How Do You Get Restaurants to Hang Up Your Art

  Kirsten Nicholas  17 Aug, 2016   Stories, Art, art advising, fine art buying, art consulting, Art-Ed, art writing, artist, artists, artwork, Collage, community, gimmicky art, sell fine art, writing, independent art, independentart, local art, mixedmedia, Art x Indiewalls, hq

The net has opened upwards so many dissimilar avenues to sell your art and is at present an essential tool for getting discovered, getting inspired, and getting sales.

All these avenues tin quickly become overwhelming. Are y'all tweeting enough? Should you invest in product photography? Where should you brandish your portfolio?

It can be difficult to remember how artists sold work before the interwebs.

There's practiced news though. Traditional, hyper-local art marketing is withal relevant. Not only relevant, but imperative if you not just want to sell your work, just create strong connections in your community.

Hither are our favorite classic ways to prove your art around town (plus existent stories from a few artists who accept used these methods successfully).

Art Councils

Your local fine art council is probably the first place you should await for contacts and opportunities. Most cities will accept a local art council—a small group that will put on events, manage activities and even host competitions and grants.

The projects you'll find through your fine art council are varied. Some councils undertake customs projects, while others put out feelers for more than large-scale commissions.

Yes, it's a local scene and does depend on "who y'all know," merely you're non competing with every artist out there, so there's a better adventure of being recognized and funded.

Visit the National Endowment for the Arts to find a chapter near you lot.

>>Story: Ryder Henry Doubles His Sales Via Local Artist Council

Pittsburgh-based artist, Ryder Henry , joined two local organizations, the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council and the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh (AAP). After joining AAP terminal year, Ryder has been able to double his sales locally.
Fun Fact : The other unique way Ryder markets his art locally is through his custom miniatures. He got the word out about this offering by making models of several notable Pittsburgh buildings and once people saw them they wanted models of their ain homes.  He created a number of pieces he donated but this has definitely translated into sales for him.

Art Fairs & Festivals

The original Etsy. Co-ordinate to an article in Entrepreneur , the number of artists selling their work at fairs is growing: "Crowds plow out past the thousands to buy paintings, sculptures, woodwork, metalwork, glasswork and jewelry and to run into the artists and craftsmen who make them."

While the about renowned fairs might not exist in your immediate area, keep a spotter for shows happening in your country. Attention local shows is also a great style to keep costs downwardly, as you don't have to pay travel expenses. Most shows will charge a few hundred dollars for a booth, but you tin always team up with another local creative person to split the cost.

Going to art fairs requires a certain corporeality of extroversion that might feel a piddling scary to some artists. Only go if you dearest the thought of beingness on your feet all solar day and talking to others virtually your work. Fairs aren't just about the sales, but the culture of the fair.

>>Story: Kat Rosati Lands a Retail Bargain Through Local Marketplace

Source: @hellolovelyclothing

In January of this twelvemonth, Kat Rosati started Howdy Lovely Clothing Co , a handmade clothing and accessories business concern . At showtime, she started selling at local fairs and markets. She'd talk to other vendors and search Facebook to find even more than fairs in her expanse. This somewhen atomic number 82 to her shirts beingness sold in a shop the next boondocks over.

Rosati says she'due south testing the market scene, only it's the deed of building customs that's led to the near interesting opportunities. "The nice thing about the handmade marketplace is that the other makers all seem to be supportive of each other," Rosati says. "Everyone understands that we all work difficult.  Anybody appreciates anybody else's hustle."

Businesses

Partnering with local businesses is oft ane of the techniques most artists never think of. But call up, businesses (especially those who are growing and moving into a new office infinite) demand art on their walls and murals in their lobbies and photos of their team.

You might too consider partnering with local interior designers who design office spaces for these businesses. Read our piece on how to collaborate with local designers .

Don't discount the idea of joining a local networking group, like BNI, that exchanges referrals. And because most artists don't think to schmooze with the suits, you'll likely be one of the few artistic members. Brand some business cards showcasing your work and thank u.s.a. later on :)

Charities & Nonprofits

Partnering with your local charity is a great way to get your work in front of more eyeballs. While not a swell money-maker (they are charities, of grade), you get your work out there and go some good karma.

