The Art Of Collaboration For Visual Artists

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What Is Collaboration

Collaboration is defined as the action of working with others to produce or create something.

Collaboration with other artists is about building each other’s art business with similar visions and missions. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses, and working together can produce great results for everyone participating.

For example, one person might have excellent communication skills while another person might shine at graphic designs and creating brochures and flyers, and another person might find accounting easy. The three combined will make a powerful tribe, and if they collaborate, they could find that all of their businesses will prosper, or maybe they will eventually create one company together. The options are endless.

Why Is It So Important To Collaborate

Collaboration is a powerful tool for all small business owners, regardless of the industry you are in or the type of business you have. (Source: Small Business)

We are living in a fast-paced society, and startup businesses are starting and closing every day.

Why do 90% of startups fail?

Many reasons startups fail include no direction or goals, no accounting skills, and no customer service skills. Another reason is that they do not collaborate with other businesses.

Successful businesses have a wealth of valuable information that startups can take advantage of. Companies that have been around for years have learned a lot throughout the growing process and they can share their experiences with startups.

Startups also have strengths that larger companies seek. Working together can make each business involved more robust and thrive.

Artists can also work together to help each other succeed in the art world. An artist who has been selling art online for ten years can help guide a new artist with the ins and outs of building a website and developing a newsletter that will sell art.

A new artist might be savvy on social media platforms, which can provide value to the artists who have been selling art for the past ten years. When both artists work together, both will become stronger.

How To Prepare For Collaboration

The art of collaboration starts with knowing what you what to achieve and understanding what your strength and weaknesses are.

What are your business goals?

How much money do you need your business to generate every year?

How are you going to generate income?

Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Knowing what your strengths and weaknesses are will help you when it comes to collaboration with artists.

What are your weaknesses? What type of people would you need to collaborate with to help you with your weaknesses?

What are your strengths? What can you offer others to help them strengthen their business?

What Are Some Examples Of Collaboration

There is a lot that is involved in online art marketing.

Artists selling products online have to:

Collaborating with other people even if they are not artists will help you to turn your weaknesses into strengths.

An example of collaborating with an artist might be you helping them with SEO and the other artist helping you with new social media marketing strategies. Or you might be able to help them with a website design and they can help you draft a well-written newsletter that sells art.

You will soon see that helping people and sharing thoughts about a similar topic can open many opportunities that might be not available if you work alone. In time you might have a group of creative minds working together on a project.

Collaborate with people in a different field. There is no rule saying that you can only be part of a collaborative project with artists.

For example, if you excel in graphic designs, you might be able to help a small business by creating Pinterest image templates that would make it easy for them to create new Pinterest pins. And maybe the owner can support you by building name recognition in your local area and introduce you to other small business owners.

The more individuals you meet the better. Like they say it takes a tribe to build a village.

Reach Out And Collaborate With Artists

Now that you know what you will need to work with other people in your field and in other fields it is time to take action and developed a strategy to meet new people.

The easiest place to start is local. Start by introducing yourself at local craft fairs and art shows. Just start conversations with other local artists. Give the people you connect with your email address and give them yours. Make sure that you get some sort of contact information so you can follow up with them at a later time.

Another good way to meet new people is on social media. Social media was created for people to meet new people and a platform for people to be social. Start by joining some Facebook groups that relate to your art. First, sit back and study how the members communicate in the group. In time you will feel comfortable sharing your ideas with members who share common goals. Use the platform to build trust and in time you will find real people who are willing to help each other succeed.

Starting collaborative projects begins with a common vision and goal of two or more people. The people who succeed in collaborations thrust everyone who is involved with a project and everyone is willing to share their experience with the group.

Final Thoughts About Building A Team Collaboration

Developing an artist collaboration strategy will help you to grow your business faster and allow you to meet people you can network with.

Artists create art alone but when it comes time to selling art, the more people who can help you get the word out the better.

Good collaboration starts with meeting people with similar goals and visions.

Start by having a clear vision of your objectives then start connecting with others.

Suggested Reading:

The Art of Collaboration: The Real Truth About Working Well with Others (Paperback)

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