Art Gallery

Ok, so I want to start my own Fine Arts Gallery, and I promised to blog about the possibilities that are involved in opening such a gallery. First off, I am going to point out that this will NOT be a big money making business. In fact it will more than likely be difficult to make enough just to pay the rent for the building. With that said here are the ideas that I can remember. I unfortunately working at the Oscar Howe Gallery in Vermillion and I do not have my notes, but a lot of free time.

First and most obvious would the the actually gallery itself. This is where an artist would be able to rent out a space to show his or her work for an allotted amount of time. Usually this stems any where from $50-$100 a wall per week. With that they would also be asked to give around 30% of whatever they sell back to the gallery. Now with a small gallery one can only assume to have 3 usable walls to show art, but with some ingenuity a portable wall can be created to add up to an addition 2 walls. Also, fine art is not limited to only the things that can be held on a wall but also the works such as sculptures and ceramics that can be shown on the floor or on pedestals. So naturally the floor can be rented out as well.

Second, there is also the opportunity to hold juried shows. The way juried shows usually work is that each person has to pay a set fee and they are allowed to enter a set number of works with no guarantee that they will get in. A small gallery can usually call together at least 100 participants with such a call. Then a juror, usually professor or artist experienced in the field, will sort the works and chose what they feel fits the theme or what works are the best representation for the gallery.

Next would be a call for entries. These calls would be themed calls and artist would enter works at no cost, but would have to give a larger percentage of commission. These works would also harbor events such as formal dances, lectures, business meetings etc. Calls are meant to fill the gallery. They would get the most views, but not necessarily sells.
Renting the empty space is also among possibilities in attempting to meet expenses. The open gallery floor can be rented out for press releases, holiday parties, dances, business meetings, classes, as well as many other public uses.

The last money making aspect of this that I can think of would be apprenticeships. At a gallery one could apprentice for multiple things. Some of those would be matting and framing, hanging, marketing, networking, sales, lighting, and displaying.

More importantly than the money aspect, is the networking aspect. Artists from local and national schools would be offered a place to enter, show, and network. Not only would this gallery offer experience but also the ability to build a resume or tweak what they feel they need to create in order to follow their dream. This gallery would provide a way for a new artist to expand their clientele as well as decide whether or art is what they want to pursue.

The benefits to having a fine arts gallery may seem vague. A fine arts gallery offers a chance to elevate the awareness and purpose of art. It calls the society to raise its social status, as well as its curb appeal to visitors. If you think about it, areas that have art on curbs, on buildings, shown in businesses, and people who own (real) art have a far different and sophisticated feel.

It is important to understand that this gallery is just as much for the artist as the gallery owner or potential buyer. For an artist to be able to expand their resume, to enter and/or win shows, apprentice, and gain experience is crucial for their later success in life. So I hope you understand a little more as to why I want a gallery and its potential. Lastly I would like to point out that there are no (real) fine art galleries in Yankton. The ones that exist only play to an artist as a flea market would. The exceptions are the GAR Hall who do a lot of great things, as well as the One-ten Gallery who is set up more as a vendor and less as a gallery. This gallery would require professional applications and be run in a professional manor.