Breaking into the Creative World With These Art Industry Strategies
Art Industry Strategies and How to Use Them as a Beginner in 2024
The art world can be intimidating when you’re an aspiring artist. It can feel as though everyone is already well established, and that your emergence is a little unwelcome. Especially with its ‘who you know over what you know’ structure; the task of breaking into the art industry feels almost impossible. But let’s not panic! With a few important art industry strategies, we can make sure that you claim your valid and deserving spot in the creative world. With the right approach, you should be able to expand your network and start displaying your work in local shows and galleries before you know it.
Identify the Right Industry Area
The arts industry is a large section of creative jobs and roles. With many different avenues and categories to choose from, it can get quite confusing and complex for newcomers. So your first task is to identify which area of the creative industry you fall within or want to move towards.
Having these different pathways is not to say that there are no overlaps. In fact, the arts industry is probably one of the job sectors with the most blurred boundaries. Many creative people wear multiple hats, transferring their skills across various roles and companies. One benefit of this is getting to know people outside of your immediate network.
However, if you’re just starting out in the arts industry, you may find it helpful to learn one sector at a time. Consider what your main skills and passions relate to and hone in on that to begin with. There will always be opportunities to try new things further down the line.
Creating the Strategy
There’s no “right” way to create art. If you’re highly organised, you may benefit from a roadmap of pieces and paintings that you wish to create in the coming years. Conversely, if you’re more free-spirited, you may enjoy the freedom that comes with sitting down at your easel and drawing or painting whatever comes to mind that day.
However, the business side of art does require careful planning. You can’t expect to hit lucky break after lucky break and should have an art industry strategy in place to help you move into the market. Fortunately, this doesn’t mean you have to create a highly detailed business plan like folks in other businesses. Instead, lean on your creative talents to produce a visually appealing strategy canvas. A good strategy canvas can:
– Help you capture the current state of the market
– Ensure you’re aware of emerging trends and calls for submissions
– Increase your chances of finding a new niche to explore in the art world (AKA a “blue ocean” in the business world)
You can create a visual strategy canvas by identifying 3 to 5 folks who produce similar artwork to yourself. Ideally, these peers will be displaying their work in the types of galleries that you aspire to show in eventually, too. Next, try to dig into the business side of your peer’s work.
During this time, try to research factors like:
– How much do your peers charge for their artwork?
– How else do they add value to their production? Do they give lectures or attend art panels?
– Are there any areas that your peers are not excelling in? Would you be able to fill that gap?
Answering these questions helps you recognise your own strengths and weaknesses. It also makes you more aware of current trends and will set you up for success when it’s time to start sending your portfolio to galleries and art competitions.
Creating a Portfolio
Building a professional portfolio can be tough if you’re trying to break into the art industry. It’s hard to know what audiences want if you aren’t already displaying and selling your work, and you may feel as though your portfolio isn’t broad enough to entice potential buyers into displaying your work.
You don’t need to be a professional, established artist to build a good portfolio. Put simply, an effective portfolio showcases your skills and demonstrates your commitment and potential as an artist. Instead, make the most of your current work by showcasing:
– The finished piece
– The processes you used to finish the polished piece (sketches, methods, mood boards and inspiration can all be included)
– Digitally scanned physical versions of your work
– A range of mediums and themes that you wish to explore in the coming years
This style of the portfolio makes the most of your existing work and shows audiences that you’re committed to the art industry. Including elements like mood boards and inspiration can help folks better understand your wider vision, too. This is key, as most stakeholders want to understand how you fit into the larger art scene before investing in your work.
Networking
Networking in the art world has changed dramatically in the past few decades. While you should still attend opening events and workshops, you can now network remotely, too. This is particularly helpful if you happen to live far from cultural hubs and can’t easily commute to galleries and art shows. You can start building your art network today by:
– Attending as many art shows and openings as possible
– Considering attending art school or enrolling in nearby workshops/courses
– Identifying the critics, buyers, and journalists who cover art in your area
– Getting involved with online communities by joining Facebook groups and engaging with relevant accounts on platforms like Instagram and TikTok
When networking, put forward an overwhelming positive persona. It’s easy to critique others when talking about art, but doing so will earn you no favours. Instead, be supportive of your peer’s work and follow through when you say you’ll attend an upcoming show. Try to remain patient if you’re struggling to build momentum when networking. Breaking into the art world takes months, if not years, of diligence and hard work. Eventually, you’ll be a “face” in the local scene and will reap the rewards of your hard work and commitment.
Get on Social Media
As we just mentioned; getting your art online is great for building a network and building relationships with other creatives. But the benefits of being on social media stretch far beyond this and it’s important to factor this into your art industry strategies.
Almost every artist has a social media profile of some sorts. Whilst it’s important to balance your time and use the sites with your wellbeing in mind, there’s no denying their significance in helping creators enter their dream jobs. Think of your social media platform as a landing page. Algorithms like TikTok are particularly good at introducing artists to completely new audiences, helping creatives to build their following and community.
Whilst it’s still a good idea to have a professional artist website, your social media profile increases your online visibility and can add credibility to those looking for your art. No matter how you use the platforms, social media has the potential to boost your discoverability and cement your place in the creative industry.
Applying for Art Roles
You don’t necessarily need to quit your day job to make it in the art scene. However, you may find that transitioning to an art-focused career helps you build your network and supports your growing passion for painting, pottery, or photography. Exploring opportunities like residences, art administration, or gallery curation can be personally rewarding and financially lucrative, too. If you do want to pivot into a career in the art world, you can put yourself in a prime position by crafting a stand-out application for your first job in the art industry. Get the ball rolling by:
– Collating all the relevant information you’ll need for every application (personal information, resumes, cover letters, references, and employment history)
– Creating a succinct CV, targeted to the specific opportunity and highlighting your top skills
– Using a graphic design program to create a CV that is visually appealing and aesthetically pleasing
– Tell a story in your cover letter and reference your influences and aspirations
Taking these steps will help you build an application that wows readers. Even subtle changes, like redesigning your CV to align with your artistic aesthetic, can meaningfully improve your prospects.
Conclusion
Breaking into the art world isn’t as scary as it first seems. There are plenty of other budding artists who will support your efforts and you’ll likely find that more experienced artists are willing to mentor you through the process. Just be sure to work out your art industry strategies before you start applying for roles and building your name. This will ensure you’re always ready for opportunities that come your way and can make the most of the contacts you make.
What art industry strategies have you found useful? Let us know in the comments below.
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