BUSINESS
Art AS A BUSINESS cont.
JOSEPH BLACK OF RIVER GARAGE STUDIOS, RIVER // www. josephblackart. com
What sparked the initial idea for your business?
As an artist I find it fascinating to study the work of other artists and to see how they have overcome obstacles and expressed ideas in their work. I had worked as a curator in London and studied art history before I moved back down to Kent to open a new studio. I was lucky in finding River Garage Studios, a place which had the ability to be converted both into a studio and gallery space, and I had spoken with a few arts organisations in the area such as Dover Arts Development, who were really pushing for a stronger and more supported art community. So, I took the opportunity to convert the space I had into a gallery / arts space which would help to facilitate better artistic engagement in the area. It’ s been very successful and well received. It gives me the ability to experiment with curatorial practice and engaging with other artists, and it gives them the opportunity to have their work seen and the ability to make work which they otherwise may not have been able to.
What was the first step you took in getting off the ground?
The first step was getting in contact with other like-minded people in the area and listening to what they needed and would benefit most from. The artistic community is very strong here and I’ ve come into it right at a time when it’ s really developing very fast. A number of arts projects here have been granted a lot of funding and it shows that there is both the desire from the public and the desire from artists to get involved.
What’ s been the toughest challenge you’ ve faced so far and how have you overcome it?
The space is still in its infancy, so I’ m sure we’ ll face many difficulties and challenges over the next few years. The biggest challenge for arts businesses is always funding and maintaining financial stability. Therefore it’ s easier to have as few fixed costs as possible and work from project to project.
What’ s been your biggest achievement to date?
River Garage Studios has only been operating now for six months, but in that time we have held two curated group exhibitions and two solo presentations. I think the most rewarding achievement for me is seeing how enthusiastic and inspired artists have become by the opportunities offered by the space. We have had more ideas for exhibitions and projects than we could ever fit in, but it shows to me just how much a space like this can offer artists and how creating and inventive they can be when presented with an opportunity. I hope that alone will show to others just how strong and independent the creativity of artists in communities can be.
In your opinion, what separates a product that will be a success from one that won’ t?
Good marketing.
If you had one piece of advice for anyone thinking of launching their own art business, what would that be?
It’ s a simple answer, it has to be something which you really enjoy doing. It’ s not an easy profession to work in but if your enjoyment and love of art is strong enough then you’ ll be able to get through. The people who have launched and maintained their own art businesses are always the ones who would do it above everything else.
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