Jennie Rosenbaum of Melbourne, Australia writes:
“I’m an artist and have been offered my fist solo show by a respected commercial gallery in Canada. This is extremely exciting as I have only been practicing professionally for a couple of years. My online presence and my website are directly responsible for them approaching me.
“My concern is that I live in Australia. The total cost of the exhibition—including shipping my works, myself and my husband—is going to be expensive. I’d like to attend if at all possible in order to work on promotions and use this exhibition as a foundation to approach additional galleries. This is too good an opportunity to pass up!
“Are there any fund-raising ideas that your Hounds might have? I’ve stepped up the marketing of my online sales, and looked into grants but neither are bearing fruit.”
Instead of grants, consider sponsorships. Vendors such as airlines, overnight package services (think FedEx, DHL or Australia-based companies),printing companies, etc. can all be approached about using their logos on flyers announcing the show, your website and any other printed publicity that may appear in the Canadian press (exhibit sponsored through the generosity of XYZ company).
What you really need is a sponsor. Check with your consulate in Melbourne and see if there are any Australian companies who are looking to do more business in Canada. You can represent their company at the exhibition, have their materials available, and mention them in any publicity that you get. In return they can pay a portion of your expenses.
I agree with the other posters that you probably need a sponsor to get that kind of cash quickly, but as an additional revenue generating opportunity, why not sell prints.
I went to look at your site and wanted to buy a print. Why not offer prints for sale from your web site. Sites like americanframe.com (I’m sure there are others) allow artists to upload and sell their work. You set the profit you want to make (over and above their costs) and they print it, frame it and ship it. All you would need to do is provide a link from your web site.
Jennie saw your work. Wish I could make art like that.
One time a minister saw one of my doodlings after Sunday school and said “Boy, God don’t like ugly”.
Anyway, I was thinking to get media attention quick you’ll have to get a little edgy.
Trying stay with your body portrait style.
1. What about dignified body portraits of military amputee victims from the Iraq war.
It would be an artist attempt to dignify the disabled by showing their strength and beauty, honor the huge sacrifice war veterans have made and at the same time make an anti-war statement.
Now of course you’re in Australia so you could focus on Australian troops if you want.
2. Worst Art Show Ever Contest.
Kind of a reverse American Idol idea.
Hold a contest to find the worst artist you’ve ever seen.
The winner gets to be first one whose art work is thrown in the dumpster (have dump truck ready).
They could also win a lifetime supply of erasers so nobody will ever have to see their art ever again.
3. They win an extreme artist makeover from you. After the makeover you’ll take one piece with you and put it on display with yours, where?
How about the exhibition in Canada.
(Can we say free plug?)
Is the gallery furnishing publicity, advertising, mailings? So – What else do you need? Air fare… Lodging…contact as many hotels and airlines as you can find. Offer to donate paintings for their corporate hq’s AND include their name in as much publicity as you can, if they subsidize your trip.
I’m thinking Jet Blue might be a good candidate; they took some awful PR hits when flights got cancelled due to bad weather last winter. And some of the smaller hotels might take the bait to get added publicity. Hey, what’ve you got to lose? 😉
Talk to both the Australian and Canadian embassies. Many countries have funding opportunities so they can share their culture around the world.
Perhaps the subjects of your paintings would want to
pay some of your expenses. Example: if you painted
some factory workers, the factory would get PR. Maybe Australian companies would commission paintings
and send you to Canada in payment.
How about you find a company that has a Head Office in Canada and an office in Australia and ask them to sponsor the event in return for some publicity.
Getting things for free or at least at a reduced rate can be a challenge! Several years ago, I contacted Space Camp in Alabama about writing an article for a magazine about my son attending Space Camp. To “help me” on the article, they gave my son a scholarship to the camp for a week. When I contacted Alabama State Tourism about coming to the state for Space Camp (and other) travel pieces, they cheerfully supplied free airfare, as well as comp-ing hotel rooms for the week, supplied me with free admission to various tourist sites they were trying to promote… you get the idea.
