virtual arts brainstorm

April 20, 2008 by RootSpaceOnline

BRAINSTORM/NOTES

The idea is to set up an online network for Lebanese artists. The network is comprised of:

1- a page/databank of local artists, where people can read their bios, see samples of their work/portfolios, read about their professional experience and path, have a link to write them through the site... etc. Artists will have to submit all this info to the website. Their subscription could be free, or the site could charge them something symbolic in the beginning to help with the set-up and then charge more (or take a small percentage) as the site starts to offer the artists work and exhibition opportunities. The artists can also sell their work through the site, although it's not a very successful procedure usually... (A study must be done to see what the site costs to be designed, entertained, maintained, and the people that are needed to be hired for an ideal functioning of the system and network, and then the issue of charging the artists can be discussed)

2- an online gallery where we will have rotating exhibitions every period of time. We need a curator or curatorial team to decide on themes for the exhibitions, call for submissions, select and curate the submitted works. This virtual exhibition could become a real one through the third fold of the network: the galleries.

3- a page/databank of local and international galleries. These will be galleries, and cultural spaces, or social spaces that are adequate for exhibitions, that the website will be "partners" with. They also get a page with address, info, aim, past events, current events, future events. Ideally, these galleries will be updated of the website artists and online exhibitions through a press/PR/curator person that works for the site. Galleries will have the choice to host the online exhibition as it is or to curate their own exhibition from the artists and works present on the site. Thus, artists will have an opportunity for real exposure and selling their work. Galleries can be charged a small fee for subscribing, but better than a fee would be their support through their spaces, contacts, exposure and selling opportunities. The website can take a small percentage from the sales off the exhibitions, and the gallery will have a bigger percentage. The artist should be guaranteed at least 50% of the sales amount.

The network needs:

- someone or a group to design the website in a professional, highly functional and appealing way and maintain it.

- curators to organize online exhibitions, and eventually real ones, connect and maintain contacts with galleries, and guarantee a decent artistic quality.

- Press person/PR to keep exposure levels high, keep galleries and press and cultural agendas informed, and spread the word in case of special events, exhibitions, workshops, initiatives.

- a board of members (artists, curators, writers, critics, academics, technicians) to discuss issues and make decisions. The way this network can be self-sustainable is through the percentage of sales through the galleries, and eventually through charging artists and/or galleries a subscription fee.

An extra idea, is to have kind of a head-hunter/matchmaker who works as a link between businesses who need artist's services (photo, paintings, illustration, animation...etc...) and the artists themselves. This can be an extra page on the website, or a different service altogether, that doesn't even require a website, just a human person with an email address and an extensive knowledge of the artists and their work as well as great contacts and networks and the business/commercial world. Commercial and artistic never mix in the same space, one always discredits the other's quality or authenticity, so this extra idea must be well thought out. This person could work as an agent and get a commission from the jobs.

(Notes, and bulk of info, prepared by Christophe)