As a follow up to my post entitled The Value of New Media in the Art Industry, I'd like to direct your attention to an article written by Paola Antonelli about the revitalization of graphic design objectives at MOMA. While the article was written in 2004, it is still relevant today and offers a specific viewpoint from MOMA's Department of Architecture and Design. Very nicely written and found via AIGA.
The art industry has, in the past, been quite slow to jump aboard the Internet bandwagon. Once considering it too pedestrian, many museums and galleries are now embracing new media and are seeing the positive results of opening up their artistic arms to the greater public. Museums, galleries and artists alike are now all agreeing that a website is not a fad and is a major component in their business collateral. You will not likely find a museum that hasn't spent several thousands dollars on a website and online marketing/advertising. In doing so, these organizations are clearly finding the investment is justified.
Yet, there are many who simply resist participating in what can be a very valuable and powerful outreach tool. I must admit, I really don't understand this mindset. A recent conversation with a client once again causes me to reflect on what exactly is the value of new media in the art industry and how is it best harnessed to bring about a favorable ROI.
Now I could talk here until I'm blue in the face about all the benefits of new media for the art industry.... or any business for that matter. As a person who deals on a daily basis with artists, galleries and art organizations, I frequently find myself in the mist of conversation debating the value of online marketing. I could tell you that there are buyers and collectors of fine art that actually have "monthly Internet purchasing budgets." I could tell you that gallery directors regularly search the Internet for art news, exhibition reviews and art work. Museums not only are investing in websites but they are also taking innovative approaches at using the Internet to build their in-person attendance. Let's take a look at the facts and figures.
News24.com, published on article on March 28, 2008, Web Boost for Museums. The article talks about how museums are finding that sculpture and art once stored away, is now finding a new audience online. Now able to show these works on their websites, the museums are finding "that rather than diminishing the number of museum visits, the web is actually boosting in-person attendance."
Offering more than just information on museum hours and driving directions, these institutions are now seeing the beauty of providing their inventory to visitors who may never be able to actually get to the museum. The person in Connecticut can now access the wonderful works and resources of a museum in London....or Sydney... or Cleveland. A gallery in London can pursue the work of an artist in New York. News24.com reports via The Institute of Museum and Library Sciences, that Internet users actually go visit the museum 2.6 times more than those who don't. The ILMS further reports on Feb 28, 2008:
But you can't just build a website and hope the people will come. You can't bemoan the value of the Internet if you are not willing to take the time and effort to build your online business collateral. It sounds strange but this wonderful online marketing tool known as your website or blog, must be marketed as well. Submitting your URL to third party sites, utilizing email campaigns, advertising your domain name and offering quality content is what will create a successful online presence. It takes time, money and creativity. This is a journey not a sprint.
BizReport's Kristina Knight, and The US Email Marketing Forecast, reports that email marketing is expected to rise by 75% by 2012 and to reach $1.2B. That's a pretty impressive number. Email marketing, while it still has its issues, works because it's quick and results can be tracked and analyzed within hours. Its geographic outreach is vast. And instead of waiting days for a postal direct mail campaign to deliver results, galleries, artists and museums can reach out to recipients immediately. Additionally, it's cost effective. The price of postage and postcard or brochure printing for every announcement can get pretty costly.
Setting up and participating in a blog is a very effective way to drive Internet traffic to your website and thus increase sales and recognition. The effect of a blog is cumulative because the posts you create are published online immediately (via RSS) and stay online FORVER. Jim Spadaccini at Ideum reports that museum blogging is now mainstream. In a post dated October 18th, 2007, Jim discusses the findings he compiled for a conference at the Association of Science-Technology Center. His findings showed 211 blogs were listed in the Museums Blogs directory. By the time he returned from the conference he was surprised to find that 20 new museums had submitted to Museum Blogs. His findings were already (only 10 days later) quite dated.
While this article focuses mainly on Museums and the Internet, these findings should provide a basis for establishing the Value of the Internet in the Arts Industry. Artists and galleries should not only follow this lead but also apply the principals of online marketing and promotion to their own businesses. In December 2004, Pew Internet published a report "Artists, Musicians and The Internet." The report states that artists and musicians "have embraced the Internet as a tool that helps them create, promote, and sell their work." The report goes on to say "Artists and musicians on all points of the spectrum from superstars to starving singers have embraced the internet as a tool to improve how they make, market, and sell their creative works. They use the internet to gain inspiration, build community with fans and fellow artists, and pursue new commercial activity." Of those participating in the Pew report, 23% of all online artists and 41% of Paid Online Artists say the internet has helped them in their creative pursuits and careers.
It is my hope, that this post in some way encourages the art community to take better advantage of the Internet for marketing and promotion. It just seems to make perfect common sense to me. Additionally there are great resources for inspiration, creativity, learning, outreach and community. While I deeply understand that artists really just want to do what they are most compelled to do, create art, to simply dismiss the power of the Internet and its benefits to the arts would be a grave mistake.
