Home Articles posted by Claudia Kennaugh

Expert Advice on Starting an Artist Collective

Starting an artist collective is an empowering act that can both ground you as a group and propel you as individual artists. In this article, we’re going to cover what an artist collective is, what the benefits are, and how to go about setting one up.     Expert Advice on Starting an Artist Collective   What is an Artist Collective? An artist collective is a group of artists with shared intentions. The group is usually united by a similar aesthetic sensibility, or a mutual perspective or belief system. There is a historic pattern of solidarity with collectives. Over the centuries we have seen pioneering artists gather together to be a mouth piece in turbulent times, or to stand up against the structures of the art world. When we think about artist groups like the Impressionists, who formed an alliance as the Anonymous Co-operative Society of Artists after being rejected from the French academy exhibitions; I wonder, had they not come together, would they have become as well-renowned as individual artists? More recently, artist activists Guerilla Girls arguably make more of an impact as a group. When artists come together a powerful form of alchemy occurs, a new kind of …

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Expert Advice on Curating your Own Artwork

Curating your own artwork is a very useful and enjoyable skill to hone. With the rise of artist-led art fairs it’s well worth getting comfortable with it. We’re going to look at some of the occasions when you’ll need to self-curate, along with how to identify the purpose of your collections, the desired viewer experience, and some tips to get you thinking like a curator.     Expert Advice on Curating your Own Artwork   When Will I Need to Curate My Own Artwork? Curating art sounds grand but you’ve probably already done it without realising. Anytime you post to your social media you are essentially curating your artwork. Think of it as editing. You can do this to suit different environments both online and in person including websites, social media, online platforms, art markets, art trails, open houses, open studios, studio visits, art fairs, self-curated solo or group exhibitions, and open call applications. Even if you don’t have an official opportunity to curate your artwork, it’s an affirming exercise to get some perspective and see how it fits together in small or large collections. Artists with varied practices often ask me to help them find cohesion in their work …

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Expert Advice on Social Media and Websites for Artists

Social media for artists can be a drain on our resources, often because we expect too much from it. It can be helpful to think of it as one useful tool rather than the whole box. This article is less about how to get a high follower count and more about identifying the purpose of your social media to help you approach it more effectively. I will also share insights on the necessity of a website and benefits of newsletters.     What’s the Purpose of Your Social Media? Figuring out the purpose of your social media accounts is the key to their ‘success’. And the success may come in many different forms. Are you looking to connect with your community? Build an audience for your work? Use it as a selling platform? I like the word platform because it suggests something to dive off and build from. Whether that’s simply directing people to your website or initiating an in-person meeting with someone at an event. It’s not the whole story, just the opening chapter. So with that in mind, try not to put too much emphasis on its immediate return. You may have all of these objectives, but, to …

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Expert Advice on Open Calls for Artists

The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition has prompted me to offer some advice on Open Calls. The response letter carries a lot of weight for many artists, but it’s not the only open call out there to consider. We are going to look at the benefits of entering open calls, researching and choosing wisely, advice for your application, and healthy acceptance of the outcome.     Expert Advice on Open Calls for Artists   Why Enter An Open Call? An open call is an invitation for any artist to have their work considered for an exhibition, residency, prize, or grant. In this article, we’re going to focus on open call exhibitions, which are a smart way to get your work seen by more eyes, including potential new collectors and galleries. You can also meet new artists to connect with and gain experience in getting your work exhibition ready. There is nothing like seeing your work out in the wild, curated in a space alongside other artists. You can use these opportunities to invite people to come and see your work. For example, an artist I work with had a painting at the Mall Galleries, in London, and she hosted a coffee …

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