Building a Local Marketing Business
I took one look at the topic and had to declare -I have no local business. This is a small Island that struggled for years just to survive.
The appreciation might not be there; but my work would not be complete unless I try.
Barbados is a much more developed Island with some appreciation for Art; yet it took me 18 years to develop a local market; Until the largest and most popular local Departmental store agreed to offer myself and a weaver enough space to mount a series of exhibitions -right next door to the most frequented local lunch restaurant in the city.
The exhibitions were so successful that a Departmental store in Trinidad invited us to mount a similar exhibition. They were the most successful exhibitions ever.
Locals who knew our work by working in the hotels and private villas remarked that they admired our work but were not aware that they could afford it. My last exhibition in Barbados was in 1988, just prior to my moving to Anguilla.
An assignment as a handicraft development consultant brought me to Anguilla; I fell in love and never left.
Thirty one years has passed, and sad to say, I can count the local customers on one hand.
An attempt to reach the locals, is in the making. A local supermarket has just agreed to host an exhibition of my wood carvings in the month of December; a first for Anguilla and maybe for any Island in the Caribbean.
Have you ever seen an Art Exhibition mounted in a supermarket?
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Haven't seen one yet, but maybe that's a good reason for you to do one! Go for it...what do you have to lose?
Joe
Nothing to loose, most ordinary folk seem to think art galleries are not for them; out of a population of around 15.000, if I see more than 25 local persons per year, it was asking for money to support a worthy cause.
Looking into it in Barbados also for 2020, where our first out of the box exhibition was held.
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Yes, once... and it was awesome
Moment of silence
Can you say where was it, and how large a community.?
Small community... yes, hospital... every month other artist...
Thank you, I thought so