I want to exhibit my work at an exhibition, but I don't know how to choose a venue, how to hold an exhibition, or how to prepare...! I think there are many people who say that.
There are various ways to hold an exhibition, such as group exhibitions, special exhibitions, public exhibitions, and solo exhibitions, but this time we will focus on the process of holding a solo exhibition!
table of contents
What is a solo exhibition? How do you hold a solo exhibition?
How to decide where to hold a solo exhibition
Flow from preparation to the event
summary
What is a solo exhibition? How do you hold a solo exhibition?
A solo exhibition is an exhibition held by an individual for that person.
There are various ways to hold a solo exhibition, but they can be broadly divided into
・Rent a space at a rental gallery or gallery and hold a solo exhibition.
・Held by direct invitation from galleries etc.
・Receive the right to hold a solo exhibition at a gallery or museum as a supplementary prize at a public exhibition or contest.
I think there are many patterns.
In this article, I would like to explain the process of renting a gallery and holding your own event!
How to decide where to hold a solo exhibition
Even though I hold solo exhibitions, there are galleries and rental galleries all over the country.
Some places allow you to rent items for a day, while others plan exhibitions every week, so you'll have to coordinate your schedule with the venue's schedule.
Before negotiating with a rental gallery for an exhibition, I think it will go smoothly if you decide on the following points.
①Suggest several galleries that match your style and clientele
Even though it is called a gallery in the broad sense, the people who run it are different people, so the atmosphere of the exhibited works and the customer base will change depending on the gallery.
There are places that mainly deal with abstract paintings, galleries that mainly deal with young artists, galleries that mainly deal with animal-related paintings and art, etc. I think the galleries that can hold exhibitions will vary depending on the owner's preferences. Masu.
Also, if the products you handle are different, your customer base will also change.
There are galleries where students and young people often gather, places where people who regularly visit galleries stop by, and galleries where people from overseas tend to gather.
It's a good idea to decide on a gallery after clarifying what kind of style you want your work to be seen by and what kind of people you want to see it.
*Notes when contacting us
When consulting with a gallery about an exhibition, it's a good idea to visit the venue and get a feel for the situation, even if it's just once.
In particular, there are many galleries that value connections with artists, so if someone you don't have a connection with suddenly contacts you to discuss an exhibition, they may look at you suspiciously and ask, "Why would you come to our gallery?" I don't know.
This is not the case for all galleries, but if you live far away, I think it's a good idea to check the status of the gallery on social media, and if you can go there, it's a good idea to talk to the owner directly in advance.
② When and for how many days will it be held? (Decide on at least 2 to 3 candidates)
The exhibition period and period vary depending on the gallery.
Some galleries are open during long holidays such as Golden Week, while others are open only on Saturdays and Sundays.
Also, some galleries require that the artist himself be present in the gallery (being in the exhibition hall, interacting with visitors, etc.), so make sure to list a few possible times when you are most likely to be able to open your schedule. I think you should start your search from here!
*Consult with the gallery staff at least six months before the event!
Depending on the gallery, exhibition schedules may already begin to fill up a year in advance. I think it's a good idea to consider the production period of your work and consult with us as soon as possible.
③Determine the budget for the event expenses
The cost of holding a solo exhibition varies depending on the venue.
There are places where you can rent a car for a short period of time and at a low price, but if you live in a place with a lot of foot traffic, the rental fee may be higher.
In addition, there are cases where the rental cost is not high, but the margin (the fee passed to the gallery when the work is purchased) is 40-50%.
Should you price your work at a high price and rent a gallery at a low price, considering the margin, or pay a rental fee to exhibit your work?I think it's a good idea to decide based on your own exhibition method and production stance!
*In addition to venue rental costs, there will also be costs for printing DMs and posters to be distributed before the event, as well as art supplies, so be sure to budget as much as possible! ! !
④ Compare the size of the venue with the size and number of works you want to exhibit.
The atmosphere when you display a painting will change depending on whether you are at a venue where you can use a large amount of wall space or in a place where space is limited, such as a house.
If you can use a large wall, you will feel unsatisfied without large works and you will have to prepare a lot of works.On the other hand, if you have limited space, large works will feel oppressive and the number of items will be limited. Masu.
Compatibility with the gallery is important, but it's also a good idea to keep in mind whether the size of the work you want to exhibit matches the gallery space.
Once you have decided on the venue for your solo exhibition based on the above information, let's start creating and preparing your works for the solo exhibition!
Flow from preparation to the event
◎Things to do before the exhibition starts◎
① Decide on the theme of the exhibition
This step will vary depending on the person, but once you have secured a space, decide on the theme of the works to be exhibited and the title of the exhibition.