At this time, Jim Spadaccini is requesting museum feedback on a survey he is conducting at Ideum. The folks at Ideum are in the process of writing their first National Science Foundation grant proposal to fund Open Exhibits, a project that will allow them to develop, test, and disseminate three open source software templates that will allow museum professionals’ to assemble electronic exhibits for the museum floor. If you are a museum professional, please take a few minutes to complete the survey — and please help spread the word about it. It will take about 20 minutes and Ideum will share the results with everyone who participates. They will also keep you updated about the status of Open Exhibits.
Useful Links:
Museums and The Web - The international conference for culture and heritage online
Musematic
MuseumBlogs.org
Having been relatively out of the loop in my reading as of late, I visited the blogs of some old friends and was pleased to see that Jim Spadaccini of Ideum reports that museums have finally come around to seeing the beauty of blogging. While in the past, museums and galleries were late-comers to the notion of Internet, websites and Internet marketing, Spadaccini shows that as of October 18th, 233 museums have joined the blogosphere. While I really wouldn't consider this "main stream" it is good to see that the numbers are increasing weekly. "We’ve received more than 20 new submissions to museum blogs in a little over a week." says Spadaccini. I remember when I started ArtLOOK, only a handful of museums were using blogs and it's nice to see them taking advantage of the powerful tool known as the Internet.
Also be sure to check out MuseumBlogs.org for a listing of great additions to the museum blogosphere.
Gallery One will reopen this month in the Old Saybrook Shopping Center, Old Saybrook CT on the Boston Post Road. The work of 15 member artists will be displayed during the 2 month inaugural exhibition with an Opening Reception on Friday November 30, 5-8pm. Works cover a broad range of subjects and mediums, representational art to abstract. Mediums range from oil, acrylic, and watercolor paintings to drawings and prints, sumi ink brush paintings and pottery.
"I'm very pleased that we are continuing to make this range of artistic voices available to people in this area," says David Brown, who initiated the idea with Matthew Rubin, former owner of Gallery One and owner of the Old Saybrook Shopping Center. Rubin is jump starting the venture with the generous donation of rent and utilities for a period of time.
Member artists include:Carlos Ayala of East Lyme, Hayne Bayless of Ivoryton, David Brown of Old Saybrook, David Brubaker of Old Lyme, Catherine Christiano of Old Lyme, Jesse Good of New London, Sibby Lunch of Stonington, Irene Neal of Old Saybrook, Judith Barbour Osbourne of Ivoryton, Liz Pagano of New Haven, Judy Perry of Old Saybrook, Dan Potter of Ledyard (studio) and Stonington (home), Rick Silberberg of Ivoryton, Nancy Tracy of Old Saybrook and Jill Vaughn of Ivoryton.
Opening Reception: Friday November 30, 5-8pm. Wine and light hors d'oeuvres will be served.
Gallery One's hours are Friday through Monday: 12-5pm November 30-February 2, 2008
Please note that the gallery will be open on Mondays during December until 7pm.
Gallery One
Old Saybrook Shopping Center
665 Boston Post Road, RT 1
Old Saybrook, CT 06475
860-388-ART1
Shown Above: Art lovers linger in front of work by Judith Barbour Osborne at Gallery One
Photo by: Sara Munson
Artists beware: Email scammers are slick! This is not something we didn't already know, right? However, I want to alert you to an email I received this morning in several of my art email accounts. This type of thing is quite common on the Internet but I want to alert those of you who might be unfamiliar so you don't get involved with this. The title of the email reads "ARTWORK WANTED". The message goes on to say:
Hello Seller, Good Day.. My name is Ade jo. I saw your artwork in the list address and am very much interested in buying your (artwork) I will like to know the actual amount of the art and i will prefer to pay with a cashier cheque/money order. And about the shipping I know a good shipping company that I am using that can come for the picking up ,kindly get back now with the price and if you have the picture send it to my mail box to see.Are you a private seller?Do you accept chasier cheque/money order as my method of payment? I will want you to email me back with your website and last offering price. Best Regards
This email has all the hallmarks of a scam. The email expresses interest in your artwork and requests jpg's of the work and your price for selling. The sender says he prefers to pay with a cashier cheque or money order...sounds pretty good, doesn't it? He also says that he knows a good shipping company.
Ok...here is how this works. The guy (or gal) sends you money via an international check but he/she overpays you. When you notify him that he has overpaid, he'll request that you send the overage fees to the shipper to cover costs. This, of course, you'll agree to do but not before you find out the international check they have sent you is bad. Now you've paid money from YOUR ACCOUNT to the shipper. TA DA... you've lost money, allowed a scammer to know your banking information and you might have lost the painting or piece of art as well.
