“Prints & Profit: Creating Sales in the Fine Art World”

LIVE WEBINAR: Sunday 24 November, 2024 at 12pm PT/2pm CST/3pm ET/8pm GMT

Instructor: R. J. Kern

Date & Time: November 24, 2024 12pm PT/2pm CST/3pm ET/8pm GMT

Platform: Virtual Platform, Zoom

Recording: This webinar will be recorded and may be re-watched for up to 30-days.

Course Description:

"Prints & Profit: Crafting Success in the Fine Art World" is a dynamic, three-hour virtual workshop designed for photographers and visual artists seeking to enhance their business acumen within the fine art industry. This course will delve into the nuances of fine art photography, strategic gallery partnerships, and marketing techniques tailored to growing a successful art business. Gain invaluable insights on marketing strategies, licensing, contracts, pricing your work, and building a sustainable business model in this immersive and practical online course.

R. J. will offer guidance on everything from landing gallery representation to structuring limited editions and pricing work—not to mention staying happy throughout it all. He will speak in-depth about the pillars of business that strengthen an art career, like branding and marketing (including developing an online presence), putting together a portfolio, knowing how to use certificates of authenticity, exploring potential exhibition venues, and much more.

Course Objectives:

By the end of this workshop, participants will:

1. Understand key business practices essential for fine art photographers.

2. Learn the process of generating and managing print sales.

3. Gain insights into collaborating with galleries and navigating the art market.

4. Develop effective marketing strategies to promote and sell artwork.

Course Outline:

Hour 1: Foundations of the Art Business

- Introduction (15 minutes)

  - Brief welcome and course overview

  - Instructor and participant introductions

- Business Basics for Artists (45 minutes)

  - Understanding the fine art photography market

  - Essential elements of a successful art business plan

  - Legal aspects: Copyright, contracts, and pricing strategies

Hour 2: The Art of the Sale

  - After the print is done: marketing fine art prints

  - Selecting materials: framing and shipping

  - Managing print editions and authenticity

- Selling Prints Effectively (30 minutes)

  - Setting prices for prints

  - Handling online and in-person sales

Hour 3: Gallery Partnerships & Marketing

- Working with Galleries (30 minutes)

  - Finding and approaching galleries

  - Building and maintaining relationships

  - Understanding gallery agreements and commissions

- Marketing Your Art (30 minutes)

  - Branding and building an online presence

  - Utilizing social media and digital marketing

  - Creating engaging portfolios and promotional materials

Conclusion: 

- Q&A and Wrap-Up (20 minutes)

  - Open floor for participant questions and discussion

  - Summary of key takeaways

  - Next steps and resources for ongoing learning

Materials Needed:

- Note-taking materials

- Digital device with internet access

- Optional: Samples of personal artwork for discussion

Pre-Workshop Preparation:

Participants are encouraged to prepare questions and bring examples of their work or business challenges for personalized feedback during the Q&A session.

Join us for this comprehensive workshop and take the next step in cultivating a thriving fine art photography business. Let's turn your passion into a profitable venture!

Instructor Bio:

R. J. Kern’s work has been featured in National Geographic; in exhibitions at the Zurab Tsereteli Museum of Modern Art (Tbilisi), the National Portrait Gallery (London), and the Yixian International Photo Festival (Anhui, China); and solo exhibitions at the Griffin Museum of Photography, the Masur Museum of Art, The Plains Art Museum, and Oklahoma State University Museum of Art. Public collections include Minneapolis Institute of Art and Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. R. J. was a 2017 CENTER Choice Award winner, a Critical Mass Top 50 (2018, 2021, 2024). Grants include an artist grants from Metropolitan Regional Arts Council (2024), Puffin Foundation (2024), and six grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board (2016, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024). Monographs include: The Sheep and the Goats (Keher Verlag, 2017) and The Unchosen Ones: Portraits of an American Pastoral (MW Editions, 2021). He thrives in Minneapolis with his wife and two kids.

For more information on his offerings, visit www.rjkern.com/edu.