How to Promote Your Art Show

Finally! After years of hard work and/or sleeping to the top, you've finally been awarded your own art show. Time to celebrate? Of course, but there's still work to be done.

[Right: "Amoebae" (say ah-MEE-bee) by Dave Clark. Buy abstract expressionist paintings at www.daveclark.etsy.com]

Typically, the gallery or museum will do plenty of the promotion themselves. After all, it's in their best interest to get butts in the seats. Or Prada on the parquet. But unless you can trade off your name (now presenting Pablo Frida Claude Rembrandt Pollock, Jr. the III), you still need to get your hands dirty.

Here are some cheap ways to spark interest in and boost attendance at your show:

• Offer fabulous gifts and prizes. Personalized pens and keychains are nice, but those are a dime a dozen (or 12 for 10 cents). Hold a raffle at your artist reception for a free commissioned piece. People love free stuff, especially when they recognize the value of the giveaway. An enticement like free personalized art may be the extra push patrons need to go to the gallery, rather than watch CSI: Nowheresville. And if you can get Vanna White to present, all the better.

• Pimp yourself. Or your art to be more specific. In fact, do this even if you don't have a show in the works. Businesses are always looking for wall art, the cheaper the better. Think about who would buy your art. Where do they go? Coffee houses, banks, restaurants and frame shops are great places to start. Use your imagination. Once you've narrowed the potential locations down, talk to the manager/owner. Offer to display your art for free (for a limited time). In exchange, all you want is a little area to set up your promotional materials. Include brochures, business cards, fliers etc. Tangible promotions make it easy for people to remember you.

• Advertise in Print. Though it can cost you to take out an ad in local papers and art magazines (and your gallery should be doing this for you anyway), the additional exposure may be worthwhile. But if you have a website or blog, you should definitely post an announcement there. It should look something like... WARNING! Shameless Self Promotion Occurring in 3, 2, 1...

Julie Wait Designs Gallery in association with Poor Richard's Art will feature abstract artist Dave Clark from May 10th-June 10th. An artist reception will be held on Friday May 21st, 6-8 p.m. during the first Twilight Walk of 2010.

The gallery is located at 318 South First in Rogers, Ar and is open from 9a.m. until 5p.m. Monday - Friday and Saturday by appointment. 479-631-8706

Jeez. They kind of sneak up on you. As I was saying...

To see the full press release and my bitchin' artist statement, go to www.poorrichardsart.com.

Alright, enough. The point is that no matter how much promotion you do, there is always more to be done. With so much competition out there (it's funny, we're in an industry where death only strengthens our competition), every little bit helps.

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