Art consultants serve two separate (but related) business functions. They might assist artists in finding their ideal target market and promote the artists’ work to boost sales. An art consultant may also work with galleries that want to commission particular pieces of art from particular artists or collectors that want to buy particular types of art. A consultant is crucial for a community’s artistic presence to develop and flourish in either case.
- Get an art education. …
- Gain art industry experience by working in a gallery or museum. …
- Make business connections. …
- Work for a firm, museum, advisory company or auction house. …
- Work independently. …
- Practice good business ethics. …
- Maintain confidentiality. …
- Stay current.
What does an art consultant do?
A thorough understanding of the client’s needs, from the desired budget to the aesthetic and quality they desire from their purchase, is developed by an art consultant. The consultant chooses appropriate art and determines a fair price for it using their extensive knowledge of both business and art. They can develop a visual identity for a collection that conveys a desired message or evokes a certain feeling if they have curatorial expertise and sound aesthetic judgment.
Some consultants may assist their clients with planning transportation and managing inventories as well as other facets of art ownership. They can provide guidance on how to arrange the artwork to best reflect a particular theme and complement the environment. An art consultant may assess the caliber or authenticity of a work of art as a consultant for a facility, like a museum, or provide guidance on how to best incorporate a piece into an existing collection. In order to find new talent and get the best prices for their clients, an art consultant also closely monitors the art market.
What is an art consultant?
An art advisor or consultant offers businesses and individuals expert guidance on what artwork to buy. Whether a client is looking to furnish a space, make an investment in art, or assemble a collection, an art consultant serves as a representative for them, offering recommendations on prices and pieces of art that meet their needs. Art consultants typically specialize, providing advice for a particular type of business or serving as authorities on a specific artist, period, or genre of art.
How to become an art consultant
A successful career as an art consultant can come from a variety of experiences or educational backgrounds. You can follow these steps to train as an art consultant:
1. Get an art education
Art consultants should be well-versed in all facets of art, including methods, genres, mediums, and historical periods. Majors like art history or fine art in universities can help students gain this understanding. You can learn the business skills necessary to become a consultant by majoring in something else, such as curatorial studies, art management, or art business. You can anticipate learning about art movements, various schools, techniques and chronologies of art-making technologies, and the cultural influence of the arts during your art studies.
2. Gain art industry experience by working in a gallery or museum
Try to begin acquiring relevant experience while you are still in college or as soon as you graduate. Working in a gallery can teach you about the logistics of packaging, transporting, and displaying art as well as the sales process. Working at a gallery might give you the opportunity to get to know new artists and learn how they succeed.
You can gain a slightly different perspective on the art world and learn how larger art collections are managed by working in a museum. You can discover how to securely move and exhibit pieces that might be more aged or delicate than those in a gallery. You might also learn about the most recent preservation and restoration methods, depending on the museum. Leading tours can help you get used to speaking with a variety of people and gain insight into how the public responds to art.
3. Make business connections
Carefully cultivate your business network as you gain experience. Making friends with dealers and collectors at art galleries may help you land a consulting position. In order to learn more about different artists’ work and how it might fit into particular collections, you can also get in touch with them. Social media can help you establish your brand and connect with new musicians.
4. Work for a firm, museum, advisory company or auction house
Once you’ve gained some experience in the art world, look for consulting positions. Art consultants are regularly employed by numerous for-profit and nonprofit organizations, museums, and auction houses. Additionally, some privately owned companies with numerous locations or franchises may hire their own art consultants. In these roles, you can establish your art consulting reputation and start gathering references and referrals. Additionally, you can learn about the most recent developments in law, business ethics, and pricing.
5. Work independently
Determine the type of art you want to work with and the types of clients you want if you want to work independently as an art consultant. You may be able to find work for various museums and collectors who specialize in that era or artist if you have an interest in them. Look for longer-term contracts with hotels or hospitals if you like to find art that evokes a certain mood. Think about any additional abilities you may have that would be beneficial to clients, such as display knowledge or experience with investing in art.
Utilize your network to find your first clients once you have a plan in place. Then, request recommendations from colleagues or clients, and benefit from word-of-mouth advertising by remaining active in the art world.
Skills for an art consultant
An art consultant needs a broad variety of skills, including:
Average art consultant salary
Here are some things to remember as you start consulting:
Practice good business ethics
Since art consultants often handle significant contracts and priceless works of art, it’s crucial to uphold the highest standards of business ethics. Building a solid reputation can be aided by being open and honest about your business dealings.
Maintain confidentiality
Clients put a lot of trust in art consultants, and many private collectors demand that they keep their information confidential. Make sure, as you work, that you only divulge information that is required to protect client privacy.
Stay current
Try to attend events and maintain your visibility in the art world even if you only consult in one area of expertise. By keeping up with new artists, trends, and discoveries, you can establish yourself as an authority on the subject. Additionally, you can increase the scope of your knowledge and future services you offer.
Dream Jobs: Art consultant
FAQ
What does an art consultant do?
Art consultants are primarily “visual storytellers. Through the purchase and thoughtful arrangement of pertinent art pieces, they can assist people or organizations in finding a visual counterpart for their values and objectives. This is part of their mission to satisfy the needs of their clients.
Do you need a degree to be an art consultant?
Art consultants are skilled at choosing pieces that appeal to their clients. Although certifications or degrees are not necessary to work as an art consultant, many people in this field do have academic training in the subject.
What education is needed to become an art consultant?
A bachelor’s or master’s degree in art is required for the duties of an art consultant, as well as prior work experience. Fine art, photography, graphic design, or other art-related fields could be your area of expertise.
How do art consultants get paid?
Usually, art consultants earn money by charging various prices for various services. For instance, you could negotiate a percentage fee where you get a certain portion of the artwork’s overall price or you could charge a flat fee for buying works of art for collectors.
