Final Post

Now that the internship is over, I've had a lot of time to reflect on how my time at the gallery is and what I've learned. Going in to the internship I didn't really know what to expect, the art world is something that I do not know too much about. However, I can say that I have learned quite a bit thanks to Robin. I feel like I'd have the confidence to be able to start my own gallery after college if I chose to do so. One of the things that I realized about 4Art was that its location is very unique. The fact that it is in an art center is nice. You get to see artists every day and the community that exists is unparalleled. Nevertheless, if I were to own a gallery I would have it as a storefront. Being able to get random people to enter your space is essential to boosting sales. However, I think it is also important to have a formal marketing plan in place. The economy has taken an obvious toll on art sales during the past years and the main purchasers of art are collectors. By marketing the gallery, you will be able to expose your name, as well as generate a favorable reputation. Both are key in attracting people who have been in the art world for awhile. If I do end up owning a gallery, I think it would have to either be a temporary, or a side venture. With the economy as it is, sales just are not the same as they use to be. Unless the economy improves greatly by the time I exit school, I don't see it being a reliable way to make a living. However, I would still love to own a place and it is definitely possible. Robin was kind enough to share the different ways a gallery can be run. One option is being open on the weekends only, or even being open only for opening events and by appointment only. This summer has been very beneficial and I can't thank Robin enough for being such a great person to work for!