FUSE Art Business Initiative

FUSE ART BUSINESS INITIATIVE - SUCCESS IN THE ARTS THROUGH CREATIVE BUSINESS SKILLS.

The comments on this page are offered by Kate Spencer. They are based on more than a decade of working full-time with artists across the Arts disciplines. Watch this space for updated tips and reminders that should benefit any artist to review, and give you a sense of the value of more in-depth information which will be made available to site members in a growing archive as this website develops.

PERFORMERS - FORGETTING SOMETHING? HOW WILL YOU DOCUMENT WHAT YOU DO AT YOUR NEXT EVENT?

Documenting your events and general activities is an important practice for your promotion to sponsors and the general public. You will want to be able to show what you are capable of, along with what you have achieved in the past. Think about what you are in a position to demonstrate in relation to size of the crowd attending, different locations, types of participation, successful outcomes. This is only one form of documentation. Think about creative ways you can record the experiences and reactions of others, taking the impact of the occasion outside of your own experience into the public domain.

Digital still and video photography can be loaded on line immediately, and made available directly to individuals of your choice or in the form of a more general announcement through larger email networks of information sites such as Facebook, Bebo, Myspace or Twitter, and of course www.artists.co.nz. Plan your documentation in advance. Decide what types or records would serve you best in the future, and be prepared to get the best results. Delegate the task to someone who will have the time and skill to do the best job possible under current circumstances, and budget for it. There is no getting back a moment that has past. As time goes on you can be more particular, and cull what you decide to keep or share. Documentation is so cheap and easy to achieve now, remember to give it some thought. Make sure you have more than one copy, three - five would serve most projects.

VISUAL ARTISTS - THE BIGGER PICTURE.

As an alternative to putting photos of your art work directly on the web, which makes what you have done vulnerable to being copied or imitated around the world, consider uploading documentation of the total exhibition or larger process. The activity of producing or installing the pieces you have done. This will create more interest and a reason to come along. People will be more intrigued to come see the result when they know something about the process, as opposed to a sense of having seen the finished work already, and a corresponding lack of need to investigate.

LITERARY ARTISTS - IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU.

Writing about your own work in the third person not only adds credibility and credential to your achievements by the implication that it is the point of view for someone else. It is also a healthy exercise in separating yourself from your craft. Consider having your biggest fan write a portion of an artist's statement or media release. Who do you know that writes well and would be enthusiastic or flattered to contribute to your public representation? If you write it yourself, have others read it to make sure it makes sense, and you have maintained grammatical consistency. The natural tendency is to revert back to 'I' and "me" statements about half way through the body of the text as you are writing.

EVENTS - GO ON, LET US KNOW ABOUT UPCOMING ACTIVITIES.

Individual Artists pages on this site have the facility to include upcoming events and then archive them in historical sequence. Do you have a noteworthy event coming up in your artistic practice? This site is being designed to help artists develop professional skills. Watch these pages as the facilities will continue to be added with technical advancement.

NEWS - HAVE YOU GOT SOMETHING TO SHOUT ABOUT? IF WE THINK IT IS INTERESTING IT WILL GET POSTED HERE.

What makes something news worthy? Having an audience who are interested to hear about it. That generally means some information which is topical at the moment first of all. The information relates in some way to contemporary fashion, the flavour of the moment or current affairs. Then there are the subjects that are of general interest, or alternatively are striking subjects because they are freshly informative or controversial. Celebrity clothing, stomachs and addictions are only the fall back if there is nothing more interesting going on, because at the end of the day the rich and famous still sell papers, even when the public knowledge is that it is all gossip and lies. What you have to share is probably more interesting, and certainly less known about, so go on tell us about it! Don't forget to tell us why it is interesting.

FUSE ART BUSINESS INITIATIVE - SUCCESS IN THE ARTS THROUGH CREATIVE BUSINESS SKILLS

Kate Spencer offers courses and one-on-one consultations for artists. Feel free to contact her by telephone or email to enquire about upcoming courses, or ask specific questions. If you need help with writing a press release or proposal, you are struggling with your CV or artists statement, help is available. Also any area of business in the Arts industry can be discussed. Most importantly, when you are unsure about a business arrangement, or how to take the next step, it is time to seek advice. When you make the call you will be so glad you did!