Created in Birmingham » Selling

Visual Art for Business exhibition

Pete Ashton — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 14:57:53 +0000

There’s an exhibition at Baskerville House in Centenary Square running from 12 – 29 March showing “fine art, photography and contemporary craft by new, emerging and established British artists selected by arts professionals and business leaders” with the presumable intention of selling artworks to businesses and corporations. It’s run by Visual whose website isn’t running yet but there’s a PDF poster which has some info.

Pictured works (left to right) by: Frillip Moolog, Michelle Lord, Anne Guest, Vanley Burke, Jo Naden and Richard Foot

New Media 4Cast the fifth

Pete Ashton — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 18:05:56 +0000

The fifth and final edition of Antonio Gould’s New Media 4Casts is online covering how engaging with the blogging community can help creative types reach new customers across the world. The core example, which I’d encourage you to check out, is Emily Malcom’s Black Apple blog. Subscribe on the site or listen here:
[audio:http://www.channel4.com/4talent/media/midlands/new_media/audio/socialmedia4cast.mp3]

A Market for Sutton

Pete Ashton — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 12:09:36 +0000

There are plans afoot to bring a regular arts and craft market to Sutton Coldfield “behind and around the station pub or somewhere else in Sutton” according to this Facebook group. Go join if you have a vested interest in such a thing. ta A Newman

Pugh’s Invisible Hand

Pete Ashton — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 18:52:13 +0000

Nikki Pugh has a shop, “the invisible hand”, but because it’s her there’s more to it that simply selling stuff.

The incentive for the invisible hand came about after increasing frustration that Iâ€™d already put all my own spare money into a few major projects – thus leaving me reliant on external funding for upcoming ideas I wanted to develop further. This is ok for some things, but Iâ€™d rather not be completely dependent on Arts Council and the like anyway, and sometimes you just need to be able to access some cash on a timescale of less than two months.

This has increasingly been the case as my practice simultaneously moves further into areas that are difficult to describe in a funder-friendly manner (what exactly are the outcomes going to be?) and that need me to be responsive to things happening around me.

The invisible hand was therefore developed as a way for my practice to become more self-supporting. Rather than selling actual artworks (I donâ€™t usually produce objects), Iâ€™ve gathered together some of the core ideas that run through my work and Iâ€™m now selling products that relate to those. It will also come into play during 2008 in relation to a few publishing projects Iâ€™m working on. Watch this spaceâ€¦

Go buy stuff.

People’s new site

Pete Ashton — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 16:59:09 +0000

People, the independent fashion / design shop in Kings Heath, have updated their website with their Autumn / Winter collection.

The photos are by Emily Quinton.

Jibbering Birthday

Pete Ashton — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 17:58:03 +0000

Jibbering Records, the Moseley-based shop / cafe / promoters / art dealers / etc, are celebrating their 7th birthday with a 2-room gig at the Hare and Hounds on Saturday December 1st, headlined by The Destroyers. More details at the link.

Free Sunday Flea Stalls

Pete Ashton — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 13:45:28 +0000

The Custard Factory is offering five university students free stalls at their Sunday Flea market for six months, worth around Â£500.

University students with creative and unique talents with a desire to earn extra money and improve their business savvy should submit a proposal of one thousand words or less. The chosen candidate with the best proposal will get their own stall at The Custard Factory Flea Market.

There’s also help available in writing the business plan. Details at the link.

Arts and Crafts Fair in the Jewellery Quarter

Pete Ashton — Wed, 30 May 2007 12:54:06 +0000

There’s to be an Arts and Designer Crafts Festival in the Jewellery Quarter on Saturday 14th July (10.30 am – 4.00 pm) where there’ll be markets in St Paul’s Square and by the Jewellery Quarter Clock, Jazz bands, gallery events and open workshops.

Stalls are available for those interested in selling or demonstrating arts and designer crafts at Â£10 each. Which is quite cheap really.

More details from Anna Gibson on 0121 464 1191 or 07966 981 695 and anna.m.gibson@birmingham.gov.uk.

Flair Designer Maker Fair

Pete Ashton — Wed, 16 May 2007 22:26:26 +0000

The Flair Designer Maker Fair at Light House in Wolverhampton on June 23rd features 40 artists and makers from the region exhibiting and selling their work, along with graduates from Wolverhampton School of Art and Design. It runs from 11am to 4pm in the covered courtyard of the Chubb Buildings.

Ranging from illustration and photography to ceramics, textiles and jewellery there will be something to suit your fancy whether it be a gift for someone or a piece of original art for your home.

Artists to be exhibiting include graphic designer Louise Carrier who produces a unique range of prints, cards and bookmarks, Celine Appleyard who produces distinctive ceramic homeware and Claire Buchanan who makes beautiful crochet jewellery.

Full press release here and for more information you can contact Lindsay Wiggin on 01902 716055 or info@light-house.co.uk.

“Makers”… I guess that’s a way of saying “craft” without the oldey worldey connotations?

eBay To Go

Pete Ashton — Wed, 02 May 2007 21:39:08 +0000

Have a play with this little thing:

It’s called an eBay To Go widget and anyone can make one to display any eBay auction on any website, just as you might post a YouTube video to your MySpace page or blog. And it’s incredibly easy to make one.

Imagine you’re an artist or craftsperson who sells stuff on eBay and has their own site and/or blog. With a few clicks you can have one of these selling your stuff directly from your site. Simple and yet mildly revolutionary.

More details (from a more geeky perspective) on Techcrunch and Lifehacker. Cheers to New Musical Strategies for the link.

And if you’re new to selling your own work (as opposed to old books and CDs) on eBay, check out Antonio Gould’s podcast on the subject. Details here or just download the MP3.