All artists deserve to be acknowledged and appreciated in their community – doing so will motivate them – and supporting local artists could also allow them to do good for your community. Local artists need to feel supported by their communities but that doesn’t mean you have to singularly buy all their artwork – truth be told, there is a multitude of ways you can support artists in your local community.
With that said, we have put together 6 ways communities can come together to support local artists.
- Attend art events & exhibitions
When creating their art, artists are internally motivated – but they also value external motivation and inspiration from others. Artists can gain this inspiration and admiration from communities that attend any events where their art is displayed. Art is exceptional but it’s not just a product – most artists value appreciation of their work more than the sale of their art.
In fact, Iris Chicago’s offices are going a long way towards supporting their local artists, thanks to its “In Residence” exhibition space, where employees based in the offices can browse local talent to unwind. You can find out more about this over on Muse by Clio.
Internal and external motivation go hand in hand when it comes to creating quality art and that’s why attending local art events is so important for artists within your community. Artists will be more motivated to continue their work if they are shown recognition by others in their community.
- Engage on social media
Art can be displayed in many ways, but it’s traditionally displayed on canvas or paper – which isn’t to say it can’t be photographed and posted online to share with others. Artists share their work on social media, and interaction from communities helps to support them and their artistic creations.
Support artists by following them and engaging with them on Instagram and Facebook, or on more ‘artsy’ platforms like Pinterest.
- Commission local artwork
If you’re after a unique piece of art for your own place, why not get in touch with a local artist in your community and buy a personalised, commissioned artwork from them? Doing so would allow you to support the artist, fuel their interests, and enable them to pursue their passion.
- Take part in your local art community
If you want to support your local art community, getting involved in some way is a great way to achieve this. This could be through things we’ve already mentioned like attending local exhibitions or getting involved by taking art classes and learning from local artists.
- Make a small donation
Admiration is free – but, perhaps you feel some sort of money is needed to fully support local artists in the long run. While their art might not be exactly what you want to buy – or perhaps a little too pricey for your liking – a small donation to art charities and community outreach projects could make all the difference.
- Promote their work
Artists want their art to be seen. Take a picture of their art and share it online, remembering to tag them and credit them for their work. You could even buy small pieces of art from them and share them around your community.
And there you have it – 6 ways that people can support local artists and art outreach alike in their communities.