Some people present the culmination of their past works, while others focus on exhibits focusing on themes such as flowers, animals, and abstraction.
Decide on a theme that you think you can draw and start creating!
②Create a DM
At the same time as we proceed with the production of the works, we will also proceed with preparations for the exhibition.
I will create a DM to let various people know about my solo exhibition!
A gallery may create one for you, but if you're renting a venue, you'll most likely need to provide it yourself.
You will need it if you want to distribute it yourself to friends and acquaintances, but you can also have it installed at the gallery where the event will be held or distributed to other galleries, so be sure to make sure that the information in the DM is not omitted. !
It is best if the DM is printed at least two months before the event.
③Determine the layout and arrangement of the exhibition venue
It's a good idea to make a layout plan for the exhibit about a month before the event, when all the exhibit works will be ready.
The gallery may ask you to submit a layout plan, so it may be necessary.
“Where should I place which picture to bring out its charm?”
“What is the minimum number of works required for exhibition?”
It would be better to create one so that you can think about it.
In addition, there are cases where it is necessary to figure out the number of chairs required for the gallery, and the tables and tables to place goods, business cards, pamphlets, etc. In any case, it's best to have a layout plan ready, so let's start making plans early!
④Setting the price of the work and creating the delivery note
One to two weeks before the exhibition, prepare the price and delivery note for each work! Of course it is necessary for personal use, but it is definitely necessary for galleries to manage margins etc.
There are two ways to create a delivery note template: you can create it yourself or get one from a gallery, so consult with them before you start creating your delivery note.
Although it is not required, I think it would be useful to leave a guest book at the exhibition venue so that you can send information about upcoming exhibitions to visitors.
◎Things to do during the exhibition period◎
As long as you can prepare and set up the venue, there isn't much to do during the event!
Personally, I place importance on actively communicating with visitors during the exhibition period.
I think the most appealing thing about holding an exhibition is being able to see the paintings directly and see what the visitors are doing.
“Why did you come to see the work?”
I explain about my own work while asking them which work was most impressive to them. Masu).
I also analyzed the age group and atmosphere of the visitors, and did a little analysis to find out what kind of demographic my work would be in demand for .
If you are not comfortable speaking directly, it may be a good idea to leave a note of your impressions or a business card with your SNS, website, etc. on it in the exhibition area.
Once the exhibition period has ended, we will promptly repack the work and take it home, ship the work if it has been purchased, and confirm the price and settle the payment.
If there is a margin for the gallery, we will deduct the commission from the sales and receive a receipt.
summary
・Select the venue taking into consideration the intended use, duration, budget, and lifestyle.
・Decide at an early stage what should be handed over to galleries and art galleries (layout, event information, etc.) and share information.
・Plan the exhibition taking into consideration the cost and quantity required for DMs, flyers, etc.
I think the way you spend your time during the exhibition will vary depending on the artist, so I hope you can enjoy the exhibition in a way that suits you!
How was it?
Of course, creating the paintings is important, but I think there will be many situations where you will have to collaborate with people other than yourself during the exhibition, so I think it would be a good idea to make a plan and prepare smoothly ◎
People who have never held an exhibition often say, ``Renting a room to hold an exhibition seems difficult and the hurdles seem high,'' but when you actually go there yourself, it's not at all like that. It felt like nothing happened.
I think it's important to enjoy the exhibition more than anything, so if you don't understand anything, immediately consult or research with people around you or those in the know to eliminate any worries you may have about the exhibition!
Additionally, FROM ARTIST, which has approximately 300 registered artists, regularly holds auctions and special exhibitions.
In March 2023, we also held our first exhibition with PALLETE Co., Ltd.!
The exhibition was also published in the morning edition✨
https://from-artist.com/blogs/News/The exhibition was featured in the morning edition.
You can check out various works on the website, and there are plans to exhibit them all over Japan in the future, so please be sure to check out the official website and SNS♪
↓Click here for FROM ARTIST official website↓
Author: Fumitori Tsumugi
FROM ARTIST management staff. We write feature articles and columns, and provide operational support from an artist's perspective.
While I usually teach at a vocational school, I am also active as an artist, holding solo exhibitions and public exhibitions.
Supervisor: Shoma Toida
CEO of BUSCA LLC. FROM ARTIST business manager. Started his career as a marketer, gained experience at a business company and advertising agency, and then became independent. Completed marketing-related programs at multiple graduate schools and business schools, including the University of California, Berkeley and London Business School. He also studied the MBA Core Curriculum at Macquarie University and the importance of art in education at the University of British Columbia.