Lately I’ve been feeling in a bit of a slump, and I’m having difficulty knowing how I should spend my time in terms of my art practice. The lull in opportunities and activity created by a global pandemic is real, and it’s been making me feel unsure of what I should put energy into since it’s hard to tell what the payoff will be right now. At times, this has produced a total lack of action on my part and I notice myself wondering what I should/could be working on that will keep me productive.
In order to remind myself that there are things that I can do to move my studio practice and career forward, I decided to sit down and make a list of 100 things that I can do.
The list below is what came to mind over two sessions of jotting down every idea that I could come up with. Some of these things have been on my “to-do” list for a while, some are things I just came up with that might shake things up a bit for me. I highly recommend this exercise to anyone feeling like they don’t know what the next step forward is. I’m sharing my list in case a few of my ideas would be useful to you. Maybe your 100 ideas will be completely different than mine and I invite you to share particularly juicy ideas in the comments.
Taking action is a one of the most reliable methods for moving forward, and (for what it’s worth) as my partner tells me every time I’m intimidated about taking a step forward: You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.
100 actions I can take to progress my art career:
Invite people over for studio visits
Curate a show
Collaborate with other artists on an art project
Host a networking social hour or dinner/brunch
Go to exhibition openings AND congratulate the artist, gallery, and make a new friend (they are social events, not so much for viewing the art)
Befriend an outgoing artist to buddy up for social events like gallery going and opening receptions
Propose an exhibition
Host a studio pop-up shop
Apply for a grant
Organize an neighborhood open studio event with other artists in your area
Teach a workshop
Organize a studio visit for a community organization outside of the art world
Rent a party bus and organize studio tours for budding collectors
Join a museum group
Write an article
Write a review of an exhibition and submit to a publication
Start a publication
Make a zine and invite artists to contribute
Host a screening/performance night
Create a project that includes community members- painting portraits, photo shoot, invite written or object based contributions
Form a professional practices group with other artists
Form a crit group
Form a reading group
Form a collective to run a space
Form a collective to start a project (i.e. Binder of Women)
Start an instagram account that specializes in something (fun, critical, educational...)
Start a podcast
Write an open letter to address a problem in the art world and invite people to sign
Interview artists and publish them
Create a press kit and send to galleries
Pitch a story about you and/or your work to magazines, papers, blogs,
Send small maquettes/ handmade cards to your contacts
Go to galleries and ask questions / chat with someone on staff at the gallery
Volunteer at an arts organization
Organize an event around a temporary installation
Create new work and shape an event around it
Join the board of an arts (or non-arts!) NFP
Ask to visit other artists studios
Send thank you notes
Publish a book of your work
Create a brochure or deck to send to people outside the area (galleries, curators, collectors, etc.)
Watch for open call opportunities and apply to them
Follow up with people
Be reliable
Be professional - have materials at the ready
Create a mailing list and use it wisely
Offer a studio sale
Rearrange your studio for new energy
Post on social media
Experiment
Take a class in a new material
Take a class to grow your skills
Take a class for your business
Join an artist membership group/guild
Attend a conference
Create sellable offshoots of your work (functional, smaller, affordable, easy sales)
Expand your work into other potential sales revenues such as: print textiles, pillows, home goods, clothing, calendar
Collaborate with someone outside the art world - clothing designer, architect
Put on exhibitions in your studio (i.e. Elevator Mondays)
Offer regular open houses to your studio
Research one aspect of your art so that you become an expert, or at least more informed
Travel to other cities to check out other “art worlds”
Develop a “wow” project to pitch to Art Fairs, etc.
Attend art world parties
Take a break
Create a productivity calendar with breaks blocked out
Host or organize a fundraiser for something important to you (i.e 150 Flat)
Organize an exhibition at a community space in your neighborhood - office, restaurant, etc.
Organize a community project like a mural, at a place you feel/have a connection to
Create a social media calendar
Join a co-working session
Email an artist to tell them you like their work
Update CV
Revamp artist statement
Refresh instagram bio
Create a link tree on instagram
Re-do/update website
Create a list of your dream contacts you’d like to work with
Create a business plan
List your goals
Tell your goals to someone
Photograph your new work - do it well or hire someone
Tuck money away for a special project
Read other artists statements and watch videos of how they talk about their work
Recommend another artist to a curator/galleries/collector/friend that you know
Organize an opportunity to take photos of people interacting with your work
Create a virtual studio visit presentation
Create a list of galleries you would like to work with
Create an outreach plan to your contacts
Reach out to the people/organizations you want to work with
Ask for help
Ask to be paid
Ask for a contract
Say no to things that you don’t want to do
Coordinate a group of friends to go see art together
Have more fun when it comes to your art practice
Create a shop on your website
Write a list of your values when it comes to your business art world relationships
Record yourself speaking your elevator pitch
Practice speaking about your work to friends, family, strangers (low risk people)