information on the art and artists shown in your gallery.
3. Magazine/ezine supplier - Promote your artists to media stylists.
4. Become an artisan contractor. Artists love to work in a variety of different media. Many love to supplement their income by doing custom work in interior home arts. Murals, floorcloths, painted hardware, cabinets, custom fireplace surrounds, etc etc!
I chose to do #4 and it sparked a whole new venture called Artistic Lifestyling (my present day company).
Creating your submission model...
Make it easy on yourself...
- YOUR SUBMISSION MODEL -I ran across a post on another website where artists were discussing how best to present their work/portfolios to gallery owners. To be sure there are some pretty jaded gallery owners out there - please try not to become one of them. When you're starting out, you will need a process for reviewing the work of the artists you want to show at the gallery. If you can set up your website to accept submissions (cut and paste an artist statement here, attach a jpg image there...) you're way ahead of the game. Accepting slide and photo submissions by mail is good when you need to see the details of the piece, however you're probably going to be able to screen 80% of the submissions using a thumbnail file.
- KEEPING SLIDES? -
If you really prefer to have slides on file, and many gallery owners do, then you'll want to accept submissions by mail. Determine your policy for returning original slides and artists materials. Be prompt in your returns. These materials can be expensive and if you're not going to use them, return them.
- WHEN TO ACCEPT SUBMISSIONS -
Some gallery owners only accept submissions during certain times of the year. I'm sure that galleries located in larger cities must be inundated with submissions - you'll just have to put a few artist calls out and see what the response is to really know how to manage the submission times...
- IS THIS ART AND ARTIST REALLY A GOOD FIT FOR YOUR GALLERY? -
There are some eager artists out there. I respect the fact that artists are looking for a viable way to market their work to collectors. I can also appreciate that the whole process can be unsettling. As a gallery owner I think it's important to determine if you have a market for the art, as well as the artist. Keep in mind that this may be a long-term relationship that is forming, the character of the artist and their professionalism will undoubtedly come into question. I have an unfortunate (but memorable) example that teaches many things. I was interviewing an artist who decided he needed some support. He brought a flask. Filled no doubt with orange juice and vodka - or maybe gin. He proceeded to sip the beverage throughout the interview, and get more animated as time progressed. I obviously did not work with him, but it did give me an understanding for how stressful this business can be for the artist. Try your best to ease the stress by communicating your expectations in a straightforward manner.
