Crucial Pursuit!

Crucial Pursuit is a Financial Planning Game for Artists and Art Students. It is a debating and discussion tool which is designed to enable Artists to think through various circumstances, decisions and consequences they will come across in their Art careers. All of the situations are derived from real experiences in negotiating the Artworld, and many recur throughout an Artists’ career, no matter how mature or established they may become.

Financial decisions can make or break Art projects and personal budgets, and Artists are no different, no more or less financially educated than the rest of the population – except they tend to be extremely resourceful in their practice. This means there is a great source of creativity to tap into, but this is sometimes inhibited by an enormous amount of received information and advice. Artists have high expectations of themselves, and often want to fulfil the expectations of others, viewers and Art professionals, in order to be seen as professional and credible. Naturally this does not always mean that the best solution is the one with the biggest budget. Equally, it is sometimes appropriate to invest in the highest possible production values in order to deliver an Art project successfully. Sometimes it needs to be gold and sometimes it needs to be cardboard.

Crucial Pursuit acts as a forum for Artists to examine their responses, consider alternatives, and swap real experiences and anecdotes, to embed flexibility in financial choices and thinking. Artists tend to take on the costs of their practice from their personal budget, and so while pursuing an established practice, unwise spending and poor decisions can spread into and hinder all areas of life. 

There is always an alternative. There is always a way of thinking which can make Art ideas happen. Money does not always equate to creativity, and it makes sense to be prepared, to think flexibly and to be resourceful so that financial and Artistic decisions are considered and not compromised.

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Crucial Pursuit - coming to Art schools soon!

Some Crucial Pursuit! Art Dilemmas:

theLongLine events

1. October 2011
Launched at The Original Gallery, London.

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2. October 2012
Highbury School in Islington, London hosted a Big Draw day, where the Cubitt Gallery Drawing Collective set up several drawing-based workshops, including theLongLineand screening.

http://cubittartists.org.uk/

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3. April 2013
Islington Museum Cubitt Gallery Drawing Collective Day. Drawing workshops, theLongLine and screening.
http://cubittartists.org.uk/2013/04/11/sixmix-public-workshop/

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Guardian Culture live chat

theViewergallery on the panel for a live discussion on the Guardian Culture Professionals Network
on Friday 8th February 2013, from 12 - 2.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture-professionals-network/culture-professionals-blog/2013/feb/07/gallerists-galleries-curator-start-up-business-tips

Artist Eleanor MacFarlane of theViewergallery discussed setting up and running a popup gallery, and shared advice and tips.

And here is the Guardian's round up of the discussion:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture-professionals-network/culture-professionals-blog/2013/feb/12/how-to-open-art-gallery?CMP=


Eleanor MacFarlane/theViewergallery's top tips on setting up a popup gallery:

Ask for free space: I have negotiated free or reduced rates for gallery hire in the past. If you're enthusiastic and can add value to the gallery by having a pop up day, they will help you out – I have even been given staff for free for the day.

Be patient: There's nothing wrong with smaller organisations waiting a bit until the next generation of things become cheaper. Let the large funded places invest in developing digital tech first. As long as you keep up with Twitter, Facebook, blogging and so on, tailor-made apps can come later. There are free online QR code generators to at least appear being up to date – it's a better contrast to have the gallery a bit old fashioned while the art is cutting edge.


Public Liability Insurance: If you are artists or curators popping up, join AIR at Artists Newsletter:

http://www.a-n.co.uk/air

Membership includes public liability insurance.


Link up: One of the best pieces of advice for popups I've always tried to adhere to is to link with larger organisations.

So I linked with a local open studios programmes, linked my workshops with The Big Draw, etc.

http://www.campaignfordrawing.org/bigdraw/

It's mutually beneficial, and you get to be part of their publicity while you bring in new audiences for them.


Logistics and Layout of Gallery: I'd say shamelessly steal best practice ideas seen in various galleries and other venues. We should all do that!

Adapt ways of presenting according to what you have.
Galleries often have a resource table of books, etc, now - great idea which even a measly popup can replicate.
And definitely have seats available when screening video.