GET DISCOVERED!HOW TO SHOW YOUR WORK?HOW TO ORGANIZE AN EXHIBITION?

"The artist's biggest problem is how to attract attention." (Honoré De Balzac)

INTRODUCTIONHe/she who makes art, wants to expose. Not only to show his/her

work to others, but often also to sell it, eventually to make a living out of it. Especially for starting artists - young people dreaming of a career in art – it ‘s very important to communicate about your work with the (surrounding) world. Of course, there are a lot of possibilities, and there are several factors that define whether or not you’ll become a successful artist. Naturally, it’s not our intention to discuss all of these matters in this limited space, for the reason that much of these items are very personal, depending on someone’s nature, motivation and perseverance.

In these pages, together with students and professional artists, we tried to make a useful overview with possibilities and tips to exhibit your work in a professional way, ranging from an exposition to an online gallery. It’ s all about self promotion.

It’s not so easy to organize a successful exhibition. To start, there’s a difference between the work of a professional artist, and that of an amateur. That ‘s the first problem, because professionals do not always make good work, and among amateurs you can find excellent pieces of art.

Professionals can offer their work to a gallery, and in a lot of cases they ‘re asked to exhibit within the context of an event. The artist fixes a good price for his work. The gallery or organizing manager takes care of the accommodation, facilities, invitations, opening and he makes appointments with the artist about the costs and compensation.

Depending on your plans, consider the following actions or steps in a nutshell.

"Most people are so used to seeing results, they don't see the mass of work that's necessary to get there." (Michael Jackson)

PART 1: THE PREPARATION1. What do you want to achieve?

Do you want recognition? From who? What is your target group? Do you want to be recognized by your family? Do you want to sell or just show your work? Local or (inter)national? Do you want to get in the gallery circuit, or is that not necessary for you?

2. What are your favourite topics?Of course, the magic words are: stay who you are! Keep close to yourself!What do you like? Answers on this question can be very inspiring. Write it down.

Example: when you’re a visual artist who likes fish as a pictorial or plastic matter, talk to owners of a fish shop. Try to get inspired by all the different services and stores around your subject. Flower shops, jewellers, bike shops, boutiques, … There are a lot of possibilities, so make a hunt for the right businessman or retailer!

3. Is there an occasion?Find out which interesting events are organised in your environment. To keep close to our example of the fish: there might be a campaign about ‘healthy food’ that can inspire you. Probably you can mean something in this campaign with your paintings and drawings about the subject. Think also about the problem of overfishing, or relate to the matter of ecological balance. There will be some management of natural resources interested in what you do!Naturally, fish is just an example. Think about sports, markets, feasts, festivals and events, … But also about the berthing construction of a new rail road, or a building. Or maybe a fashion show? A rowing contest? Etc.

4. Can you think about a theme that illustrates the cause?Of course, you still have to start up your own creative process in a spontaneous way. Can you do something with concerned/conscious fishing? Beautiful details in certain fishes or sea life? Specific structures of fish scale/skin/coat? The keeping of rich fishing ground? Paintings of sea-environment, the bottom of the ocean? …I remember the case of a female artist who painted gorgeous irides. She went to an optician with her work. There she exposed different times and attracted a lot of attention.

5. Who cares what you do?

Look at all your work. It is unique! Ask yourself in which place it would fit. Make a list, write it down, from hospital to grocery, from pharmacist to cheese making farmer, from salesman to waiting room…

6. Did you find a place?Look inside! Consider the interior: what ’s on the walls? Nothing but a few posters? No pieces of art? …

7. Can you conquer with what you saw?Yes? Then make an appointment!

8. What’s your specific need?Before you knock on the door, you have to know what you want. What are your conditions? Do you want to sell? Do you want to share your profits with the owner of the location? Do you want reactions or (press) reviews? Do you want a good photographer? … Do you want to communicate your website, e-mail address, etc.… Is this exposition a step to something ‘bigger’? If the answer is yes, consider whether or not your actual plan is a good option, etc.…The fact is: you can deal with almost everything!