You could submit a piece for a fundraiser auction or volunteer during an event. If information technology's an fine art-focused charity you'll see a lot of local artists who, in turn, could be a neat source of inspiration and referrals.

In a nutshell, the more involved you get, the more opportunities come up your mode.

>>Story: Amy Ragsdale Combines Community Project With Local Concern Marketing

Jewelry designer Amy Ragsdale has created deep roots in her customs.

In her hometown of Elkins Park, Ragsdale works with a nonprofit that's fixing up an celebrated old train station. On more than one occasion she's helped back up the projection by organizing a popup issue. She invites artists to sell their piece of work and restaurants to offer refreshments—all to support the project. The venue gets a percentage of the sale, the eatery gets exposure and the artists get to sell their piece of work and build a customer base.

Ragsdale says she loves the former train station and wanted to practise anything she could ("including pulling carpet stables out of the wooden flooring with pliers") to aid. "I could see that the success of the Elkins Station would simply help the future of my business," she said.

Whether it's in support of a nonprofit or not, Ragsdale says, "Almost all businesses are willing to mind to and interact with client building ideas."

Coffee Shops

Ahh, the coffee shop. A classic location to brandish and sell your work.

The best mode to become an "in" at a local coffee shop is just to visit and take note of which shops hang fine art and what kind they tend to favor. Tailor your portfolio to each store and telephone call them (yes, on the telephone) to ask who you lot should speak to nigh organizing a showing.

Most coffee shops will showroom art for costless and volition rotate out the fine art each month. Some may have a "waiting listing," and the only way to find out is to ask.

And remember, coffee shops aren't the only place to publicly display your work. Office lobbies, schools, libraries, banks and theatres ofttimes host mini exhibitions from local artists and are all bright means to get your art in front of new people.

Boutiques & Galleries

Building relationships with a local fine art gallery is obviously i of the best ways to go your art seen by other fine art lovers. These galleries usually have "regulars," and getting your foot in the door here is a neat way to start building not only a following, but a network in your local art scene.

And because well-nigh local galleries are pocket-sized, they're usually more willing to offer individual artists a private exhibition and advice on the local art marketplace.

>>Story: Tellus Design Partners with SoCal Artists

Jesse Fowler, President of Tellus Design + Build , is opening up it's doors, free of accuse, to local artists. Artists can relish a creative and collaborative work and display infinite in Tellus' Costa Mesa and West Los Angeles offices.

"Artists can come use our part space every bit a work area, and subsequently display their pieces for purchase," says Fowler. "It's a fantastic win/win, as we often find i-of-a-kind pieces to decorate our client projects with."

Schools

Similar to local charities, the schools in your area will likely host their own fundraisers and art fairs, they also feature a lot of fine art! Many schools volition receive separate government funding to create projects with their students.

The same goes for customs churches, recreation centers and fire departments.

>>Story: Olga Alexander Exhibits at Local Schools

Olga Alexander is a mixed-media visual creative person and jewelry designer behind the Nodes Collection . Due to the loftier cost of exhibiting nationally, Alexander has taken to showing her work at local galleries or schools. How did she state these shows? "I began contacting universities and nonprofits that had galleries and a budget to support a visiting artist," she says. "Since they tend to have a built in audition, I felt that they would be receptive to my work."

The Street

Yes, the street. While the laws on selling your work on the street can vary, it'south definitely a creative and hyper-local way to become your work seen. Keep reading to hear how one artist took this technique to the farthermost (with much success!).

>>Story: Hunt Ethridge Sets Up Shop on the Streets of Newark

Hunt Ethridge is a small local artist, article of furniture maker and salvager who makes unique pieces or refurbishes old things to add a new flavour.  He'due south based in Bailiwick of jersey Urban center where he usually only sells his stuff on Craigslist.

But he's also literally taken it to the streets—Newark Street, to exist exact. It'southward a pedestrian street right in downtown. Ethridge loads up a chair, table, lamp, stool and a few other little pieces he's made and set up a mini living room on the street. He brings a book and a sign and just "chills out and reads".

When people approach, he tells them what he's doing and will show them his piece of work. "People think information technology's really interesting," he says. "I've sold a few pieces like this and promise to continue doing information technology!"

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