Should I close my gallery?

Question

I own a beautiful art gallery in Nashua NHH for the past four years. I have dozens of artist begging to display in my gallery but I don't know how to get people in the gallery. I'm in debt because of this gallery but I think I would break people heart to close it. What should I do. MY gallery speacilizes in photography. How do I keep the door open?

Answer 1

I agree with PM. It's all about marketing and promotion. You should be spending most of your money on promotion. And get your artists involved. Make them work a little to show their art . . . offer classes in different forms of art (handcoloring photographs, digital darkroom, etc.) And branch off into other forms of art. Make your gallery an EXPERIENCE, not just a place to shop for expensive art.

There is a famous (can't say his name) photographer in our town who has published books and done things on a national and world-wide level with his photography. His gallery (located in town) is doing soooo poorly - mostly because of the cost of his art. He branched off and has a framing gallery along side to offset the cost of the gallery. You could try something like this or other gallery-related things (art supplies, etc.) to offset the costs of running a slow business.

Also, try and get an arts grant. You might want to become nonprofit even (but check into it - there are rules,etc, but you can always go back to being profit). There are quite a few government and private grants to promote the arts. Especially if you are using your artists to teach and promote arts to those within your community.

Hope it all works for you!

Answer 2

Stop thinking in "pure art gallery" terms. It's always been hard to get the general public into art galleries, and if the population base is small, or there is competition for the art-loving public, then you have a tough row to hoe. Get out there and find new publics.

Invite local jazz and folk musicians to play in you gallery while the art is on display; people will be drawn to hear the music, but will see the art and you may make sales -- the revenue from the sale of refreshments can defray the costs of the gallery and pay for something to the musicians.

Host a poetry-slam contest.

Find a film-buff in your area who has access to classic movies and have theme screening that relate to the shows.

Some of the others have made good suggestionms too, but try and think outside the box. Make your gallery a place that people HAVE to visit.

Answer 3

Don't be affraid to charge new artist that want to display their work.
2. Have arist submit list of other artist they want to invite and other gallery owners and museums. Keep these names on file and send them news letters about up and coming shows.
3. Have a web site displaying yoru gallery and have it sent to all galleries and musuems you can find.
4. Look for federal and state grants that support the arts.

Answer 4

Short term: sponsor local amateur photography contests.
Long term: seek state and federal grants for expansion properties and satellite co-sponsorships.
Also, consider changing the gallery's management structure to an artist co-op program; though this may deminish your profit margin, it may help secure the gallery's long-term existence for your community. Keep standards high.

Answer 5

You're following your dream and most dreams cause you to go bankrupt. At some point you will realize that when you take care of yourself you will be better able to take care of others.

How good is their broken hearts. Are they willing to give you money so their hearts will not be broken. My guess is that they would rather have a broken heart than a broken checkbook.

I love photography too but it is awfully hard to make money at it. The ones that do make money, hype, hype and hype.

Answer 6

Sponsored ads, banners of related products or ask the ones who want to be exhibited on it to pay a small fee. Figure out which one of these options or which mix of them suits your needs best or harms them least. That should keep you in the running.