Many voices get us heard (and Seen!)

One of the most exciting things about curating a group show like First Anniversary: PAPER, is seeing the way the individual pieces, each strong in its own right, contributes to the whole, inevitably making the show somehow greater than the sum of its parts.

First Anniversary: PAPER

The quality and beauty of the work should speak for itself, and once you're in the gallery, it does. But how to get more visitors into the gallery to see for themselves what we have the privilege of seeing every day?
These days everyone is constantly bombarded with information- see this, buy that. Our blinkers are up, most of the time, simply to keep from being overloaded. There are ways to get past the 'noise filters'. One of the best ways is by personal communication. It's critical for each artist who exhibits his/her work to tell their family, friends, and fans. They are our cheerleaders. Tell them to pass the word onto their friends, and grow the web of contacts.

Another way, conversely, is to add MORE noise. The Harvard Business School Newsletter recently published an article called 'It's Not Nagging: Why Persistent, Redundant Communication Works'. The basic premise is that repetition penetrates the firewall of information overload, and gets attention to our message. Hearing a similar message from multiple sources (or multiple platforms- print media, e-newsletters, social media, word of mouth) makes that message stand out, and prompts us to take action- in this case, to come see the show!


The gallery takes its responsibility for generating traffic to this and all our shows very seriously. Postcards are printed and widely distributed; email blasts are sent regularly to our large and growing list. Press releases are sent to all local and regional publications. Personal invitations are sent out. We use facebook and tweet often. 


In this era of hyper-local news, however, some news media will only post news that is directly relevant to their community. For example, news about a gallery in Framingham may not be featured in Natick, or Sudbury. Unless, of course, the artist from that town contacts them directly.


Core Artist member and media-savvy artist Roy Perkinson prepared and sent a press release of his own to the local media outlets in his community, in addition to the one sent by the gallery. This is not duplication, or even addition, of efforts- it's multiplication. His press release has a good chance of being noticed because he's a town resident. Our press release will add a recognition factor, and reinforce his. The article that is written will be seen by readers who may also see the same information elsewhere. And so on.


An easy place for every artist to start promoting themselves online is the Patch, hyper-local e-news blasts in many communities in Massachusetts and all over the US. It's very easy to submit a news tip or post an event. 


If you have any suggestions or ideas on ways to spread the word, please share them with us. We think the gallery has a lot to offer, and we don't want to keep it a secret!


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