How To: Organize an Art Show to Support Your Cause

Get your community interested in your cause by coordinating an exhibit of visual art with your cause as the theme. It’s a great way to educate while having fun!

1. Art Space. Scout out a good spot for an art show. In your school, you could use the gym, the library or even the hallways above the lockers. If it is for the entire community, think about using your library or other community used spaces like coffee shops or a café. You could hold an art opening on a night during the week (so parents and siblings can come) and then leave the artwork on display for a longer period of time.
2. Build support for your project. If you're hosting the show at your school, get your teachers on board first, then go with them to the principal to get it all approved. Art teachers will probably be nice enough to dedicate a class period to getting students to create art for your show - just ask! If your cause is environment or disaster response and relief, get your science teacher involved. If your cause is discrimination, approach your History teacher. The point is that no matter what your cause, chances are there’s a teacher who’ll be willing to help out. You'll also need to recruit a few friends to help you spread the word and set things up the day of the show. Delegate!
3. Organize meetings. That's where you can tell friends and classmates exactly what your show is about and how they can get involved. You can also use this time to create art as well as flyers and posters to advertise your show.
4. Publicity Advertise! Make flyers, email the event to list-serves, create an event on facebook, be creative and get the word out. Find an artist to help (it shouldn't be hard, it is an art show). Visit your local community center and/or art centers to recruit artists.
5. What type of art show? Think of all the guidelines for your show. Do you want to open it to any type of art-like photographs, paintings, graphic art, etc., or just one specific kind? Will there be certain rules about subject matter? Can anyone enter the show? Does all artwork need to be framed to be entered? These are all things you should think about.
6. The Art Show. There are a few things you should think definitely do on the day of:
• Have a few friends at the entrance to pass out info sheets on what the show is all about and who all the artists are. Include facts about your cause, why it’s important and what people can do to get involved.
• Serve beverages and snacks. Try to get these donated.
• Encourage all the artists to attend and interact with those viewing their art. This is free publicity for them!
7. The details. Here's a few other things to think about:
• Is there enough space for sculptures or other free standing art?
• Should you make posters leading guests to the show?
• Do you want guests to fill out a survey about their reactions to the art?
• Do you want to have awards for audience favorite, most thought provoking or other creative categories
8. Ways to make it pay. See if you can get people to pay a small admission to support your cause or help fund the next art show. You can also charge a small fee for light snacks and beverages. Another option: get the artists to donate their artwork so when people buy it, the money goes to support a cause.
9. Say thanks! After this event, you should send thank you notes to all your friends who helped you and all the artists who participated. Show them you appreciate everything they did. You could start an annual art show!
10. Share it! Let us know how it went! Post it as a project on our site.