There was significant progress made in 2020
with the advancement of internet access. The trend was towards more online models, but
COVID made it possible to make the leap into virtual spaces. The
immediate necessity of having access to art quickly accelerated the pace of
access. Many organizations have been slow in
embracing the idea of online access, whether it was managing their art
collections online, exhibiting online or providing online access to their
employees.
The switch was flipped during the global
pandemic. Or the art industry will
die. They needed to provide
online collaboration tools for employees. They needed to remain relevant and make it
easy for their employees to access their work even when events were cancelled
or doors were closed. The
future was the only way to live.
Art galleries and museums have had to adapt their
strategies to engage with patrons and members during closure. Gallery openings used to involve socializing,
admiring artwork, and enjoying a drink. Virtual seems
to provide more opportunities for dialogue. Now we are
seeing more dialogue between curators, artists and their recordings being
shared with the artwork. Artists offer studio tours. Artists are
offering studio tours. They talk about their portfolios, inspirations, and
processes. This makes their art seem more real.
This is a trend we hope will continue in the future. The origin stories and artist's journey are just
as fascinating as the paintings.
Before COVID, cultural organizations used technology to
create and distribute their programming. It was secondary to the experience of the
program, as an extra-curricular activity, however, before 2020. This was
when resources were primarily focused on physical exhibits, as well as programs
and activities in person.
The baffling incident left no choice for arts
institutions. The global
lockdown forced creatives and institutions to turn to the internet to access
events, education, fundraising and exhibits. This pivot
point was the perfect place to discover a silver-shining ray of hope.
Despite low participation, museums have seen an increase
in their online audience. According
to the Alliance of American Museums (AAM), the Rijksmuseum saw its lowest
attendance since 1964. However, it experienced a 23 per cent increase in its
social-media followers, and millions of unique visits its website, including
its virtual collection.
Even volunteering went online. Learn how the Smithsonian National Air and Space
Museum used virtual volunteering to change the information desks and docents.
COVID required that the art world break from its
traditional frameworks (which were not always inclusive) in order to adapt to
the digital age.
Online exhibits and programming were made possible by the
advent of virtual programming. Viewers no longer had to be restricted by
geography, cost or time. COVID
allows art lovers to enjoy live shows from the comfort of their own homes. Augmented
reality allows visitors to explore the galleries of the Metropolitan Museum. They don't
have to wait in line for childcare. They don't
have to get up at work early to catch the train into the city.
Art Basel eventually brought its exclusive art fair
online. The site
crashed when its Online Viewing Rooms became so popular. OVR was
already underway before the outbreak of the pandemic. However, OVR was able to
speed up its timeline so that professionals and art collectors could access the
gallery and the artworks.
In 2020, global access was the norm. Our backyards were
populated by artists. Artists
took to the streets to combat the effects of the pandemic, and the resulting
tensions in the community. You could see murals all over the
place. The public art played a significant role in
residents' education and entertainment while they explored their neighborhoods
while hiding in. Find out how Cheyenne/Laramie County Public Art
displayed their collection for the general public.
Online experiences became commonplace in
2020. Virtual
connections were made possible by the limitations of face to face interaction. Zoom was
used by everyone to share birthdays, take part in yoga classes, and go to
meetings.
Winston Art Group's Shanna Hennig states that online
video conferencing software has made art shows more accessible. We can now go to artist talks, gallery tours,
and art fairs right from our own homes. You don't
have to worry about hotel and travel costs for attending an event.
It's illegal to return to live activities. However, the
online platform will continue to be used by the art industry to reach a wider
audience and offer convenient ways to interact.
Art galleries and museums have had to adapt
their strategies to stay in touch with their members and patrons during the
closure. Before
COVID, gallery openings might have involved people socializing and enjoying a
glass (or more!) of wine while looking at art.
Virtual interaction seems to be more appealing because it
offers more possibilities for interaction. Maybe it's because there are fewer distractions. It feels
intimidating and large.
We are seeing more conversations between curators, artists
and their work being recorded and shared. Artists offer studio tours. Artists are
sharing their work and inspiring others. This makes their art more interesting.
This is a great trend that we hope will continue in the
future. It's as
fascinating to learn about the artist's journey and his origin stories as the
art itself.
For a long time, social media has connected
communities. It's not
unusual for art groups to focus on their online presence after closing doors.
They promote their digital content via Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. They started
conversations by posting videos, streaming live events, and using hashtags like
#MuseumFromHome.
Artists are also creative. Insta Live, illustrators share their work. Through
hashtags, artists connected with patrons. Makers held
flash sales, organized studio tours, and recorded time-lapse videos that showed
their process.
