Archive for February, 2008

MAKE YOUR OPEN HOUSE SPECIAL

Published by bmpd on 5 February, 2008 in Events Archive. 0 Comments

Notes from the workshop led by artist Barbara Burns and Roz Cran on 31 January as part of BMPD ‘Preparing for Eastbourne Cultural Festival.
This checklist may be a reminder of things to consider and be useful if you were unable to attend.

PRESENTATION:
Be organised: hold planning meetings with your artists – invigilation rotas, decide on ways of payment by buyers and to artists, commission, money float, when pieces of art can be taken. Agree hanging and curation people, when works to be delivered and taken down, agree hanging system, wrapping paper/bubblewrap. Be clear.

Welcome visitors: banner, signs, arrows, art in the front garden, keep the Front Door open if possible, or have a clear welcome sign on it; greet people as they enter, clear or tidy personal belongings

Have a name or a theme: make your house stand out, have a name to remember, see Brighton Open House lists (Google: Artists Open Houses)

Learn from others’ experiences of running Open Houses see websites: www.aoh.org.uk, www.artistsopenhouses.com, www.fivewaysartists.com

Use Estate Agents ideas: have flowers, nice smells – coffee, bread, jug of water for visitors, offer a glass of wine sometimes or have tea and cakes

Labels, pricing, artists statements/info

Talk to visitors, tell them about the art and the artists

EVENTS – to attract people to visit your house:
get people interested, talk to each other
private view
Opening Party/Closing Party
Music/recital
Poetry reading
Artist talk, slide show,
Demonstration
Food/tea party/themed food
Workshops
Tour of house/studio
More things to do:
Create a trail of Open Houses in your area
Know your area and what’s on – help and support each other
Organise a committee for Open Houses in Eastbourne
Insurance: remember if you subscribe to AN Artists Newsletter at £34 per year you automatically are insured through AIR

PROMOTING YOUR EASTBOURNE FESTIVAL EVENT

Published by judith on 3 February, 2008 in Events Archive. 0 Comments

Notes from the workshop led by Jenny West and Judith Alder at the BMPD “Preparing For Eastbourne Festival” event held at Eastbourne Town Hall on Thursday 31st January 2008. These bullet points are intended as a reminder of what was discussed at our event, or if you weren’t able to make it on the 31st, as a suggestion of things to consider when planning promotion for your event.

Jenny West is organiser & co-ordinator of Gallery North in Hailsham & Hailsham Arts Festival

  • The importance of promotion – spread the word – word of mouth – get people talking

  • Set your budget – your promotional material doesn’t HAVE to be full colour & glossy – but it does need to be accurate, carefully thought out and well produced.

  • What sort of promotional material? – postcards, fliers, invitations… perhaps your promotional material can be something which people will want to keep – a souvenir postcard?

  • Plan ahead – your material needs to be ready for distribution about 2 weeks before your event. Don’t forget, if your printer needs a week to print your material & you need a week or two to design, refine, check and re-check your material, that means YOU NEED TO START NOW!

  • Practicalities – essential info to include: where, when, who, opening times, contact info, address, map or directions, cost(?) or “free entry”, any special events, private view, artists talk etc

  • Proof reading – double check or, better still, get someone else to double check your information (you never spot your own mistakes!) – make sure your information is correct and you haven’t missed out anything essential

  • Printing – where, how much, how many? Shop around for good deals. Work out how many you need to send to your mailing list & add some more – say 200? to pass on to visitors & distribute by hand.

  • Using online resources - many organisations offer free online listing services – see sites such as: http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/leisureandtourism/whatson/ http://www.artwatchnews.co.uk/ and http://www.artsinsussex.com/events.aspx although it is worth bearing in mind that organisations such as Artwatch News will only be able to promote Open House trails or artists groups, rather than individual artists.

  • Sponsorship? It is often worth approaching local businesses who may be prepared to help distribute your material or pay for advertising space. Remember though to be sure to check exactly what is expected from each party before you make a firm agreement.

  • Writing about your event – press releases, entries for listings, etc – remember to highlight what is unique about your event – what makes your event special? Don’t forget to include the nuts and bolts facts as well – opening times, entry fee, venue address and contact info for editors at the end of your press release. If in doubt there is lots of information on writing for press release on the internet – try Googling “How to write a press release” or see http://www.pressbox.co.uk/contpr1.htm

  • Send an image - perhaps a picture of you and your work or of an event or workshop you have run previously

  • Don’t forget to document your event – photograph everything – then you will have material for future promotions & press releases

Download more tips for running your event from the Eastbourne Festival website http://www.eastbournefestival.co.uk/participants-info/tips

Another useful site is Artquest - full of information about all aspects of professional practice, but especially useful is their “Checklist for an exhibition” at http://www.artquest.org.uk/manage/mememe/using-the-promotional-pieces.htm

 

 

 

 

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