4 Aspects of Running a Visual Arts Business You Need to Master

Running a business as a professional visual artist is a bold and impressive decision. While it requires a substantial amount of risk, it also provides the ability to freely share your ideas and talent. Unfortunately, it also demands knowledge outside of the arts. You need to know the ins and outs of the business world, which can be tricky to learn. If you're in this situation and want to know more, here are four aspects of running a visual arts business that you need to master.

1. Flexibility

The pandemic has hit the art industry undeniably hard. While the visual arts aren't hurting as much as the performing arts, the field has still taken a blow. Because of this, you'll need to become flexible in your sales tactics. It's no longer viable to hold crowded art showings. Instead, you need to find ways to showcase your pieces remotely. The most important part of this is cultivating an online presence. Create an intriguing website that's easy to navigate. To increase sales, try making videos that present your works as you usually would. Your delivery system may also need to change. The retail customer experience is improved with a convenient transfer of goods, so consider offering delivery to your clients. Whatever you do, don't ignore the current situation. It needs to be addressed.

2. Branding

Your art may have mass appeal, but you won't get very far without a well-formed brand. Your brand defines if your business will be recognized and how it will be seen. Therefore, you can't afford to focus on the art alone. Start off by pinpointing how your company is unique. How does your art stand out from others in the same style? If your uniqueness isn't flashy enough, consider becoming noticeable through your business practices. Maybe you can sell the pieces in an interesting way. Once you discover how you stand out, work that into your branding. This includes graphics, titles, sayings and many other aspects of your company. In the end, a customer should be able to see your branding and have a sense of what you're about.

3. Outreach

The artistic field is one which requires multiple connections. Since it's highly competitive, you'll need people on your side. You can begin by strengthening your connections with the professionals you already know. If these individuals know others that can help you, ask to set up meetings. Above all, try to keep this process professional yet casual. While your contacts may be aware that you're doing business, it's polite to stay friendly the whole time. You should also form connections with potential customers and community leaders. There are the people that can hype your brand and encourage others to become patrons. No matter how introverted you are, this is too much of a vital process to avoid, especially for those in the art industry.

4. Advertisement

Advertisement is often arduous for newer art businesses to deal with. It requires funds to undertake, which often aren't available to starving artists. Fortunately, the internet has provided a substantial array of marketing options, many of which are free or close to it. An excellent option to try is using social media, especially if your intended client base is younger. All you need to do is make accounts and post on a regular basis. Since you work in the arts, you may also want to try creative advertising. You could collaborate with a performance artist or have some works displayed in public. This can ramp up interest in what you offer, and word of mouth should never be discounted.

The art world is a hard environment to thrive in. Despite this, it remains an enticing option for budding artists. You need to be strong and have an overabundance of confidence. Don't let anyone tell you that your works are meaningless or lacking in technique. Since art is subjective, this generally can't be true. If this is truly what you want to do, take a chance and work on your business acumen.