Tuesday, September 4, 2007

The almanac

"The first thing you should do", I've been told on several occasions, "is to get a copy of the almanac". So I did. "It's the bible", I've been told.

I picked up the August edition of the ArtAlmanac last week. And it is definitely a great starting point to get familiar with the Melbourne art scene, no doubt.

But essentially it's a book full of advertising. And at $495 for a full page, that cost adds up for a small gallery over 12 months. I wonder if it's worth it.

Perhaps the art collector uses the almanac to shortlist their next investment. And I'm sure every gallery feels as though they have to be in it each month, because "you just have to be in it!". But do you?

I'm curious - Is advertising in the the ArtAlmanac a manatory? Does anyone actually read it? Could you spend your gallery marketing budget in a better way? What do you think?

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

There are alternatives: free advertising listing of exhibitions in Trouble, Beat, Inpress and other street press.

Anonymous said...

Its hard to gage how much advertising translates to sales ... but what it does it gets the name of your gallery out there .. and the name of your artists, plus you usually would share the advert with the exhibiting artist, and you might want to take a half page sometimes ..

but all in all its abit of a gamble, although its a safe bet (compared to other magazines) since anyone who is serious about gallery hoping would pick up a copy

Anonymous said...

its a complete and utter waste of time as it attracts thirsty bums and students with no $$$$