In my previous blog entry I talked briefly about some of the venues one might explore in trying to exhibit art work. They included art and craft fairs, online sales, and galleries.
For some there are other places where you could place work to get noticed and possibly sell some of your work. Here are just a few:
Coffee Shops/Restaurants - Coffee shops love having art hanging on their walls. This helps bring in people and they get more free advertising, the work livens up the walls and encourages a sense of community (especially if you have an opening reception). There are downsides to coffee shops and restaurants. There are not a lot of sales, they do not promote your work and you do all of the hanging. You are the one to set up the reception and you pay all the costs for the reception. Still, if you are just starting out this is not a bad choice to get noticed and to beef up your exhibition resume.
Libraries - Many of the same conditions apply here, not many sales and you do all the work. However, there are exceptions. Having an exhibit in a college library or the the main library of a major city can add gravitas to anyones resume. In many of those places there are curators or art historians that decide on what will be shown, making it a more competitive venue. In most case they have an open call for artists and will plan a show anywhere from 6 months to a year in advance.
Art Groups - Local arts groups are a great way to get your work in group exhibitions. They often have contacts with community and business groups that can give the space to show art. This is a terrific way to meet other artists and since the art groups often have multiple shows a year, it is a way to quickly build an exhibition record. The downsides are that it probably cost money to be part of the group, there will be entry fees for every show, and you will be showing with a diverse range of materials, quality and presentations. But when it comes down to it, it is almost always a great experience.
My final point; none of the above should be counted out as not worthy. There are unexpected opportunities at any time you get to exhibit your work.
You just need to weigh the pros and cons and then make a decision on what is best for you.