How to Open an Art Gallery (Plus tips on gallery art framing)

Wherever you are in the world, from city to small town, there’s a high chance you’re close to an art gallery.
Every place has its own creative community. Everywhere you go you’ll find artists, art collectors and art appreciators. Art galleries play a pivotal role in sharing the works of talented creatives with the public. While we can help with gallery art framing, here are some other things to consider.

Whether they’re multi-storey museums like Queensland Art Gallery (QAG) in Brisbane or smaller spaces in old buildings like Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery, galleries are more than just structures. They’re places where artists and art lovers can come together, boosting the economy of an area and impacting its culture.

Choosing the right frames to display these paintings and photos in is an art in itself, and it’s one that Mobile Frames 2 U has had a lot of practice with. With 25+ years of experience under our belts, we offer framing solutions – including gallery art framing – to the people of Brisbane, Toowoomba, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. Best of all, we’ll come to your door and take you through our options – you don’t even have to leave your home or gallery.

If you’re interested in starting an art gallery of your own, here are some tips to increase your chance of success. This article is intended only as an introduction. If you’re serious about starting a gallery, there’s a lot more information out there (especially online) for you to deep-dive into.

When you’ve reached the gallery art framing stage, simply contact Mobile Frames 2 U. We’ll be more than happy to pay you a visit.

Research the Market

Start by looking at the other art galleries in your area. Think about what your gallery can bring that’s different, and use that to drive your vision. If you can fill a need or carve out your own niche, you’re more likely to be successful. Soak up as much knowledge as you can about your city’s art scene and the kind of art you want for your gallery.

Make a Business Plan

There are a lot of details to work out, starting with picking the right kind of business structure. How do you plan to make money from your gallery? What kind of insurance will you need? Are you going it alone or partnering with other people? When it comes to issues like tax and insurance, there are accountants and firms out there that can help you to fulfil all your legal requirements. It starts with registering an ABN, which you can do in a matter of minutes.

Most of your gallery’s income will be from sales, so you’ll have to come up with a contract between you and the artists for how the money will be exchanged. Speaking to a business lawyer or advisor is a great place to start.

Choose Your Location

South East Queensland has some beautiful potential gallery locations in its cities, suburbs and towns. But there are different factors to think about when choosing your location. A busy area with lots of foot traffic will attract more visitors, but if rent affordability is a concern, you may want to choose a quieter area and make a name for yourself there.

Be Online

These days you need a web presence for promotion. Having a well-designed website and a social media presence on platforms like Facebook and Instagram will help you attract more attention. Being tech-savvy can also help you run the business as there’s gallery management software on the market that can help you with tasks like billing and invoicing, tracking all the artwork you buy and sell, and keeping a database of contact details.

Host Events

Hosting exhibitions, performances and other events is an excellent way to promote your gallery, sell more artworks and facilitate networking opportunities. Just make sure you know how much it will cost and can balance the budget. Otherwise you may have to sell a lot of art to make up for the cost of catering.

Work hard, do everything by the book and before you know it you’ll be contributing to the dynamic culture of South East Queensland by running your own gallery. Mobile Frames 2 U looks forward to assisting you with our gallery art framing services.

Frame Your Gallery Art with Mobile Frames 2 U

Gallery art framing has never been easier. If you’re based in Brisbane, Toowoomba, the Gold Coast or the Sunshine Coast, you don’t even have to step outside your door to use our services. We’ll come to your home, gallery or business, run you through our framing options and offer an on-the-spot quote, manufacture your ideal frames in our workshop and bring them back to you. Free pick-up and delivery is included in the deal.

We’re proud to be part of the arts and culture scenes of Greater Brisbane, Toowoomba and South East Queensland – and to help your gallery succeed. To find out more about our gallery art framing services, call Mobile Frames 2 U on 1300 157 720 or request a free quote.