Tips for approaching (UK) and all galleries

Visiting Arts Information

www.visitingarts.org.uk/sites/default/files/tips_visual_arts.pdf

Visiting Arts Information. Tips for approaching UK galleries and curators for international visual artists. There are no hard and fast rules for artists seeking exposure in galleries. Pursuing exhibition opportunities will almost certainly involve a lot of hard work, research, persistence and even luck. It goes without saying that the ...

Visiting Arts Information

Tips for approaching UK

galleries and curators for international visual

artists

There are no hard and fast rules for artists seeking exposure in galleries. Pursuing exhibition opportunities

will almost certainly involve a lot of hard work, research, persistence and even luck

It goes without saying that the market is extremely competitive and that galleries are flooded with

information and requests from artists which they simply don't have time to deal with. British artists find it

hard to get in touch with UK galleries so artists from

abroad are likely to find it an even more difficult and

complex process. Below are some tips to help you work out the best way to get your work viewed by a

gallery.

Gather as much information as you can:

o

Researching suitable galleries to contact is vital.

Ensure that you know as much as possible about

the sort of work the gallery is interested in, if it

has exhibited work by artists from your country

previously, if your work will fit in with their programme etc.

o

Use as many resources as you can lay your hands on: newsletters, magazines, arts publications,

web sites. Some useful resources are listed at the end of this document.

o

Don't restrict your research to galleries in London. Investigate opportunities in Wales, Scotland

and Northern Ireland. Also research galleries

in major cities in England (e.g. Manchester,

Newcastle, Birmingham).

Networking - get out there and meet people

o

Meeting people and making professional contacts is

an essential part of promoting yourself and

your work.

o

Talk to curators in your own country to find out if

they are in contact with any curators in the UK.

You are much more likely to gain gallery interest in

the UK if your work is accompanied by a letter

of introduction from a curator, critic or

other arts professional in your country.

o

Be active in your own country - go to seminars, conferences and lectures and try to speak to

people afterwards. This is a slow but effective

way of getting your name known and of meeting

people who may be interested in your work and who may be able to assist you.

o

Go to as many private views as possible and try

to meet artists, curators, gallery managers etc.

o

Find out about artists from your country who have exhibited in the UK. If you can contact them,

ask them if they have relevant contacts they can share with you.

Be aware, however, that artists

may be protective of their contacts and reluctant

to share such information with other people.

o

Try contacting relevant departments at UK universities - they may have specialist exhibitions

relevant to you. Make contact with the curators

at these institutions, as they are an important part

of the art network. Universities in your own country may also be a useful source of information and

contacts.

o

Where possible, seek advice from your embassy

or High Commission in the UK to find out if its

staff has any knowledge, experience or contacts

that could be useful. A comprehensive list of

embassies in the UK is available on the Foreign & Commonwealth Office's web site:

www.fco.gov.uk

Making contact:

o

Sending unsolicited slides and other materials to galleries is pointless as they are unlikely be

looked at and you won't get them back. You need to

have persuaded a gallery to look at your work

beforehand.

o

Once a gallery has agreed to see your work, be

careful with what you send. Don't include too

much material, as this will feel overwhelming.

Your introductory material should include a CV,

slides (about 12 should suffice) or electronic mate

rial of your work and a catalogue if you have

one.

? Visiting Arts 2006 | Sour

ce: www.visitingarts.org.uk

o

You should include a brief description of the issues you are interested in and how you go about

exploring them.

o

Send critical writing if you have it as an endorsement of your talent. Recommendations are very

important - from curators, critics, other established artists, gallery owners or agents. A good word

from a professional, respected source will work wonders for you.

o

Include brief details of any collectors you may have - commercial galleries will be interested in this

information.

o

Arrange public collections which hold your work

and invite curators, critics etc along to see your

work.

o

Be aware that different galleries will have different approaches for taking on artists. Good

research should enable you to identify the tactics

that galleries employ and what they are looking

for in an artist.

Also ...

o

Try to sub-let / rent studio space as this will ena

ble you to surround yourse

lf with other artists.

o

Begin to think about the logistics of a potential

visit to the UK and what may be required of you;

this includes gaining some understanding of the

papers and documents you would have to obtain.

For information on visas, contracts, work permits

and other official procedures see Visiting Arts'

publication

Nail to Nail

:

https://www.visitingarts.org.uk/Nailtonail.html

Resources

Web:

Visiting Arts web site:

www.visitingarts.org.uk

Information on getting funding for the arts in the UK

www.visitingarts.org.u

k/funding/index.html

Information on Visiting Arts' residencies and fellowships,

www.visitingarts.org.uk/training/residencies.html

24-Hour Museum:

www.24hourmuseum.org.uk

- searchable database of

UK museums, galleries and

heritage attractions.

A-N Artists Information Company:

www.a-n.co.uk

- practical advice and information for artists.

Art Galleries - London:

www.artgalleries-london.com

- links to web sites of commercial and public art

galleries and museums in London.

Artquest:

www.artquest.org.uk

- advice and opportunities for visual artists in the UK.

New Exhibitions of Contemporary Art:

www.newexhibitions.com

- listings of contemporary art exhibitions

throughout the UK, useful for researching gallery contacts.

Trans Artists:

www.transartists.nl

- run from the Netherlands, this

site publishes information on artist

residencies and other opportunities worldwide.

Wales Arts International:

www.wai.org.uk/index.cfm?alias=import

- directory of galleries in Wales with

contact details

Publications:

Art Monthly

, contemporary visual art magazine:

www.artmonthly.co.uk

Art Review

, visual art magazine and listings:

www.art-review.com

Galleries

, listings magazine:

www.artefact.co.uk

ENDS

? Visiting Arts 2006 | Sour

ce: www.visitingarts.org.uk

Visiting Arts aims to strengthen intercultural understanding through the arts

.

We:

o

Provide information and intelligence in order to strengthen intercultural dialogue

o

Create opportunities to experience intercultural exploration. This is done through mediated

performances, exhibitions, and by initiating and promoting collaborations

o

Expand the skills and knowledge of existing cultural players and develop new talent to ensure a

wide, diverse and sustainable group of players.

Visiting Arts’ work links England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland with countries overseas

prioritised by the Board.

Among other things we:

o

Create, produce and distribute authoritative directories and help-sheets, targeted briefings and the

latest advice through print, web and word of mouth

o

Organise seminars, conferences and networking

events to deepen intercultural understanding

o

Establish and foster opportunities for ground-breaking artist exchanges, promote cutting edge

exhibitions and contribute to some of the

world’s biggest and most innovative festivals

o

From Afghanistan to Zanzibar, we work with

the most exciting next generation of artists and

cultural players, inviting them to the UK,

expanding knowledge and horizons and championing

intercultural working

Visiting Arts is an independent registered charity, which was set up in 1977.

Visiting Arts is funded in 2006/07 by British Council,

Arts Council England, Scotti

sh Arts Council, Arts

Council Wales, Arts Council Northern Ireland an

d the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

The Board is chaired by Sir Gordon Conway. Other

Board Members are Cathie Boyd, Ajay Chhabra,

Iwona Blazwick, Graham Long and Romesh Gunesekera.

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