The Art - Business Conundrum
Here is a link to a bunch of PDF files (resources) artists can use to assist their businesses, this is from the people at the Australian Business Arts Foundation, seems great to me, (the concept anyway, the files I have not looked a yet.) however there is a challenge I have with this, let me explore it.
Artists are artists, not business people (Okay there are a few, but let me tell you I think there are VERY few). I recall watching a documentary on a New York Gallery owner that prepped artists so that when she took collectors and investors to their studio, they would “act” like artists… she would call first on the phone, arrive with viewers in tow, and they would be “pre set eccentric” and acted as “artists” should, creative and unusual. In her terms the artists she represented were often introverted, low sales skill oriented and so needed to be represented by a person with the business skills to present them in their best light. Sales went up as a result, happier artists, happy collectors and investors, and of course the gallery Director.
Artists are creative souls and as mentioned I believe few have (or want to have) the skills to “sell” and all of the files mentioned above are about presenting and documenting your work, maintining a client database, getting shows in galleries (I should read that one…)
In simlistic terms the personality type required to be a business person is clearly different from the “type” required to be an artist.
Perhaps there should be a “scoop” at the end of “art school” to pick up the “artists” and provide them with a business resource support device (read business incubator with mentors and $$) to ensure they have the business “representation” they require, as many will fall out of the “tree of life” having to adapt from an artistic stance to a business based one. Perhaps we should just give them wings or a parachute to soften the blow of the fall…
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