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| Writing an Artist's Resume |
Excerpted from artistemerging.blogspot.com
Being an artist means not only making your art but of course promoting your art. But some would argue that you’re really promoting yourself. Regardless, you need to have a good resume.
Edward Winkleman’s blog recently had a great post about resumes/bios with some really valuable information (be sure to read the comments, too). I’ll just add to it by telling you how I deal with my resume.
I created a Word document titled, “current resume,” that I update frequently. This resume includes everything. I probably wouldn’t show this resume to anyone, but it’s nice to have it all documented in case it’s needed someday. I can edit this all inclusive resume and create an alternate resume for any given situation – applying for a teaching position, submitting a proposal to a gallery, applying for a job, etc.
The all inclusive resume is divided into categories and formatted appropriately. The categories include:
Name and contact information (I put this in the header and footer so it shows up on each page)
Forthcoming Exhibitions
Exhibitions (separated by year and then into categories - solo, juried, and group)
Publications (in which I’m mentioned or my work is reviewed)
Collections (public and private)
Teaching Experience
Lectures
Education
Employment
Related Experience (volunteer positions, committees, boards, serving as a juror, etc.)
Awards
I edit down this information to create a resume to send to a gallery. I don’t include employment, lectures, teaching, or related experience because it’s not relevant. I also don’t include collections because I’m not in any major collections (sorry Mom).
In the gallery resume, I will include:
Name and Contact Information
Forthcoming Solo Exhibitions
Venue, Location, Date
Example:
Shelbyville Community College, Shelbyville, Missouri, 2007
Selected Exhibitions
I edit the exhibitions and title it, “Selected Exhibitions.” I don’t usually include open shows or member shows, as they aren’t all that impressive (everybody usually gets in, so it’s not considered prestigious). There’s a local exhibition that I enter frequently, so I won’t usually list that unless there was a particularly well-known juror or I won an award in the show. And I do usually include the juror. Some are more well-known than others, but I think it’s good to be consistent (if you list one, you might as well list them all).
Example:
2005
Solo
"Freezing," Springfield Center for the Arts, Springfield, ME
Group
"Big Time Invitational," The Palomino Gallery, Arlington, CA
"Super Cool Art Exhibition," Johnstown University, Johnstown, TX
Juried
"Simple Things 2005," Sprightly Art Center, Baltimore, OK
(Juror: Stacy Smith, Executive Director, Eagle Mountain Art Center, Chicago, IL)
Publications
Use a consistent, standard formatting method (such as MLA or APA).
Example:
Johnson, John. "Paintings fill art center with life." The Springfield Times 15 Oct. 2005: 7.
Education
Example:
MFA, Studio Painting - Springfield University, Springfield, TX, 2005
Minor: Art History
This gallery resume focuses on exhibitions, collections, and education. If I were to apply for a teaching job, I would probably have a much longer resume, as more and varied activity is important for that type of position.
I don’t usually include a bio unless it is requested. I do have a short bio that I wrote myself, but I’m considering having a writer friend do a more extensive one for me.
Here are a few resources for writing an artist’s bio (some music and dance-related, but still relevant):
Durable Goods
Music Biz Academy
This Business of Dance and Music
And some resources for resumes:
The Artist's Trust
U Magazine
NYFA Interactive
An example of a CV (curriculum vitae) for teaching jobs:
Art UW
This article is excerpted from artistemerging.blogspot.com
Being an artist means not only making your art but of course promoting your art. But some would argue that you’re really promoting yourself. Regardless, you need to have a good resume.
Edward Winkleman’s blog recently had a great post about resumes/bios with some really valuable information (be sure to read the comments, too). I’ll just add to it by telling you how I deal with my resume.
I created a Word document titled, “current resume,” that I update frequently. This resume includes everything. I probably wouldn’t show this resume to anyone, but it’s nice to have it all documented in case it’s needed someday. I can edit this all inclusive resume and create an alternate resume for any given situation – applying for a teaching position, submitting a proposal to a gallery, applying for a job, etc.
The all inclusive resume is divided into categories and formatted appropriately. The categories include:
Name and contact information (I put this in the header and footer so it shows up on each page)
Forthcoming Exhibitions
Exhibitions (separated by year and then into categories - solo, juried, and group)
Publications (in which I’m mentioned or my work is reviewed)
Collections (public and private)
Teaching Experience
Lectures
Education
Employment
Related Experience (volunteer positions, committees, boards, serving as a juror, etc.)
Awards
I edit down this information to create a resume to send to a gallery. I don’t include employment, lectures, teaching, or related experience because it’s not relevant. I also don’t include collections because I’m not in any major collections (sorry Mom).
