How do I go about opening my own art gallery? I have no education, so
what type do I really need? Where do I go for funding? I have the best
ideas in the world, how do I make my dream a reallity?

---

Request for Question Clarification by czh-ga on 08 Jun 2005 00:53 PDT

Hello firehorse-ga,

I will be able to provide you with information on how to start an art
gallery but one part of your question is puzzling to me. You said, "I
have no education, so what type do I really need?" Are you asking
whether you need to get a specific degree to open an art gallery? Are
you asking whether you need to go to school be able to open an art
gallery? The more you can tell me about your situation and how you
came to decide that you want to open an art gallery, the more likely I
will be able to get you what you need. It would also help to know what
research you've already done on your own so I don't duplicate your
efforts. I look forward to your clarification.

~ czh ~

---

Clarification of Question by firehorse-ga on 08 Jun 2005 11:59 PDT

Hi, well I do have a little education. I made a big mess out of my
college etempt. I am an artist, I have a natural talant for intreior
design, and seem to be able to spot trends. I went on a trip to New
York City,  and there I went on a really big art gallery tour. While
on this tour a dean from an arts dept. of a college was there, also, a
prof. from his dept.. not to mention alot of snooty art lovers. Well,
I corrected them afew times and also told them what would sell and
what price it would go for. I was right each time. this isn't my only
experience with this. The reason I'm curious about school is I just
turned 39 on friday and I don't want to spend all that time getting an
education if it' usless. I've always wanted my own gallery, I love to
shop! In closing, this is my first atempt at gaining information.

Hello firehorse-ga,

Starting an art gallery or becoming an art dealer is a dream that?s
shared by many. I?ve found a lot of information for you on how to
enter this field. I?ve collected links to help you explore the career
field and profession and also becoming self-employed as a gallery
owner. I?ve also listed for you the many associations and
organizations that provide online resources so you can continue your
explorations on your own. You asked about the education requirements
for entering this industry. I believe the career links and career
profiles I?ve included will help you figure out the importance and
relevance of education for someone with your experience and
background.

This was a fun search about an interesting career field. I wish you
well in pursuing your dreams.

~ czh ~


=============================
ART GALLERY OWNER, ART DEALER
=============================

http://www.salary.com/careers/layouthtmls/crel_display_Cat10_Ser128_Par228.html
Dream Job: Art Dealer

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.powerhomebiz.com/guide/cases/Opening%20an%20Art%20Gallery.htm
Opening an Art Gallery

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.princetonreview.com/cte/profiles/dayInLife.asp?careerID=12
Career Profiles -- Art Dealer

***** Be sure to click through all the left hand menu items to get the
full profile information.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.powerhomebiz.com/guide/cases/terri.htm
Starting an Art Gallery 

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.vault.com/cb/careerlib/careerlib_main.jsp?cl_page=21&product_id=492&p=1
Profile -- Art Dealer
Overview à Career Path/Salary à Our Survey Says

-------------------------------------------------


http://www1.iwon.com/home/careers/industry_profile/0,15625,41,00.html
Art Dealer Profile

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0964694603/qid%3D952823243/sr%3D1-4/102-6205749-0648910
Confessions of an Art Dealer: An Autobiography
by John Howard Swanson

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1900357143/qid%3D952823243/sr%3D1-1/103-9962756-7792636
Duchess of Cork Street: The Autobiography of an Art Dealer
by Lillian Browse

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/an_artists_life/32417
Article: The Reality Of Galleries...And How They Affect This Artist

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.nybooks.com/articles/article-preview?article_id=17456
Review -- The Art of the Deal
By John Brewer
Duveen: A Life in Art
by Meryle Secrest

-------------------------------------------------


http://redesign.kiplinger.com/personalfinance/magazine/archives/2005/03/art.html
Art Smarts
Art critic and consultant Alan Bamberger treats buying art like any
other purchase. His advice: Get to know what you like and be sure you
don't overpay.



========================================
ART AS A BUSINESS, ART GALLERY RESOURCES
========================================

http://planmagic.com/business_plan/art_gallery_business_plan.html
ART GALLERY BUSINESS PLAN SOFTWARE THAT MEANS BUSINESS

-------------------------------------------------


http://firstbusiness.ca/guides/ArtGallery.pdf
Art Gallery Business Plan

http://www.findarticles.com/p/search?qt=art+dealers&tb=art&qf=all
Search for <art dealers>

***** Find dozens of articles on the business of art. Conduct
additional searches on any aspect of the industry that might interest
you.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.findarticles.com/p/search?tb=art&qt=Art+industry+%2F+Marketing
"Art industry / Marketing"

***** This site offers dozens of articles on the business of art and
how to market art.

-------------------------------------------------


http://artmarketing.com/
ArtNetwork ? Teaching Artists the Fine Art of Marketing Art

Success requires planning plus action. ArtNetwork has been helping
artists empower themselves since 1986 through its books, artist
directories, mailing lists and most recently through its online
gallery and business software. We continue to grow by bringing you new
approaches to marketing your work and growing your art business.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.ktcassoc.com/abg/abg3.html
Art Business Guide