PART 2: FIND A LOCATION1. Go to a public library and ask for the policy to expose art. Most

libraries have someone in service who takes care of this matter.

2. Call your local government and ask for the exposition possibilities in public buildings. In bigger communities there will be competition with art loan services or companies that intervene in art matter. Smaller communities will very often like art initiatives. Think about town or city halls!

3. Talk to professional entrepreneurs, craft organizations or unions that deal with shopping centres, malls or city centres. Professional entrepreneurs see empty shops as a hole in the city image, and they ‘ll like to see them decorated with attractive eye-catchers!

4. Waiting rooms are all around! Visit their owner, make a phone call and have a look at the possibilities.

5. Hospitals very often have their own exhibition policy. Ask for the person that ’s responsible for art in the building.

6. Check the local, provincial or national institutes for amateur art. They will certainly organise ways of exhibition. Check their websites and social media!

7. Stores/shops with a theme. This is a winner! Tea shops, coffee houses, chocolate shops, fruit stores, delicatessens, … But also other kind of shops (bike shops, jewellers and other specific stores) will be glad with your initiative. Naturally, there has to be a match with the actual product or service that is offered.

8. Restaurants, lunch rooms and bars… will show their interest in your ideas. Each pub or restaurant has its own visitors or public. Choose the right establishment, go inside to show your pictures and initiative. But, of course, not in the rush hour! Choose your moment with care!

9. Check out art markets. You’ll find them often in summertime.

10. A lot of communities organize art routes during autumn or spring. Try to join the routes, especially when you have your own atelier. Call your local government for more information.

11. When you choose for the gallery circuit, be prepared! Find a good place where your work fits. Look at the current expositions and ask yourself why your work would fit in this place. That ‘s very important! Ask for a good moment to show your work, and be sure that the presentation is perfect. Most gallery keepers will define the price of your work, but also the way it should be presented. For that matter, it is very important to make a personal contact with the manager. You’ll find out how the galery keeper relates to you and your work. They ‘ll also arrange the publicity matters. When you sell, you ‘ll pay at least 40% of your profits. Ask for the current arrangements and rules.

12. Online galleries.The amount of online galleries is growing fast! Check out the right addresses and mail your digital portfolio.

13. Art loan.These initiatives are organised to stimulate private persons and companies to buy art. Everyone can pay to loan art, and the works can also be sold when a person is interested. The artist receives a fixed (small) percent when someone loans his work.

14. Open ateliers.This is the cheapest way to get some attention for your work. The exposition room is your own house or atelier, or you can join forces with a colleague (in this way you’ll get even more attention). There are no extra costs, but is important that you invite as many persons

as possible (send personal invitations!). You can also organize an art route with other artists from your town or city. In many (larger) towns or cities, open ateliers are organised at least once a year.An other option is to rent a space where you organise a group exhibition with work of all the participants. Or you can organize so called “pop-up-ateliers”.Consider always that the average quality in the case of open ateliers can be variable. But it’s a good starting point!

15. Art fairs.This is an other way to exhibit. Art fairs show a large amount of work and it is also possible to buy or sell. These initiatives are often organized in cooperation with galleries. So it is best to contact the organizing galery for information and to see if your work can be considered for participation.

16. Artist companiesArtist clubs or associations organize group expositions for their own members. Because there is also an income out of membership fees en government subsidies, the commission fee when you sell a work is low (30% - 40%). The association takes care of publicity, customers en because everything is well organized there’s a good chance of success! Some artist companies present themselves also at art fairs or other events.

PART 3: PORTFOLIO AND PRESENTATION1. Make business or visiting cards

At a low cost, you can order lots of them. Make a good lay-out, choose a personal style that’s in line with your work. Expressive paintings? Then make not an introvert business card.An other option is to make nice post cards.

