Business of Art
So, you’ve been making art for quite a while, have exhibited in a few small local shows, and are beginning to think seriously about upping your game.
Most of the opportunities (juried exhibitions, festivals, galleries, etc.) will require you to submit a resume.
When an artist is starting out, a brief bio and statement will suffice. To move up to the next level, begin by placing, at the very top of the page, all your contact information: name, address, phone, email and website. Your name should be in a larger font than anything else on the page.
Next, organize everything you’ve accomplished to date under the standard headings. The most important include education, collections, awards, publications, and exhibitions.
Because those reviewing your resume want to know what you’ve done most recently, the citations under each category should be listed in reverse sequence. That is, list what you’ve done this year first, followed by what you did last year (2014, then 2013, 2012, etc.).
Don’t panic if your timeline has a big hole in it. Often artists have to put their artwork on the back burner while they are raising a family or caring for elderly loved ones. Whatever it is, don’t try to hide it. Your document just needs to show consistent progress, indicating that when you were able to apply yourself, you did just that!
It is imperative that you include the name, title and affiliation of any judge or juror that has given an award for your work. This can be a most convincing element when other arts professionals read your document and recognize the name of the juror and/or institution. Below is an example:
National Award Winner, City Hall Women Artists Exhibition, Schoharie County Arts Council Gallery, Cobelskill, NY. Juror: Marjorie Frankel Nathanson, Curator, Museum of Modern Art, NYC.
As your career progresses and you have a long list of exhibitions, include them on your resume under separate headings in order of significance: Solo Exhibitions, Two & Three Person Exhibitions, and Group Exhibitions.
One final reminder, as your career grows you will want to delete the less important citations on the document that you present to the public. But for your own reference, you should retain a copy that lists every single thing you’ve ever done. An editor will want that when it’s time to write a book about you!