The Education Division of Katharine T. Carter & Associates is pleased
to provide this guide-book that helps analyze the need for artists to
make informed business decisions and formulate sound marketing
strategies in order to advance their careers. Serious and crucial
actions beyond the realm of art production must be addressed before an
artist can achieve the level of success he or she has always wanted.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.gallery-guide.com/
Galleryguide.com is the online version of Gallery Guide magazine,
which consists of seven regional gallery guides distributed 10 times a
year, plus special editions published yearly.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.wwar.com/
World Wide Arts Resources

The largest site for contemporary art, art news, art history,
contemporary artist and gallery portfolios, online since 1995

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.artsnet.org/sitemap.cfm
Institute for the Management of Creative Enterprises, Carnegie Mellon University

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.ilpi.com/artsource/journals.html
ART JOURNALS ONLINE

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.artcalendar.com/
Art Calendar, Inc.
The Business Magazine for Visual Artists

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.artbusiness.com/
ArtBusiness.com

ArtBusiness.com contains over 2,000 pages of free content, regularly
posts art business articles, reviews art gallery openings, critiques
art, covers art market news, and is the only site on the web that
critically evaluates specialized technical art reference books,
CD-ROMs and online databases. Out-of-print and rare art reference
books and exhibition catalogues are also available through the site.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.harbus.org/media/paper343/news/2004/10/12/Viewpoints/Starting.An.Art.Collection-750488.shtml
Starting an Art Collection
A conversation with art expert Jeanne Greenberg-Rohatyn

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.masterpiecemanager.com/
Art and Antiques, Craft and Gift Store Gallery Management Software 

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.artsystems.com/
GalleryPro: Art & Antiques Gallery, Collection & Studio Management Software



===========================================
STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE OPENING AN ART GALLERY
===========================================

http://www.louisvilleartgallery.com/midlandsbj060303.htm
The Louisville Art Gallery,
Saturday afternoon outing sparks Louisville Art Gallery

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.diversityinbusiness.com/dib2001/dib20106/Art_NicoleGallery.htm
Nichole Gallery?A Showcase of Love

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.artistsofutah.org/15bytes/03nov/page4.html
Gallery Profile: Provo 
Breaking New Ground Provo's Terra Nova Gallery

-------------------------------------------------


http://citypaper.net/articles/120398/cm.four.shtml
Four To Score

-------------------------------------------------

http://www.newyorkmetro.com/nymetro/arts/art/11892/
Marks Nabs Johns
How gallerist Matthew Marks bagged the flag man and became the new Leo Castelli.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.theage.com.au/news/Arts/From-cricket-club-to-art-dealer/2005/04/14/1113251737479.html?oneclick=true
From cricket club to art dealer


===============================================================
ART GALLERY, ART DEALER -- ORGANIZATIONS, ASSOCIATIONS, PORTALS
===============================================================

http://www.artantiquedealersleague.com/
Art and Antique Dealers League of America (AADLA)

The Art and Antique Dealers League of America, Inc. is the oldest and
principal antiques and fine arts organization in America.

As a nonprofit membership organization, it is devoted exclusively to
the best interests of dealers and buyers of antiques and works of art,
and to the encouragement of educational and cultural activities in the
Arts generally.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.newartdealers.org/
New Art Dealers Alliance (NADA)

NADA is a collective of professionals in the arts. Our mission is to
create an open flow of information, support and collaboration in the
arts so as to create a stronger sense of community. We believe that
the adversarial approach to exhibiting and selling art has run its
course. We believe that change can be achieved through fostering
constructive thought and dialogue between various points in the art
industry from large galleries to small, non-profit and commercial
spaces alike.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.artdealers.org/
Art Dealers Association of America (ADAA)

The Art Dealers Association of America (ADAA) is a non-profit
membership organization of the nation's leading galleries in the fine
arts. Founded in 1962, the ADAA seeks to promote the highest standards
of connoisseurship, scholarship and ethical practice within the
profession. The ADAA members deal primarily in paintings, sculpture,
prints, drawings and photographs from the Renaissance to the present
day. Each ADAA member is an experienced and knowledgeable dealer in
their field. The ADAA has 160 member galleries in more than 25 U.S.
cities.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.naadaa.org/default.asp
The National Antique & Art Dealers Association of America (NAADAA)

The National Antique & Art Dealers Association is a nonprofit trade
association of America's leading dealers mutually pledged to safeguard
the interests of those who buy, sell or collect antiques and works of
art.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.cinoa.org/index.cfm?Lang=EN
International Confederation of Art and Antiques Dealer Associations (CINOA)

LA CONFÉDÉRATION INTERNATIONALE DES NÉGOCIANTS EN OEUVRES D'ART,
founded under Belgian law in 1935, is an International Confederation
of Art and Antiques dealer Associations.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.pada.net/home.html
Private Art Dealers Association (PADA)

The Private Art Dealers Association, PADA, was chartered in 1990 as a
not-for-profit organization. PADA represents a select group of
dealers, each of whom specializes in a particular area of the fine
arts and works from a non-public space. PADA members guarantee the
authenticity of all art they sell.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.arsny.com/about.html
Artists Rights Society (ARS)

Artists Rights Society (ARS) is the preeminent copyright, licensing,
and monitoring organization for visual artists in the United States.
Founded in 1987, ARS represents the intellectual property rights
interests of over 30,000 visual artists and estates of visual artists
from around the world (painters, sculptors, photographers, architects
and others).

