How to Set Up a Successful Pop-Up Art Exhibition

Pop-up galleries are a lot of fun and can be a great way to bring art to the public. People generally enjoy browsing new pieces of art and photography. The informal setting of an exhibition is a great way to get them to venture in without feeling any covert pressure to buy (if sales are your goal, that is!). It’s also an effective way to spread awareness through word-of-mouth.

Consider the goal of your exhibition

If you would like to organise a pop-up art event, you’ll first need to be clear about your aim.  

Is this a non-profit venture designed to generate interest in the work of local artists? Or are you displaying your own artwork and trying to establish a customer base? The purpose of your event will help you decide on how to approach the logistical minutiae, such as the size and location of your venue. 

Provide floor plans for your visitors

If your pop-up exhibition will be quite large or is designed for visitors to view in a particular order, consider providing visitors with a floor plan.  

It’s easiest to think about this before you set up your exhibition, rather than afterward. This means that you can ensure visitors start and end the route in logical locations and can avoid confusion.  

It can also help to consider the parts of the exhibition that might generate the most interest and then place them in a location that won’t cause bottlenecks.  

It may even be a good idea to test your designed route with a few friends to see if it’s simple to follow.  

Consider ventilation

When you’re choosing a venue to rent out for the event, consider what level of ventilation is available.  

Each piece of art will be unique in the types of material used, and you’ll need to be careful to ensure that heat and humidity won’t damage the artwork (this is particularly important for unframed pieces). Factors behind this range from summer heat, radiators set to a high temperature and overcrowded conditions.  

If it’s not possible to find a venue in the area with satisfactory ventilation, don’t worry too much! Portable fans from suppliers like RS can be a good back-up option to protect your artwork, as long as you’re careful to ensure the wires don’t cause a tripping hazard. 

Find a time that works for everyone

Once you’ve pinned down your location, identify a date and start time that will work best for yourself, any collaborating artists and your visitors.  

If your aim is to attract tourists, it goes without saying that school holidays and bank holidays may be the best time for your pop-up event. If sales are a large focus, you may find that the months leading up to Christmas help you rake in those profits more. 

Ensure that you market your event consistently in the run-up period, making the start and end times clear so that nobody comes before you’re ready! Posting sneak peaks of photos and paintings that will be on display on social media is an essential way to generate interest, so make sure your photography skills are in shape! 

Pop-up art exhibitions are a rewarding way to engage with the public and with other creators! As long as you follow the set-up steps carefully, there’s no reason why you can’t host an exhibition everyone will remember.  

image credit: venuereport