Opening an art gallery is a difficult task, aimed at those who love art and the art world. Most of the galleries are supported by the continuous sale of quality artistic products to loyal collectors and their friends, as well as by the addition of new customers. The gallery retains part of the sale and the rest goes to the artist. Gallery owners need to cultivate friendships among investors, artists, collectors and the media. It is a career for an independent and sociable person, with an entrepreneurial spirit, who is ready to carve out a place in a very lively market like that of art. If you have all of these skills, then prepare a business plan and be ready to work hard until your gallery becomes profitable. Read the article to find out how to manage an art gallery.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Starting an Art Gallery
Step 1. Develop contacts in the art world
These contacts should be aimed at art collectors, artists and industry media in the city where you will open your gallery and beyond. This can take years (5 to 15) to devote to art schools, art works and socializing in gallery or museum environments.
Step 2. Dedicate yourself completely to art and the desire to start an art gallery
In the modern market, many gallery owners are convinced that you have to love what you do to be successful. Art sales are unpredictable, with months earning almost no income and others doing great.
Step 3. Decide what kind of art you want to sell and what your clientele will be
For example, contemporary art, abstract art, Western art, sculpture, prints, furniture or a combination of different types. The gallery address should be varied but have a driving theme behind your artistic decisions that induces people to become regular customers.
You can choose to run a non-profit gallery and collect donations to do charity work. You can choose to set up a collective gallery of artists, if you are an artist yourself. You can also choose to run a shopping arcade that offers its services at low, medium or high prices. This you should decide before you start looking for artists or raising money
Step 4. Prepare a detailed business plan
A business plan defines the key elements for creating a successful, profitable business in 1-5 years, and should include detailed information on the art program, the marketing plan and the necessary funding.
Step 5. Look for funding if you don't already have it
Your business plan, financial forecasts and artists' commitment will be used to convince banks or business partners that you have a profitable program. If you take members, try to choose those who are also linked to the art world and who can channel interested collectors on you.
Step 6. Make sure the artists are committed
Search for your artists through suggestions from other retailers or museum managers, or make a public announcement to find them. Negotiate your percentage and put it in writing, aware of the fact that, generally, with the artists who have entered the art world more recently, the sales percentages that will be reserved for you will be higher.
Step 7. Get a gallery space in a trendy, or easy to find, area
Often this means that the gallery venue will be expensive, so be prepared to pay a high rent to work where outsiders and collectors can easily find you. A well-located venue will also prove advantageous for proposing the inauguration of exhibitions in the gallery.
Step 8. Hire reliable employees
Gallery employees should have an artistic background, contacts in the art world, and experience in sales, business or marketing. The ideal employee has a degree in art history, or in the administration of art-oriented companies and willingly accepts to perform multiple tasks, especially at the beginning.
Step 9. Get good insurance and get a security system for your gallery
This is essential to be protected in the event of theft or other damage. Artists will often request proof that you are insured before agreeing to keep their work in your gallery.
Part 2 of 2: Managing a Successful Art Gallery
Step 1. Don't quit your job right away
Many gallery owners, especially in large cities, manage their gallery together with other works, until their gallery becomes profitable. Appoint a trusted, experienced employee to supervise the gallery when you can't be there, and work hard to try and work in the gallery full-time.
Step 2. Create an online presence
Today's galleries need to have a website, social media account, blog, and mailing list to be successful and gain new clientele. Invest money to have an interesting site that lists your artists, some works of art, information on the location of the venue and contact information.
Step 3. Host regular art gallery exhibitions, with well promoted openings
Use contacts in the art world to plan, market and hold exhibitions that your customers attend. Promote using bursts of e-mails, ads in art magazines, newspaper reports, social media and printed invitations.
Step 4. Create an accounting system to track sales, new acquisitions and artist percentages
You can do this with software if you have a small gallery, or you may need to hire a part-time accountant or freelance.
Step 5. Consider advertising in some art magazines, local and national, and rent small stands at art fairs
Stands and advertising spaces help establish good relationships in the art world and introduce yourself to new customers. Advertising in art magazines, while expensive, may allow you to request monthly or annual reports on your gallery exhibits.
Step 6. Prepare to satisfy 2 or more types of customers
Keep a list of frequent collectors to be given the opportunity to purchase new art objects first, or who may request special commissions. Also, offer cheaper prints or art for younger visitors or collectors.
Step 7. Make yourself approachable
You never know if whoever enters the door is a collector. Make sure you're not snobbish, and it makes a good impression on all potential customers.
Advice
- Focus on specifically advertising what you are likely to be able to sell. Remember that even though openings or experimental art may attract critics, you want to feature art that has been proven to sell. Collaborate with new artists in small steps, unless you are sure they are in fashion.
- Always bargain. Remember that to stay on your feet, you will need to be a shrewd administrator in the first place. Negotiate leases, commission rates, freelance rates, and advertising rates.
- Create profitable opportunities for the local community. Occasionally, it houses children's art objects. It hosts Artistic Paths. Provides services for travel agencies. He teaches courses, presents criticisms. It hosts local groups of en plein air painters. Start a group of en plein air painters. Organize an evening of art criticism, etc. Try the seminars. Sign up or organize a Plein Air Festival for your area.
- Update your art from month to month. Try different genres of art according to the season. For example: July? Surf-related art! December? Snow pictures! September? Colorful leaves! June? Art related to diplomas, photographs, an exhibition of the art program of the local high school.
