I personally would like to know more about trying to get gallery exhibitions. How does one go about choosing an appropriate gallery for the type of work they would like to show? How does one approach the curator/director? Proposals, samples, resumes? Show the actual proposed project/series, or sample of a wide range of your work? Approaching gallerys that are not in your area. How to make contact via mail/ phone etc. If someone has any experience getting shows etc. I would REALLY like to know more, and would be willing to bet that others would also benefit. Also, just selling work in general would be a good topic. -help

Gallery: wants to sell, so your work has to be either popular/well known, or the owners has got to see some kind of commercial potential in your work. Musea: only wants to show work that is of significance to art/art history...this can be on a global level or as small as on a local level. Small musua often exhibit art made by (young) local artists, just to show the public what kind of talent your town has. The best and easiest way to get your work into an exhibition is to contact an art school (and get to know people there), but most importantly if you're into photography, join a local photo club ! All photo clubs from all over the world join their country's photo club union, which holds contests and exhibits for all it's members. Clubs themselves have contacts with musea in their own towns/areas, and they have the ability to often hold exhibitions to show the work of it's members....so that a great way to get into a museum. Clubs usually organize those contests in order to elect their club's best photo, which is it's entry for the country wide contest...these entries usually get posted in magazines, newspapers, etc and ofcourse to elect the wining photo, they will hold an exhibition too....so that's a really great chance to get known outside your own area. Another great way to exhibit your own stuff is to ask a cafe (I'm talking about my own country now) or a library or a restaurant or a cinema or a theatre if it's okay to hang some of your work there....but make sure it's got about the same kinds of frames and stuff, don't ask them to show all kinds of things, but for instance works that are about a certain theme or a certain color, or just work that in in the same frames. Also don't offer too much work, but just enough for their type and size of place....especially less commercial places like to give people a chance....they usually think "Hey, I got some empty walls anyway, so why now?"....and especially offering them a small sales percentage for each sold work (they don't have to sell your work, but tell them they if people saw your stuff at their place, they'll get a little bit). Most photo magazines all over the world are happy to post your exhibit in their 'agenda' for the next month, or whatever...most magazines have an exhibition calendar on one of the last pages. If it does cost something, it certainly won't be a lot....and sometimes you are able to add an image of one of your works too....that would be great. Where I live there's also something like an art-rental, where you can give them a few works, which people can rent...and get an option to buy it. So you wouldn't earn a lot from the rental, but there a big chance that people don't want to bring something back & just want to buy it. So basically I wouldn't even think about going to galleries or musea...although galleries probably sell more, but they'd ask much more too. I hope that helps a bit :)

As I live in Melbourne,Australia, I'm probably not much use to you....but a friend of mine often exhibits her work in 'cafe-galleries' which seem to be quite popular here (my brother actually runs one), and she gets her work seen by an amazing number of people...it's just a matter of going in, ordering a cappachino, asking to talk to the owner, striking up a rapport..."and by the way, I just happen to have my portfolio on CD here..." (Which reminds me...Thanks Alpha for the tutorial and HTML)...Anyway...good luck! BTW nplus, thanks for the feedback re my site...did you get my email? Cheers and merry Christmas!

Okay, with regard to galleries, usually it's the curator/director who gets the final say in these things. You have to get in touch with them (look for the number of your local gallery in the yellow pages or something, call and ask whom you should speak to regarding this matter) and set an appointment so you can show your proposal and a sample of your work. It is sometimes important that you have a "concept" for your exhibition. Some museums allow personal exhibits, especially if you have a concept or theory in mind. The proposal would usually include your personal profile, like a brief resum your portfolio, a listing of your previous exhibits if you have been part of one/some, your theme/title for your exhibit, and a proposed programme for the opening (if you have one). Other things you have to discuss with the gallery: -payment for the venue, like some sort of rent -if there is no payment involved, the commission/consignment scheme, like how many percent of the revenues of your work will go to the gallery, or if you give them the prerogative to mark up your selling price. -the duration of the exhibit -the size and number of works you are going to show Now, another option would be (I agree with the others here) holding it in a cafgallery. Just talk to the owner and show him your proposal. Usually they are more than happy to show your work, since it's also additional publicity and exposure for the caf too. Just arrange the revenue scheme with the proprietor, if he's not charging you wall space rental. Hope this helps. :-)

As for choosing the appropriate gallery for your work, it all depends, though you have the following things to consider: -What is your objective for this exhibition? Does it coincide with the venue's objective? -Who is your target audience? Is your gallery popular, open or accessible to your target audience? -What is the theme of your exhibit? Does the gallery allow your selected topic to be shown in their venue? (eg. nudity, taboo topics or if your work is too "post-modern": the gallery must be open to such, ergo the conservative venues are out of the question) -Is the gallery accessible to new audiences? Does it have ill-reputation? etc, etc. There are no specific rules here really, it's really up to the artist (and the curator) to decide.

Oh another thing. A cheap option would be to hold a group show, instead of a one-person show. Get two or more people to join in the exhibit. That way you can divide the cost of the venue, invitations, food and cocktails (for the opening), etc. among all the participants. Set a limit on how many works (and size) a person should contribute. Make sure all works revolve around a central theme so it would not be too eclectic and so it would be cohesive enough to exist as one exhibit. Another tip: don't ask people who are better than you. LOL

yeah, what Star said.

hmmm....This is something I've been wondering about for a while (was close to folowing up before I saw the work here and relaised I need more experience....lol) and my main aim was gonna be cafe's too - however, just regardng the group show Star was on about - we've got a little church hall right beside one of the main routes in the town centre that gets used for jumble sales, coffee mornings, marketing companies use it for people to fill in surveys etc that I was thinking about using for that very idea. Unfortunately for me, when it comes to photography clubs the only ones in my area meet while i'm at work....d'uh... (",)

Jordy, I think that doesn't sound like a bad idea. You won't have a hard time advertising your show. I forgot about another thing: SECURITY. Make sure that the venue you choose for your exhibit is safe for your prints/artwork. It should not have too much sunlight, etc. etc. And make sure that your prints/artwork aren't giveaways to people who like taking other people's things with them. Does the venue have someone who will look over your stuff? Do you have to hire extra help to supervise the exhibit? Do you have to take everything home everyday for the duration of the exhibit? (I know there are more follow on questions, but I can't think right now.) Lighting and framing are other concerns, too... Geez... I know I'm still forgetting a lot of stuff here... (*

Hmmmm......on a smaller scale, I was in a town yesterday and a guy was selling some pictures on the pavement outside a shopping centre - PhotoShopped Fairy sort of stuff, in those 'clipped' frameless frames......didn't see any spaces in his display tho' - I would deliberately have left a couple of spaces to make people think they'd been bought........ (",)