2. Website. When you’re professional, you ‘ll need a website! Show your personal gallery online. As a semi-professional, you can eventually manage without. Check it out! Ask for help when you need it. Nowadays, you can buy a domain/scope at a low cost.

3. Handouts, leaflets, flyers and brochures are not necessary, but most people will look at them! It ’s also a good idea to hand a leaflet to anyone interested in your work or after a good conversation.

4. PortfolioIn case of an ‘old school’ portfolio (some people or gallery keepers will ask for a map) you’ll need good quality printings (at least A4 format) of your work. A good portfolio is not cheap, but worth the cost!

5. Pictures of your workDon’t under estimate the importance of it! Photography is extremely important in this case. The picture has to be of at least the same quality as the original! Every person with a good compact camera and a tripod can do it.

6. Check out about licences (for Belgium you ‘ll need a BTW-nummer)

7. Check out about work insurances.

8. What about the transport of your work?

9. Check out the hanging system or supporting bases…Who takes care of the structure?

10. Use good lights and spots. Take care of the lighting.

11. Be prepared for the opening: invitations, timing, drinks and sweets, a speech, a little bit of music, …

12. Make a price list and a list with good information about the work (format, technique, weight, year of production, …)

13. Mark the works you’ve sold (don’t remove the works from the exhibition before the ending!) Use a red sticker for example.

14. Is there surveillance during the opening hours? Who takes care of it?

ORGANIZING AN EXHIBITION OVERVIEW

1) Brainstorming: thinking about a concept

2) Installing the concept

Period Target group Budget Purpose of the exhibition Type of exhibition

3) Installing the creative concept

Collecting work Selecting the right pieces of work Finding a location: informing and making a reservation Equipment (video, audio, …) Design Lighting

4) Making a scenario: planning, timing, …

5) Acting the scenario

6) Paperwork:

Insurance Licence (also for food, drinks, …) Public licences

7) Communication/printed matter

8) Promotion/publicity:

Possibilities… Making and printing an invitation

9) Collecting materials for exhibition

10) Looking for collaborators

11) Press contacts

12) Approaching target group

13) Organizing the opening

14) Constructing the exhibition

15) During opening: speech, catering, music, … directing, briefing collaborators/ follow up

16) After the exhibition: cleaning up

17) Word of thanks

Promotion:

Posters Flyers Website Display E-mailing Press Radio TV …

Materials for exhibition:

Boards and panels Suporting bases Showcases Tables TV/DVD/Video Projector/beamer Screen Hanging system Audiovisuals …

AFTERWORDA lot of artists hate to talk about self promotion. “When you’ re good enough, the public will find you,” is what we would like to think. But to be good is not good enough. When you want people to find you, it’s important to make them find you. There is not an easy way to success while you concentrate on becoming good.

Almost all of the (inspiring or successful) artists we know, share their work and make this a constant (almost daily) routine. In stead of keeping their little “secrets” for themselves, they share them with the world. And in this way they gather not only useful feedback tot heir work but also assemble an ever growing public or target group! Constantly, they put ideas, work in progress and creative activities online. Show your procedures to your customers, release your ego and try to connect.

Find yourself a scene! This was never more easy as it is today: blogs, social media, e-mail groups, discussion boards, forums, … In fact it’s always the same: virtual places where people meet and talk about their passions. You don’t have to be rich or famous. Online, every person – from expert to amateur – can contribute one’s mite!

By the way, don’t worry about who’s an amateur or who’s a professional. The world is changing in such a fast way that we’ve all become amateurs today!

There is only one thing for an artist to do: show your work! And there’s nothing as inspiring or contagious than raw enthusiasm!

