When you unveil your new gallery, it’s interesting and exciting if it’s already pretty full with art — not so full people don’t think there’s room for their own work, but enough to show something’s happening.
You can start out with a bunch of your own work, but it’s more fun, and it looks more like a community project, if you can have pieces by a variety of artists.
Here are some ideas where to get art to start out with, other than making it yourself. Remember to allow some lead time before your opening!
- If you have creative friends, hit them up for a contribution. This is how I got introduced to the FLAG community, when a friend of mine started her gallery and asked whether I had anything I could send.
- Work with a local art teacher (in a school or at a studio that gives lessons) to have your opening exhibit be pieces made by their students specifically for your gallery.
- Join the Facebook group Free Little Art Gallery Stewards, Curators, and Managers, say you’re opening a gallery and ask them to send you stuff. Include photos of the gallery under construction, because that’s eye-catching. If you have a lot of your own work and just want variety for your opening, you can offer to exchange, but in my experience the curators are generous folks and many will send you things if you ask. I would feel comfortable posting my address in this private group. If you ask them to DM you for the address, please don’t forget to check for message requests.
- You can do the same on Instagram. There’s not a group of curators there because that’s not how Instagram works, but if you plan to create an account for your gallery, create it a few weeks before you open, post photos of your gallery under construction or your planned site or some pieces you already have for the opening. Then make a call for submissions, including hashtags #freelittleartgallery, #yourtownart, #yourtownartist, and #flagcallforsubmissions. If you post using the Instagram app, I encourage you to invite @mapofflags as a coauthor for this post. I don’t guarantee to sign on to it, but I might well. After you do this, watch your message requests for any questions from potential contributors.
- Throw a grand opening event and invite everyone in the neighborhood, your church, or whatever group of people makes sense. Set up tents in your yard, supply a variety of art materials, tables and chairs, and have attendees create something on the spot. Some people might have “blank canvas” syndrome, so it’s nice if you can provide some structure around this. Have materials on hand for a couple different specific types of project. For instance, one might be decorated boxes, with the blank boxes, a selection of markers, glitter pens, and bling to glue onto them. Be on hand (or have someone on hand) to demonstrate, answer questions, resolve disputes, etcetera.