Art brokers are the middlemen and women between artists and collectors, art galleries, museums, and auction houses. One of the primary requirements of a broker is to have an enthusiasm for art. Without the proper enthusiasm, they would not be able to be convincing in their negotiations. In turn, the inability to convince buyers to invest in a piece of art means not being successful.
Of course, there are certain tasks that must be performed in order to become an art broker. A love of art may seem like enough, but there is a great deal of knowledge involved and not all of it deals with just the art aspect.
Become Educated
While a degree in art history is not required, it does provide the necessary credibility. Artists that mayhire you to sell their work and buyers looking for great art want to know what makes you qualified to assess art and determine whether or not it is good enough to sell. An art history degree also teaches about the different time periods and styles. When choosing a specialty, it is important to not go with what is popular at the moment. Instead, adhere to interests and acquire new interests by researching styles so that it is easy to recognize and sell great pieces of art.
Acquiring field experience by seeking employment within an art gallery also helps. Working within an auction house or a museum helps as well. That way it is easy to become familiar with the buying and selling process before becoming an independent broker. Working in the field first also presents the opportunity to network.
Networking
Networking is further expanded by attending gallery showings and exhibitions. There are also many hangouts for artists, which gives plenty of opportunity to get to know them and inform them of the services available to them. In the meantime, it is a must to create relationships with museums, collectors, and art-related organizations in order to meet collectors. High-dollar giving clubs also present great opportunities to meet collectors.
Networking also helps become an expert sales pitcher. There are plenty of opportunities to practice on individuals and pinpoint what needs to be improved and what is working. It is also easy to learn the different types of collectors out there and what they respond to the most when being convinced to buy a specific piece of art.
Tips
If unable to find work within a museum or other art institution, it is possible to volunteer with them. Volunteer work will provide opportunities to gain experience and knowledge of how buying and selling works. It is difficult to know what to do without acquiring the knowledge first-hand from the experts.
It is also a must to expect that there will be times in which no one is buying. There are dry spells, especially during economic downturns. During this time, it is beneficial to seek out someone with a love for art and capital so that a partnership can be formed to help float through those dry spells.
The First Job
The first job is the hardest with that first sale officially capturing the title of “art broker.” But first, it is a matter of getting to that first job, which is done through networking and marketing activities. Research is required to locate local artists and offer to sell their work for them. By this point, it should be known where to find the buyers. Face-to-face interaction with the buyers tends to be the best and this can be done by mingling with them within their clubs and organization or even making appointments with them to show them pieces of art that are being brokered. Utilizing social networking and online advertising, as well as offline advertising, can get the word out to anyone looking for quality art. Not every buyer is part of a club or organization, so it is a must to reach as many people as possible.
If there is no startup capital to cover the cost of advertising, especially print advertising or direct marketing on a large scale, then having an investor come in will be worthwhile. Of course, this means the investor will collect a part of the commissions made on a sale, but it can be worth it since more sales are made possible when there is startup capital.
Overall, becoming an art broker is a matter of positioning oneself through knowledge. Acquiring the proper education, entering into the proper organizations and clubs, and simply having a good sales voice can go a long way. Knowledge is how an individual can call themselves an art broker. Experience is what strengthens that knowledge so that actual sales can take place. After the first sale, the marketplace is wide open for brokers to introduce potential buyers to true artistic talent.