"I will be sharing my art each day via Instagram and
Facebook throughout the day to help people have more fun with art. ." --Lisa
McShane Artist
Muros, an international organization for art activation,
was set up to help communities lift themselves through the social media
campaign #MakeWithMuros. A
total of 30 artists from around the globe created inspiring works and invited
people to visit their homes and studios online. It was also
possible to purchase art through the hashtag. It was an
amazing experience to see people coming together in a spirit of joy,
inspiration and eagerness to face the global challenges together. Tricia
Binder is co-founder of Muros and president.
All types of organizations needed to
quickly pivot and make their exhibits online in order to continue their mission
and stay connected. It
wasn't just museums that were able online to display their exhibits. All
galleries, museums, schools, hospitals, universities, hospitals, open studios
and individuals were able to bring their artworks online.
Virtual reality could not replicate the real-world
experience, there was always debate. Virtual reality cannot recreate the depth and
ridges of the brush strokes. It is impossible for a person to
stand up and examine a miniature of an installation.
COVID made the argument inapplicable. Isn't virtual enough if you don't have access to
physical works? Many people are starting to see the value of
virtual exhibitions.
You can also share content online without having to
adhere to the rules of brick-and mortar spaces. You can embed videos and post information
related to artists.
We had smart people visiting us before the pandemic for
online access. They used
the Public Profile and embedded websites to curate and display their
collections online. This number increased in 2020.
We noticed an increase in online sales
before COVID. This was due to technological advancements, greater trust levels
in transactions online and democratic platforms such as Aartzy, which allow art
lovers to search for artists by price, geography, medium, etc.
Online sales are on the rise because galleries, auction
houses, and dealers have to make their work available online. Their website is now their showroom.
Online marketplaces for art are more transparent thanks
to the shift to online. Many
galleries now display their prices.
Online sales are increasing and attracted first-time
buyers to auctions. We
witnessed artists create smaller, more affordable works during the financial
challenges in 2020.
Art markets can be both transactional and social. If they can return to the event, people are more
likely to go to in-person art events. Online auctions
have proven to be very effective, and they will continue to prove this. Online
sales that cross-categories, such as unique sneakers with jewelry or
contemporary art, will continue to be a popular trend at auction houses.
Before COVID, artists and collectors could
meet at exhibitions, studio visits, and gallery events. Emerging artists without a gallery
representation or invitation to these events were exempted. COVID made
it impossible to gallery-hop, visit studios and go to fairs. Art buyers
had to be able adapt to new opportunities to meet artists, discover their work,
and to take advantage of them.
Melinda Wang is an independent curator and cofounder of
MW Projects. MW Projects is a cultural production and advisory firm for artists
headquartered in NYC. She shares her experiences: "Thanks more online art
and gallery content, especially artist-run projects that post via Social
Networks), I've been able to find artists that I wouldn't have met during
normal times. I have been
proactive in my search for artist talks and performances, as well exhibitions
or initiatives that caught my attention.
We saw new and more engaged collectors
emerge from the tech sector in 2020. Although 2020 was difficult for creatives and
small businesses, it was a great year for large companies like Asana, Doordash,
and Airbnb that went public the year before. This is an
all-time high. In 2020, there were 480 IPOs listed on the US stock exchange. This is
106 % higher than the 2019 figure.
A new class of collectors emerged from the massive wealth
shifts. They are eager to invest and spend their money. These new buyers may feel that the art world is
exclusive and difficult to access. Online auctions have made it easier
for collectors to access the art market.
Auction houses are the key to this
decentralization. Auction
houses were once the most important way to buy artwork. Auction
houses had to rethink their plans in 2020. This included their offering, their
schedules, and how they sell their artwork.
Sotheby's and Christie's had to rethink their annual
spring sale. Instead, they switched to the first hybrid sale in 2020. Although e-bidding is not a new concept for
those in the art world, it was interesting to see the equal standing that
online bidders were given during 2020. E-bidding
is now possible at auction houses with a weekly or periodic cadence. This is a
great starting point for smaller pieces or more expensive items. You can
create a new collector group that will become more comfortable over time and
possibly buy more.
The auction catalogue is distributed only to people who
have previously bought or sold items at auction. It is not possible to reach
qualified buyers and new collectors. Virtual auction catalogues allow for more buyers
to be found on the market. They also give the possibility to do targeted
searches of specific collectors and artists.
Before the pandemic spread around the world, the arts
institutions had been through the struggles. Online companies were a threat to galleries. Museums had
to struggle to maintain their memberships and operating funds. COVID
wasn't helping.