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.arts.gov/
National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)

The National Endowment for the Arts is a public agency dedicated to
supporting excellence in the arts, both new and established; bringing
the arts to all Americans; and providing leadership in arts education.
Established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the
federal government, the Endowment is the nation's largest annual
funder of the arts, bringing great art to all 50 states, including
rural areas, inner cities, and military bases.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.nasaa-arts.org/
National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA)

The National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA) is the membership
organization that unites, represents and serves the nation's state and
jurisdictional arts agencies. Each of the 56 states and jurisdictions
has created an agency to support excellence in and access to the arts.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.nyfa.org/level1.asp?id=5
New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA)

NYFA stands out as a leader in serving the philanthropic community. By
matching donor interest and values with creative people and projects,
NYFA gives artists and the organizations that serve them the
opportunity to realize their dreams. And, as an advocate for the arts,
we play a pivotal role in engaging and educating the public about the
visual, performing, literary, and media arts.


============================
ART RELATED JOBS AND CAREERS
============================

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos092.htm
Artists and Related Workers

-------------------------------------------------


http://wwwsa.csuhayward.edu/~cdcweb/careers/art.shtml
Art Major Resources 
Resources to Learn More About the Art Career Field/Major

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.nd.edu/~crosenbe/jobs.html
CAREER ALTERNATIVES FOR ART HISTORIANS
Art Galleries and Auction Houses

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.artistresource.org/info.htm
Artist Resource is a unique art organization that exists only online.
Instead of marketing art on the Web to make a profit, Artist Resource
offers career development, opportunities, tools and techniques to
artists and writers. Our information is not global. It is useful,
local and current. Our mission is to educate, connect, nurture and
promote Bay Area artists and writers. Our hope is to grow a community
of creative minds.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.artschools.com/
The Art School & Program Directory



===============
SEARCH STRATEGY
===============

art dealer
art gallery owner
"Art Dealer" OR "art gallery owner"
Career Profile "Art Dealer" OR "art gallery owner"
getting started as "Art Dealer" OR "art gallery owner"
how to "Art Dealer" OR "art gallery owner"
best "Art Dealer" OR "art gallery owner"
starting OR business "art gallery"

I would like to suggest that this particular kind of business is more
about who you know rather than what you know.

This is a business that will either work or fail. If you approach it
as a business you will have a better chance of survival but it will
all come down to the clients you can attract and nurture.

A good feel for or understanding of business is really all you need.
You are selling a product it just happens to be art.

You have to look at the contacts you have and make some estimates of
the size of the market that exists for the art you are selling.
Actually going and working in someone else's gallery is a good way to
learn about what to expect.

Look carefully at what the business costs to run, rental, business
rates, printing costs, utilities, insurance, staff (probably
yourself), advertising, building interior conversion cost etc.

Think about your cash flow. How many painting do you have to sell to
cover costs and  when do you have to sell them. Is the business
seasonal, when do you have to make payments? How many shows would you
have to do to cover your costs. What prices can you expect to command
from the artwork that you intend to sell (remember you are probably
only getting 50% ).

The most difficult part will be finding and maintaining clients. This
is very much a personal skill which you need to cultivate. Linked to
this you have to think about location. If you are in a remote area you
will have little to no foot fall but low costs, if you are in the city
you have high cost high foot fall

Create a business plan. Be very critical and as realistic as possible
about all costs. Once you have created you plan go take a look at
other peoples business plans.

Contrast for example a small local gallery
http://firstbusiness.ca/guides/ArtGallery.pdf  with a major National
gallery http://www.npg.org.uk/live/busplan.asp

Look at what areas they are hoping to commercialise. Can you apply any
of their ideas to your business.


Search used:  business plan + art gallery     Search engine:Google


To get funding from anyone the person with the money has to believe in you. 
It helps to have some sort of track records, and it helps to have
equity of your own to put into the business. It goes without saying
that a rock solid business is essential.

Possible sources of funding are:
Local council (If you have one)
Regional arts bodies
Look up people that give grants to community projects like Lottery money

Clearly you would have to write your business plan differently for the
different bodies that you approach.

However if you are looking to set up a private gallery, you would
probably have to approach a bank for your funding.

Having said all this and if you are feeling put off just remember
business is about risk. If you believe strongly in what you want to do
and can balance that in your own mind against the risk then go for it,
Just be careful what you spend your money on.