Embrace Summer Arts Festivals: Unlock Sales and Exposure for Your Art

As an artist, you know that summer festivals present an incredible opportunity to showcase your work, gain sales, and increase exposure. These events serve as a practice run for pitching your art to galleries, funding opportunities and residencies and can be a significant stepping stone in your artistic career. If you haven’t applied for any summer festivals yet, now is the time to take action.

Did you talk yourself out of applying to festivals this year? Perhaps you had thoughts like:

1. “Not this year, I need to work on my art.” But the truth is, you don’t need to wait for perfection. Every artist is constantly evolving, and participating in festivals can provide valuable feedback and insights to improve you can apply to your pracice.
2. “I’m not ready. My profile, portfolio, and web presence need work, and I don’t know what to include in the application.” Remember, festivals are not just for established artists. Even if you’re starting out, take the leap and submit your work. You’ll gain experience and learn valuable lessons from the process.
3. “I have too much on my plate already.” It’s understandable to feel overwhelmed, but dedicating just one hour to start your festival application can make a significant difference. Festivals often provide clear criteria and application forms, making it easier for you to showcase your work and tick the necessary boxes.

Don’t let that voice of doubt hold you back.

Here’s how to overcome those hesitations and get involved with festivals that can significantly boost your exposure and confidence:

1. If you have work, even just one piece, you have enough to apply. There will be time to create more if needs be for the event itself and you can use past work as examples in your application. Every journey starts with a single step, and your artwork deserves to be seen.
2. Remember that nobody knows your work like you do. You possess all the information and insights needed to put together an impressive application. This application process will not only help you showcase your work but also make future applications easier and more efficient.
3. If you believe you’re too busy, find just one hour to make a start. Applying for festivals is different from detailed funding applications. Festivals often provide clear guidelines, so you simply need to follow the criteria and present your work effectively.
4. Remember that there are other options for getting involved in festivals as well as submitting artwork. Check my suggestions out here

The most significant obstacle to overcome is that internal voice telling you that you can’t do it. But you can! Take this opportunity to silence those doubts and unlock the potential that lies within you.

Remember, seeking out opportunities and taking action is essential for the growth of your art practice and your art business. It’s not always about immediate success; sometimes, there may be rejections along the way. However, these experiences provide valuable lessons and opportunities and you’ll never know what great things might happen unless you try.

So check out the festivals happening around the country this Summer and get involved, its not too late.