ArtPrize Grand Rapids & Kickstarter

Like most artists, I'm constantly looking for more ways to promote my work and to make a living at this "Art" business. I've participated in ArtPrize in Grand Rapids for the past four years, and I'm hoping to participate again this year. To be honest, I've never directly sold any of my artwork at ArtPrize, but, hopefully, I've attracted some new patrons indirectly. ArtPrize is a fun event. The excitement and energy on the streets of Grand Rapids during ArtPrize are palpable. And its an inspiration to see so much artwork in one town (1500 artists in over 100 different locations).

It has cost me some serious money to participate in ArtPrize over the years, so, this year, I thought I'd ask my customers for help. So, I launched a Kickstarter campaign to help fund the creation of my next ArtPrize entry. As I went through the process of putting together my campaign, and, as I scanned through many of the current Kickstarter campaigns, I realized that Kickstarter is more than just a "crowd-funding" website, it is also a very powerful marketing tool for selling artwork.

A good Kickstarter campaign offers "Rewards" for people who are willing to pledge support for the project. In most cases these rewards are valuable pieces of art. In my campaign, I am offering some unique rewards, but also the same artwork that I sell at art fairs, on my website and in the galleries that represent me. It is my hope that the added incentive of helping me execute this special project will prompt my patrons to buy more of my artwork. It gives them a way to become intimately involved in my project.

I noticed that there are several artists with multiple Kickstarter campaigns, several of which have far exceeded their funding goal. I came to the realization that these artists are using Kickstarter as their primary mode of selling their work.

I'm seeking $5000 in pledges to create a 20-foot tall version of "Outhouse Island," one of the paintings you see below. I'm also hoping to elicit more interest in the project by asking participants to choose which version I should fabricate for the final exhibit. If I reach my goal, there will be just enough money to create the BIGGEST outhouse painting, ever, and to fulfill the rewards that I'm offering. Exceeding the $5000 goal will be gravy... providing just as much income as if I sold my work on my website.

Here's a link to my Kickstarter campaign. I just launched it yesterday, so I'm hoping to start generating some buzz in the next week or so. And, think about it. Kickstarter (and other crowd-funding websites) may be just another venue for selling artwork.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/390452798/outhouse-island

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  • Thanks for posting these opportunities, fer sher. And good luck with your 20 foot outhouse project.

    ArtPrize Grand Rapids could be better titled as MuralSizeArtPrize Grand Rapids since it seems one has to have monumental works in order to win the big purses. Mona Lisa's need not apply.

    Which venue have you set your sights on getting into? Looks like the Gerald Ford venue might be THE PLACE.

    WOOHOO! 

  • John and Evan -- I think this will get more exposure if you post it in the "discussions" instead of in the blog. That way any time you add any new info or someone comments it brings it back to the top of the discussions and visible. Here in the blogs it will get buried. If you would both just copy and paste this info, your replies etc., over there it would be better for your success.

  • Oh, also...thank your backers personally as they back your project!  One of the best ways to get more backers is for them to hear about it from people who have already backed your project.  Send a brief personalized thank you email and you can encourage them to share your project with their friends through facebook and other social media in the note as well.

  • John,

    Tell everyone about it! Use social media to spread the word, I am not a big social media person, but I use it to promote my business quite a bit.  A lot of my backers came through my facebook fan page (facebook.com/EvanReinheimer).  If you're on Instagram use that too, linkedin, ect.  Contact blogs about art, digital painting, ect daily and pitch them.  Have a professional press release written and submit it everywhere you can.  Your local papers may carry it just because you're a local artist, but think beyond that also.  Think national (and international) as well as local, your local media outlets will be the easiest because you're of local interest, but that doesn't mean that a huge media outlet won't be interested.  If you have a local edition of Patch.com you should submit to them for sure.  Send the info to your email list.  Make a post card and send it to your physical mailing list.  Be shameless in your promotion, people need to know about this for it to be successful, but at the same time don't beat people over the head with it.  Towards the end of the campaign send a reminder to all your lists again.

    When contacting bigger media outlets make the pitch more about you and your work, with the Kickstarter campaign a secondary thing.  Everyone and their mom does a Kickstarter these days, so a good way to stand out and get a foot in the door is to create interest about you and your artwork first.  Your local media outlets should carry the store because your a local artist in the community who is looking to do something extraordinary.

    Funding will come from places and people you've never expected, and people you thought were sure to back you won't always...don't take it personally.

    Thats all I can think of for now.  Feel free to ask specific questions if you have any and I will do my best to help.

  • Hi Evan:

    I enjoyed your Kickstarter pages. Congratulations on a successful campaign. Yes, I'm just starting to realize that the work has just begun. Any more hints and advice you can provide will be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

    John

  • John,

    Great video and project.  You are exactly right that Kickstarter is as much of a promotional tool as it is a tool to get projects funded.  I did a project a year and a half ago (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1986082413/kite-aerial-photogr...).  Not only did it literally help me get myself halfway around the world, but it got my name and my work all the way around the world.  I had backers from every continent (except Antarctica) who now have a piece of my work.  I received some great publicity from the campaign and still have people that visit my art shows and say "hey, we saw you on kickstarter!"

    One thing that I quickly learned when doing my project is that once you have made your project and it is live, the real work is just starting...getting the word out about the project was a full time job.  The first few days start well because all my family and friends contribute and it was easy to tell them about it...but you need the help of people who have NEVER heard of you before to be successful.  Every day I sent press releases, contacted blogs, did interviews about the project with different media outlets (TV, radio, blogs, newspapers, magazines, ect).  You need to be a non stop PR machine for those 30 days, since it is so time sensitive you really need to hustle.

    Good luck, just made my pledge!  I'd be happy to share more of my experience if you have any questions.

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