How can I network my way into an art gallery job in Springfield,Mo

December 17, 2008 7:17 PM

What tips can you give that will help me score an art gallery job ?

I think I suck at finding art jobs, in the past three months I've tried to find and apply for gallery positions in Springfield,Mo. I've had absolutely no luck, and I have a feeling that a lot of this falls on my lack of networking. So I ask you hive mind "How can I network my way into an gallery job in this small town?"

More information:
Male
age:20
Occupation: College Student
Throwaway email to send me tips:
[e-mail]

P.S. Thanks for your help.

posted by anonymous to human relations (7 comments total)

Go to any and all openings. Talk to the owners and tell them you are looking for a gallery job and ask for advise. Be prepared or volunteer to take an unpaid internship to gain experience.
posted by lee at 7:39 PM on December 17, 2008

I don't know what experience you already have, so perhaps you have already done the following steps...
I agree with the above post - ask for advice from people who are doing the work you might like to do. I think I would approach these conversations as "informational interviews", primarily for you to learn about the field. You could also look into volunteering as a docent at a museum or as a sitter for a non-profit gallery to gain experience or assisting with office work for the region's First Fridays program.
I also suggest that you check with your college to see if they have an internship program. It might be possible for your school to help you do an internship during the school year at an arts-related organization. That would be a good step towards working for art gallery in the future. Good luck!
posted by val5a at 8:32 PM on December 17, 2008

My parents owned a gallery for about 15 years, and I worked for them when they first opened.

You need to know something -- and be enthusiastic -- about art. But you also need to know something -- and at least be able to fake being enthusiastic -- about a whole lot of non-art related stuff: how to speak professionally to customers/clients/artists (even if you're not actually doing any selling), how to take a decent phone message, how to do various computer tasks (managing mailing lists, etc.), and how to take initiative to do general trouble-shooting and problem-solving (quick! FedEx closes in 10 minutes, your boss is with a client, and a package HAS to get out tonight in order to make an advertising deadline. Do you A) make coffee, because dude, it was totally a late night last night, plus it's cold out; or B) already have your jacket on while offering to run to FedEx? You would be surprised by how many people who worked for my parents would answer "A" in that scenario.).

In order to get a chance to show someone that you have these qualities (assuming that you do), you definitely need to familiarize yourself with local galleries. Definitely go to openings, but also go to galleries during regular business hours to get a feel for the kind of work they sell, etc. Talk to any local artists/art students you might know to mention that you're looking for gallery work.

Don't expect to rake in the bucks; I'm not a fan of "unpaid internships" (call me old-fashioned, but I think people ought to get paid at least minimum wage for their labor, no matter the field or your age), but if you're genuinely willing to work for nothing to get experience, then that might help. Even if you get paid, it's doubtful that you'd be paid very highly (just in case you have visions of $20/hour or paid commissions dancing in your head); it can be extremely tough to make a living by having a gallery, even in the best of times -- which these times certainly are not.

Also, be prepared to answer the question "why do you want to work in an art gallery?" with something other than "I think it would be cool."
posted by scody at 8:32 PM on December 17, 2008

In my experience, it is reasonably unusual for someone to gain paid employment in an art gallery without either volunteering or doing an internship first. Unless, of course, they already have arts experience or transferable skills (marketing, print production).

The usual way to get such an internship is to study in an art-related field and organise it through your educational institution. Volunteers come from all over, with all different backgrounds, however it's likely that you will be required to demonstrate an interest in and knowledge of the arts.

If you're already taking these steps, artshub.com is great for job opportunities and networking. Good luck!
posted by Weng at 8:54 PM on December 17, 2008

There only seem to be 10 galleries in Springfield, 20 if you count museums, (including the Antique Cowboy Western Hero, which sounds completey awesome) so right there you've got a problem; there are just not enough positions, I would guess, for an unknown neophyte. If any of them are not-for-profit they might have internships, which I think would be your first strategy. Even some of the for-profit ones might accept interns, especially if you're in a position to take an unpaid internship. You'd have to arrange that through your college, of course, as Weng says. (Don't turn up your nose at highly commercial gallerie, not that you implied you would).

Lo these many years ago (well before you were born), I got a gallery job with absolutely no experience, although I had a degree in painting and I was in a major market during an art boom. But at any rate, it's possible, at least based on my experience.

Are you locked into Springfield? I'd try Kansas City or St. Louis (or even Tulsa) and go the intern route.
posted by nax at 6:29 AM on December 18, 2008

My friend, who doesn't have a background in art or art history, worked at a gallery in Toronto for the summer. She dressed nice and read up on the art that was on display so she wouldn't sound like an idiot talking to the owner. Both points are key, and I think this is pretty much all it took for her to get the job. She beat out other applicants with art backgrounds. The key is to be enthusiastic, and try and convey this enthusiasm when talking to gallery owners. In her case the owner was actually looking to hire someone, so it was a bit easier.
posted by chunking express at 8:35 AM on December 18, 2008

Here are things that have helped my friends get gallery jobs:

—One worked at the college gallery, mostly reading books while tracking the folks that came in and out.

—A couple of friends started their own gallery, mostly to show their own work (and really made it pay by having nude sketch nights, where they'd hire a model then have folks come in and draw or paint her). They were able to learn on the job, then one of them parlayed that into a real gig in NY.

—One had a rich family friend who owned a gallery and needed some help.

—One friend majored in art management, basically a career path that was all about how to run galleries and theaters. She was able to find work really easily.

—One went to art school and worked with printers, who knew gallery owners who needed extra help. She got into working at galleries mostly to be able to show her own work.

—The final friend that worked at a gallery during college got the job because she was super hot and the gallery owner was a bit of a lecherous old man who liked to have hot women representing him (and definitely present for openings).

Most of the folks I know who run galleries are either artists who wanted to show their own work and work of friends, or folks who were primarily collectors and wanted to be able to augment their art collection and turn it into a business. Most of them hadn't run a gallery before, but set up one with a couple of curated shows in whatever space they could get ahold of, and most of them failed but had a good time and made a fair number of contacts.
posted by klangklangston at 10:26 AM on December 18, 2008