- Attendance at art events is rising in the United States, with an increase of 9% year-over-year.
- Social media is an essential platform for marketing any event, offering a low cost and vast reach.
- Local newspapers and radio stations and partnering with other businesses in the area can also be great sources for promoting art events.
- Hiring PR professionals are effective ways to get maximum visibility for an art event.
- Influencer marketing can significantly increase visibility and generate more buzz for the show by leveraging influencers’ networks of followers.
People attend art events for a variety of reasons. Many people find the visual beauty of artwork, sculptures, and performances pleasing and inspiring. Art events often include engaging activities and conversations, which makes them a great way to socialize and connect with like-minded individuals. Additionally, visiting an art event can be an opportunity to explore new ideas and practices that may not have been experienced in everyday life.
According to a study by the National Endowment for the Arts, attendance at art events is rising in the United States. The NEA has reported that more than 24 million Americans visited one or more museums or attended one or more performing arts events during 2020. This number was up from 22 million the previous year—a 9% increase overall. Furthermore, another survey found that 78% of people who visit contemporary art exhibitions enjoyed the experience so much they would come again within six months, while 94% said they would recommend it as a “must-do” activity to others.
However, art events are aplenty, so it can get competitive if you want to get people to visit your show. Here are a few ways to create buzz for your art event and increase attendance:
Make Noise on Social Media
Social media is an essential platform for marketing any event, especially art events. With nearly 5 billion users, social media provides a vast potential audience. It also offers the opportunity to create targeted campaigns tailored to specific demographics and audiences. Its low cost makes it an accessible option for even the smallest of budgets.
When developing a social media strategy for an art event, you must consider the platforms you want to use and how you will utilize them. Popular platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest are great for sharing images and videos from the event and promoting ticket sales or discounts to attendees. Other platforms like Snapchat and TikTok provide unique opportunities for reaching younger audiences who may not be on other social networks.
It’s also vital to develop engaging content that will help increase awareness of the event among your target audience. This can include creating high-quality visuals such as photographs or illustrations, producing short video clips or trailers featuring artwork or performers at the show, and developing creative captions that draw attention to the event and encourage people to attend. Utilizing creative hashtags can be another valuable way to help your content get discovered by more people on different platforms.
Finally, investing in paid advertising on various social media channels can be beneficial if you want your message seen by even more people within your target demographic and those who may not have heard about your show otherwise. Ads are customizable, so you can tailor them specifically to your desired age range or geographic area – making sure that your message reaches only those interested in attending art events, increasing engagement overall.
Partner with Local News Outlets
While social media can help you reach a broad audience, it’s not the only way to get the word out about your art event. Local newspapers and radio stations can also be great sources for promoting your exhibition. Consider reaching out to local outlets and pitching interesting story ideas related to the event – this can include interviews with key speakers or performers, features on the artwork being showcased at the show, and more.
Partnering with other businesses in the area can also be beneficial if you want to generate even more excitement around your art event. This could include leveraging relationships with hotels, restaurants, and other attractions that could benefit from increased attendance at your show. Additionally, offering discounts or special offers through these partnerships can help incentivize people who may be hesitant to attend an art event.
PR Services
While social media and local news outlets can be great resources for creating buzz around your event, they are not always the most effective in reaching a large audience. Hiring professional services for public relations (PR) is a great way to get maximum visibility for your show. These services can include the following:
Press releases
Getting your art event televised can find its way into a newspaper, magazine, or online publication. Professionals in PR can help you craft a professional and compelling press release that will capture the attention of editors, reporters, and other media members.
Press kits
Creating a press kit is another excellent way to market your art event. This should include all the information about the show, such as dates, location, performers/artists involved, images and videos from past events, etc. A PR service can also help you create promotional materials such as brochures or postcards to distribute at trade shows or conferences and develop social media campaigns for your event.
Social media management
Handling all your social media accounts can be a time-consuming task. A PR service can help manage all your accounts and ensure that the right message is being put out there to attract more attendees.
Influencer marketing
PR services, particularly those with connections in the art world, can help you reach out to influencers and collaborate with them on campaigns. Influencers have networks of followers that they can leverage to promote your event. This is a great way to increase the show’s visibility and generate more buzz.
Final Thoughts
Organizing an art event is no easy task and requires a lot of planning and effort. However, by following these tips, you are sure to make some noise about your show! With adequate public relations services, optimized social media strategies, and collaborations with local businesses, you can create the necessary buzz to increase your art event attendance.
