EXHIBITING DURING COVID TIMES
Or
How to begin to exhibit internationally
Exhibiting during Covid Times! Sigh!
When the first lock down of covid hit, 100% of scheduled shows for Susan Hensel Projects were either cancelled or indefinitely delayed. Talk about PANIC! My new work was just getting picked up in a meaningful way nationally. I was in beginning conversations with a couple of small galleries. And,”BOOM!” NOTHING. All I could hear was crickets.
But ART WILL BE SEEN!
During 2021 I went ONLINE. Yes, I still had a few in person shows: a much-delayed solo in Florida and 11 groups shows here and there. That is still less than my average.
In 2021 I increased the number of online-only exhibitions I do. The advantages of these are, among other things, that you can exhibit unique pieces in multiple locations at the same time. They tend to cost less to enter and, certainly, have NO SHIPPING COSTS. Online exhibitions keep your name in play, especially if the organization knows how to optimize their SEO tags. This strategy has gotten my art shown in multiple New York galleries and organizations. As a result, I have continuing relationships with 3 of them.
Do You Have an International Outlook?
Another key advantage of online is…It allows you to dip your toes in the waters of International Exhibitions. Shipping gets more expensive as you stretch your wings. When you are considering exhibitions oceans away from home, it gets harder to determine if the opportunity is legit. Exhibiting online only, reduces these risks. I have shown in St. Petersburg, Russia & France online. No customs and shipping hassles.
Exhibizone.com, which is hosting my current solo show, is out of Ontario. They provide a basic press release, a catalog, badges, exhibition and statistics as part of the show. That is a lot of service for $60 (which is the most I have paid for an online opportunity). Yes, they provide other paid services, as well. I have not felt the need for those. I am well trained in art marketing.
But do look into the online art marketplace. It is a growing edge in the art economy, expected to remain a factor even as things open up further. You will gradually grow your visibility and…maybe sales? We shall see.