In the gallery resume, I will include:
Name and Contact Information
Forthcoming Solo Exhibitions
Venue, Location, Date
Example:
Shelbyville Community College, Shelbyville, Missouri, 2007
Selected Exhibitions
I edit the exhibitions and title it, “Selected Exhibitions.” I don’t usually include open shows or member shows, as they aren’t all that impressive (everybody usually gets in, so it’s not considered prestigious). There’s a local exhibition that I enter frequently, so I won’t usually list that unless there was a particularly well-known juror or I won an award in the show. And I do usually include the juror. Some are more well-known than others, but I think it’s good to be consistent (if you list one, you might as well list them all).
Example:
2005 Solo "Freezing," Springfield Center for the Arts, Springfield, ME
Group "Big Time Invitational," The Palomino Gallery, Arlington, CA
"Super Cool Art Exhibition," Johnstown University, Johnstown, TX
Juried "Simple Things 2005," Sprightly Art Center, Baltimore, OK
(Juror: Stacy Smith, Executive Director, Eagle Mountain Art Center, Chicago, IL)
Publications
Use a consistent, standard formatting method (such as MLA or APA).
Example:
Johnson, John. "Paintings fill art center with life." The Springfield Times 15 Oct. 2005: 7.
Education
Example:
MFA, Studio Painting - Springfield University, Springfield, TX, 2005
Minor: Art History
This gallery resume focuses on exhibitions, collections, and education. If I were to apply for a teaching job, I would probably have a much longer resume, as more and varied activity is important for that type of position.
I don’t usually include a bio unless it is requested. I do have a short bio that I wrote myself, but I’m considering having a writer friend do a more extensive one for me.
Here are a few resources for writing an artist’s bio (some music and dance-related, but still relevant):
Durable Goods
Music Biz Academy
This Business of Dance and Music
And some resources for resumes:
The Artist's Trust
U Magazine
NYFA Interactive
An example of a CV (curriculum vitae) for teaching jobs:
Art UW
Art About Town
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Helpful Tips for Entering Art Shows, Juried Exhibitions & Competitions for Artists - from artshow.com
There are many things artists should consider before entering art contests, competitions, and juried exhibitions:
Is the event local, regional, national, or international? The larger the pool of artists, the harder it will be to get accepted into the show, but the prizes are generally higher.
Does your work meet the guidelines for theme, medium, size, weight, and presentation requirements?
Are you required to send a bio, artist's statement, or other credentials with your submission?
What are the fees? A small entry fee is acceptable, but artists should be weary of vanity galleries which charge exhibition fees, reception fees, or promotional fees.
Ask who will be judging the competition. What are their credentials? What is their affiliation with the organization sponsoring/hosting the event?
Will the art be juried/judged from slides or actual work? If the art is juried from slides or digital images and your images aren't of professional quality, you will be at a disadvantage.
What type of awards are given? Are purchase awards (whereby your work is sold for the amount of the award) worth more or less than the sales value of your work?
How many works may be accepted per artist? Acceptance may be limited to one work per artist even though multiple works may be submitted. Also, because venues often have a limited amount of space, smaller works may be favored.
Must all works be available for purchase?
What commissions are taken on sales? Will commissions be taken on purchase awards?
Who is responsible for paying sales tax?
Where will the work be displayed? How will the exhibit be promoted? Be wary of events that are only promoted toward artists, rather than toward buyers, collectors, and the public.
Does the organization hold such events annually, monthly, etc.? Annual events tend to be larger, better promoted, and more prestigious. Be wary of sponsors who promote an annual drawing competition one month, an annual painting competition the next, and an annual sculpture competition the next.
Is information available about the attendance or sales from previous exhibitions? (Keep in mind that purchase awards may be considered as sales.)
Will the gallery or other place of venue insure the work while it is on the premises?
Does the chamber of commerce (in the city or county where the event takes place) know anything about it or have any info on the business or organization hosting the event?
All of that said... consider what you want to get out of entering juried art shows or fine art competitions:
All of that said... consider what you want to get out of entering juried art shows or fine art competitions:
If your goal is to build your artist's resume, look for the most prestigious shows (also the hardest to get accepted into). Ask how many artists have entered previously and how many of those artists were accepted into the exhibition.
If your goal is to sell your work, choose the art shows that are heavily promoted to buyers, collectors and the public or ones that have had the most sales in the past. Keep in mind that entering art contests is a great way to gain exposure for your work even if you don't make an immediate sale. Always have brochures, business cards, or postcards of your work available to encourage future sales.
If your goal is to win an award, find out as much about the judge/juror as possible --what he or she looks for. What kinds of work have they selected in previous art shows? They will probably be more apt to have discriminating taste in their area of expertise.