Right, so I'm assuming you're reading this because you're an artist and you are thinking of approaching an art gallery to see if they'll exhibit your work. Maybe you've never exhibited your work in a gallery before, maybe you already show in lots of galleries or maybe you're just after some tips. Well hopefully these tips should help you before you start.
The Golden Hare Gallery has an application process for exhibiting work. We do this as we get approached by artists on a daily basis and its easier to have a level playing field and to get all the answers to the questions we want answered.
1. Research the Gallery
Ok, so firstly, my main advice would be to visit the gallery, if you can't visit, then do as much research as possible. Search for their website and all their social media channels, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest etc. Find out the gallery owner's name so you can be more personal when contacting them.
2. Find out about their application process
Do they have a form like we do? Do they accept CV's and artist's statements? Do they prefer a phone call? Do they prefer to find artists themselves? If you can't find out how they like artists to apply then email them asking their process... DO NOT turn up at their gallery with your work. Its likely that they'll be busy, or the owner and decision maker won't even be there.
3. Look at the type of work they sell
This is really important, take time to get a feel of the style of the gallery. It's important to me that my gallery has a cohesive feel to it, everything needs to work together as a body of artwork. This doesn't mean your work should be the same as the work that they're currently selling; this would probably result in your work not being shown, but think about whether your work would compliment the other pieces in the gallery.
The Golden Hare Gallery has an application process for exhibiting work. We do this as we get approached by artists on a daily basis and its easier to have a level playing field and to get all the answers to the questions we want answered.
1. Research the Gallery
Ok, so firstly, my main advice would be to visit the gallery, if you can't visit, then do as much research as possible. Search for their website and all their social media channels, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest etc. Find out the gallery owner's name so you can be more personal when contacting them.
2. Find out about their application process
Do they have a form like we do? Do they accept CV's and artist's statements? Do they prefer a phone call? Do they prefer to find artists themselves? If you can't find out how they like artists to apply then email them asking their process... DO NOT turn up at their gallery with your work. Its likely that they'll be busy, or the owner and decision maker won't even be there.
3. Look at the type of work they sell
This is really important, take time to get a feel of the style of the gallery. It's important to me that my gallery has a cohesive feel to it, everything needs to work together as a body of artwork. This doesn't mean your work should be the same as the work that they're currently selling; this would probably result in your work not being shown, but think about whether your work would compliment the other pieces in the gallery.
4. Research their artists
Look at the artists they currently represent. Have you ever shown your work alongside these artists before, whether this was at a show, or in another gallery? Look at the calibre of art show or gallery the other artists exhibit at, does this coincide with shows or galleries your work has been at? Also consider whether you want your work shown alongside these artists, look at the quality of work, it can be damaging for you and your brand to be shown alongside artists that aren't as high a standard as you.
5. Pricing
Oh the pricing question... one I get asked often. I have a strong stance on pricing. At Golden Hare Gallery we ONLY take artists who sell their work at the same price across the board, whether this is a sale from your studio, through you at a show or through the Gallery. Your work should be priced at a point where even if you sell it through a gallery, after their commission has been deducted, you will still be happy with the take home. I don't take artists who differ their pricing depending on the commission. I sell all the artwork in the gallery online and I make sure I tell all my customers the name of the artist that made the piece, it is very damaging for both the artist and the gallery if the customer finds the piece for a different price elsewhere.
Another point about pricing- make sure your work is in a similar price bracket to the other work in that gallery. If your work sells in the thousands, and they mainly sell work in the hundreds, then its unlikely that your work will sell well to their customer base.
Read Full Article Here: Top Ten Tips for Approaching an Art Gallery to Submit your Work
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