How about trying for the “diary of a mad Australian artist on the way to Canada” series of articles for both the Australian and Canadian markets — illustrated by you, of course! Then piggy-back on this by issuing news releases about your journey. You may pick up some “where’s Jennie now?” publicity from local TV and radio as you go.
Is there any way you could conduct say an online auction (either at ebaY or on your own site) of one of your works that will be exhibited in the gallery show (or possibly a commission for something not yet made?) and part of the price of the winning bid is you will come to the show in Canada to personally meet with the auction winner and either present them with the artwork or discuss the upcoming commission?
You can potentially then contact people on your mailing list/client list, the gallery’s list and then of course the local mainstream media both in Australia and in Canada.
This could turn into great PR for you, the gallery, an online auction site if you use one (and there are many more out there than just ebaY who all could use the publicity too) and the winner. You could of course price the work/commission accordingly to help pay for your trip to the gallery show. That way the winner gets not only the experience of attending the gallery show and owining one of your pieces but being a part of an art auction and some personal time with you the artist. And you get an unusual event to build publicity for more than just yourself 🙂
Also what kinds of online discussion forums could you promote an auction of this type at? Surely there are groups of artists online that not only might buy your works, but they may also know of other ways to raise the funds to attend your show.
Good luck to you!
Are there any major universities or art schools near the show in Canada? Maybe their art department would be interested in having you guest lecture or be a temporary artist in residence and be willing to pay some of your expenses. That way you could stay for a little while, maybe book other shows and get some great publicity in the area.
You may want to consider looking at bloggers and announcing your show through them. They’re a great source of publicity and the word spreads like wild fire!
Jennie,
Congratulations on your exhibit. That’s wonderful news.
Consider doing what Karen Bubb of Boise, Idaho did when she wanted to go to China. She sold shares in her trip! For each $32 share, the shareholder received a hand-pulled stock certificate (doubled as a thank-you note), a handmade postcard sent to them from China, and a 6×6″ encaustic painting. For $32! And, she got an awesome newspaper article, a magazine article or two (one by me), and sold far more shares than she needed for her trip.
Love your work! And kudos on snagging the solo show.
You’ve already received good suggestions from other posters. I’d like to offer a different kind of assistance: airtime on the talk radio shows that I host on WVOX 1460 AM and correspond for on WVIP 93.5 FM, and at the blogs where I roundup my broadcasts, as well as rant, rave, review ande ramble about other topics.
Show descriptions, my blogroll (listed as READ MY WRITING) and my contact information are accessible here.)
Jennie – We have something in common. I also live in Melbourne and am originally from America. I travel to the States regularly and always undertake work there so I can claim at least part of the trip on tax. (Maybe this is an option for your husband, too?) This coming visit I’ve lined up speaking engagements with a couple of arts councils. In the past I’ve taken or taught classes. Aussies love fundraising trivia nights, which can be very profitable. You could run an auction on the night, too. Finally, I have to say I love Alyson Stanfield’s idea! Very cool.
Wow thankyou all for your terrific responses. there are so many great ideas and I can’t wait to put them into practice. I’m so glad that I asked, I knew someone out there would have some answers.
thankyou all and thankyou Joan for running such a great site and newsletter.
I was, in fact, astounded to see so many great ideas. This was one of those questions that I suspected might result in 3 or 4 responses.
My Hounds have surprised and delighted me once again! Thanks, everybody.
I am 88 now and just writing but for over 35 years I was the publicity and promotion person for my husband’s business (S. Florida real estate delopement) and sure could have used some of the great responses here. As for immediate money in hand, do you have a close relationship with a church, or other “feel good” group, who might put on a fund raiser for one of their loved members – you! You could give a talk about your work and what you hope to achieve in Canada and perhaps create some kind of ‘on paper’ gift or remembrance as a thank you.
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