SOME USEFUL ADDRESSES AND TIPS

A) INFORMATION AND SUPPORT:

For Belgium:

- KUNSTWERKT.BE (semi-professional or amateurish)- KUNSTENLOKET.BE (business-like information)

For Slovenia:

o ZDSLU (for professional artists: http://zdslu.si/)

o Mestna občina Ljubljana, oddelek za kulturo (for individuals, associations and professional artists: http://www.ljubljana.si/si/mol/mestna-uprava/oddelki/kultura/)

For Poland:

◦ Centre of art education - http://cea.art.pl/◦ Association of Artists - http://www.zpap.org.pl/

For Slovakia:

◦ Ministry of Culture Slovak republic - http://www.culture.gov.sk/◦ Fund to support arts - http://www.culture.gov.sk/podpora-projektov-dotacie/fond-pre-

umenie-12a.html◦ Program Creative Europe -

http://www.culture.gov.sk/podpora-projektov-dotacie/komunitarne-programy-eu/program-kreativna-europa-2014-2020-12b.html

◦ Creative industries - http://www.culture.gov.sk/posobnost-ministerstva/kreativny-priemysel-165.html

◦ Visual Arts Fund - http://www.fvu.sk◦ Slovak Design Centre - http://www.sdc.sk◦ Slovak Union of Visual Arts - www.svu.sk

B) (ONLINE) GALLERIES, ART FAIRS AND LOAN:

International:

- SAATCHI GALLERY (professional and famous international art gallery, main seat in London)

- ARTNET.COM (art market website)

- ARTSY.NET (people who are interested, can track your activities)

- ALAC (Art Los Angeles Contemporary)-

For Belgium and the Netherlands:

- GALERIE ASSOCIATIE (NGA) (about 200 members)- GALLERIES.NL (here you can find an overview,

information about more than 35 000 artists and events)- EXTO.NL (where you can make your own online art

gallery; but quality is not always very good…)- ArtOlive (about loan matters; you can send them your

portfolio online)- ADAF (Annual Dutch Art Fair) is an independent

organization, so you don’t need to be a member of a galery.

- KUNSTZINNIG.NL (information about art markets)

For Slovenia:

o Ministrstvo za kulturo (government supporting art and artists in general, granting loans for prospective artists: http://www.mk.gov.si/)

o Kino Šiška (art centre for urban culture: http://www.kinosiska.si/)o Tovarna Rog (organization promoting young artists and organizing events:

http://tovarna.org/)o Metelkova mesto (concerts, events, exhibitions, and much more:

http://www.metelkovamesto.org/)

For Romania:

o The Princess Margareta of Romania Foundations   helps young artists through program "Young talents"

o http://www.radioteen.ro/ Radio Teen supports young artists from Romania, by promoting their work in live shows or through articles.

o http://gallerycafe.ro/ Gallery is a coffee shop that also offers an exhibition place for young artists and that promotes their work.

o http://www.anav.ro/ The National Association of Contemporary Visual Arts

For Poland:◦ http://www.niezlasztuka.net/miejsca/galerie-sztuki/ (a website listing the galleries worth

seeing in Poland)◦ https://atart.com.pl/o-nas/ (internet gallery which encourages artists to cooperate and sell

their works)

◦ http://www.mkidn.gov.pl/pages/strona-glowna/uczniowie-i-studenci/uczelnie- artystyczne.php Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. Information about grants for art students.

◦ http://www.artpower.pl/galeria-sztuki-kto/ art gallery

For Slovakia:o Gallery of Jozef Nécsey - http://www.muzeum.sko http://www.elpida-art.eu/ - Civic Association of artistso Gallery Umelka - www.svu.sko Gallery in Nitra - http://www.nitrianskagaleria.sko Gallery of art Ernest Zmeták in Nové Zámky - http://www.galerianz.sk/o Pro Arte Danubií - http://galerialimes.namedia.sko The Association for Contemporary Art - http://www.acaslovakia.sk/o Gallery of Modern Art - http://www.bodg2014.sk/o http://www.galerie2002.cz/o http://www.gallerygwerk.sk/o http://www.artgaleria.sk

C) FURTHER READING:

- No need to say you can find a lot of useful information on the Internet

- A nice little but inspiring book is “SHOW YOUR WORK” from Austin Kleon. 10 ways to share your work with the world. A New York Times best-seller!Or look at www.austinkleon.com