Edward Winkleman has a post on this very subject entitled Art Scam?, with a good deal of informative comments from his readers reqarding this type of fraud. Some of Edward's readers have also listed websites where you can report this activity to authorities. I HIGHLY recommend that you read Edward's post .
There is also a website called Art Scams - Tips to Protect You which I also highly recommend reading. This website offers several tips and resources for protecting your interests.
I know several artists who have had great success in selling art work via the Internet so please don't let this discourage you...just know who you are dealing with and do some research on your part.
Whew! After nearly 4 weeks of non stop 16-18 hour days working on client accounts, I'm back to blogging (I hope.) I had planned on writing something of value over the weekend for my readers here at ArtLOOK, but having just seen the site I'm about to share with you....well, a look at this guy's creative portfolio is worth more than any of the words I could write.
Amazing, creative, inspirational...this 25 year old designer is truly a brilliant mind and seems to be a pretty darn nice guy to boot. Things that I especially loved were Impact, Reflect/Respect, and the Mondavi wine bottles. Dave Werner just makes me want to work harder, learn more, read more, see better...
Please check out Dave Werner's Portfolio.
Come to the Left Bank...Groton's Left Bank: Art On Groton Bank's second summer event was a success! With almost 50 artists participating and a fine showing of public support, artists enjoyed a lovely summer day at the Thames River bank. A good deal of artwork was sold and according to one participant "This is a wonderful event. I sometimes spend $400 to enter a show, and do nowhere near as well... plus there is no hassle here - and everyone is so nice."
Artists enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere, French ambience and the ability to not only display art but also to work on the grounds if they so desired. Artist John W. Malenda says "I haven't done an outside show for about 10 years and I sold enough and made contacts to justify doing the remainder of the series. Please put me on the list for the August show."
A recent addition to the AOGB was the welcome presence of recent Lyme Academy College of Fine Art grad student, Adam Peiffer and friend Kelsey. "What a painter." says AOGB organizer Audrey Heard, "I'm so happy he sold some pieces and he's coming back."
Summer festivals and art fairs are a great way for art lovers to view works from local and "up and coming artists" and to purchase some lovely pieces at reasonable prices. According to the Wall Street Journal "With [art] prices rising faster than ever, savvy collectors are shifting their strategies for nabbing deals." And one such way to nab a deal is by attending local events such as Art On Groton Bank.
Art on Groton Bank is a continuing festival of fine arts on the grounds of the Bill Memorial library. Upcoming events are August 18, and September 15 from 10 A.M. to 3 P.M. Painters, sculptors, graphic artists and photographers are invited to work on the property or to exhibit. Families and art lovers are invited to come and make a day of it by exploring the grounds, picnic in a lovely setting, watch an artist at work or purchase a beautiful original piece of art. Sponsors include The City of Groton, The Bill Memorial Library, The Art Guide and Dragonfly Blu Design.
Visit the website for additional info. www.artongrontonbank.com
Dave Gilly Gilstein and Renee O'Gara are lovely. Talented in their own right as artists, designers and photographers, their Rhode Island gallery reflects their fine eye for art that embraces abstract work, landscape, seascape and photography. This summer will see several openings and exhibits at the gallery. Artists include David k. Anderson, Jeanne Tangney, Antonia Tyz Peeples, Burl
Dawson, H. Gray park IV, Joseph Keiffer.
Check the Charlestown Gallery's brand new website for openings and shows, an extensive artist portfolio and contact information.
The Bill Memorial Library and the City of Groton are sponsoring Art on Groton Bank, a continuing festival of fine arts on the grounds of the library on June 16, July 21, August 18, and September 15 from 10 A.M. to 3 P.M.
We are thinking Paris, of the stalls along the Seine, the artists’ work lined against the walls on the Left Bank. We are bringing the sense of that greatest of art cities to Groton Bank.
Time is getting close. The committee has walked the grounds of the enchanting Bill Memorial Library to lay out the sites along the fences, and in the middle of the Great Lawn.
Artists are invited to set up at 7 a.m. and exhibit until 3 p.m. A $20.00 fee will cover the cost of a site of approximately 100 square feet per event.
If artists would like to paint the beautiful vistas on and around the library grounds during the show, it would be a wonderful diversion for visitors, who love to watch artists create. Often, the visitor will say “Combien?” and a sale is made. Painters are not required to paint, but it is a great opportunity. And fun!
Diana Lyn Cote and Donald Boudreaux will open their studios on April 22, 2007 from Noon until 5pm. Please join the artists as they invite you into their creative environments to view new works of art and to enjoy stimulating conversation about the ideas and motivation which continue to drive their expression.
April 22, 2007
Noon-5pm
Center Studios
50 Chapman Place
East Hartford, CT 06108
If you require further info, please contact me and I'll be happy to assist.