We saw an immediate impact on income for organizations
that support artists and arts in 2020. The ticket sales fell. Workshops
and fundraisers were cancelled. Budgets were cut. Staff were
either furloughed or laid off. Despite all attempts, Small Business
Loans and Arts Relief Funds didn't provide enough relief for everyone. According
to Americans for the Arts (AFA), the majority of American artists are currently
employed.
We were shocked to learn from the Alliance of American
Museums this summer 2000 that one-third of American museums could close down in
the event of a pandemic. "Museum
revenue dropped overnight after the epidemic decimated all institutions of
culture, and unfortunately many will not be able recover." Laura Lott,
President and CEO of AAM. AAM.
It will also impact the communities where we live. Museums serve as spaces for people, as well
job-creators, educators, and keeper of culture's history.
However,
there are some institutions that have found solutions online.In April, the Albin Polasek Museum and
Sculpture Gardens of Winter Park, Florida, decided to move their annual
fundraising event, the Winter Park Paint Out, online. The event was able to expand beyond the local
area, which was one of the advantages of going online. The
exhibition was enjoyed by family members, friends, and even strangers from
other parts of Winter Park. Artists were able to exhibit more
work because they didn't have to be constrained by the space available in the
gallery.
Gallery and artist use our invoicing and sale features
frequently. However, in 2020 we saw an increase in use of art-related programs
that accept online payments as well as Paypal integration. Why? They had to
cancel auctions and galas. Instead, developers looked for
virtual alternatives at every event where they could.
Art organizations had to work with what
they had, given a small budget and a lack of staff. The Met Unframed was launched by Verizon and The
Metropolitan Museum. Utah's Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art,
located at Utah State University, partnered with a local agency to create an
online tour.
Katie Lee-Koven, Executive Director and Chief Curator of
Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art, shares the story of how the idea came about
through a collaboration with a realtor selling a house. Although the museum wanted to create an online
tour, they did not have the software, tools or expertise to do so.
COVID was ultimately the main driver. Katie says, "Virtual tours is an instrument
that has made me happy that I can now offer this service." The idea
was discussed before COVID-19. We decided, as with many other
things, to make it an important part of the Museum's closing. Every exhibition
today will have a virtual tour that can be accessed on our website.
8-Bridges is a new platform that brings together artists
from the Bay Area. They
aim to keep the gallery scene alive, regardless of travel restrictions and
other larger gatherings. They open eight art shows each month
on the first Thursday of every month. Bay Area. It's an
excellent idea. It's fresh and new," says Susan J Mumford,
founder and chief executive officer of the Association of Women Art Dealers.
Planning for the long-term future of an art
collection is not a new concept. Many collectors will be able to add estate
planning and will preparation to their list of priorities. It's
possible to delay it until the next or subsequent year.
Estate planning became a major concern in 2020. Many collectors started to think about the
possibility of their deaths. Artwork Archive witnessed a
significant increase in collectors, both individuals and art advisors, who
registered to use online management tools for art collections to help them
organize their art investments.
It was fearful that they would pass by their beloved art
without clear instructions. Finally,
the collectors seized the day of rain.
This trend is expected to continue in the future. Proper
documentation and security help avoid dangers like infighting, forgotten
artifacts, lost work or value that has been lost due to natural disasters or
infighting.
In 2020, art appraisal firms saw a rise in
estate appraisals. A
new generation of artists is dying and hasn't considered how to preserve their
legacy, or record their career. They forget about the legacy they
have left and it affects the value their work.
Artists need to be conscious of their artistic legacy.
They must preserve their work, as well as their process materials and
inspiration. Who will be
able tell their story when they pass away?
Artists are finding that they have more time for other
projects such as inventory management and exhibitions to put up.
Is
this a continuing trend in the internet?It is social. Art is an object. Nothing can
replace the experience of seeing art in person. That won't change. People love
to be around curators, experts, and collectors. People seek
live events that offer the opportunity to learn and enjoy the arts in one
location.
These practices, which we established in 2020, will
likely continue to be in place in the future, whether it's buying artwork
online or going to an art show online. Online has many advantages. Online
access allows for easy and quick access to information, whether you are looking
to purchase or attend. It has been established. Most people
feel comfortable purchasing artwork online (up to a limit).
We'll develop a hybrid model if we reach an area in which
the world opens up again.
Art can be a blessing when you are
isolated. It provides enjoyment, distraction and inspiration.
Art remained strong in the face of the panic and tension
that accompanied the pandemic's spread across the globe. We are grateful for the artwork created by
artists during the epidemic, as well as the art professionals who shared it,
and the fans who continued to buy and consume it.
We look forward to 2021's continuing evolution of the art industry to see how it will continue to be accessible and available to all.
Artworks Archive (2022)
