Social media is an enormous, evolving universe of information, publicity and opportunity which the emerging artist can make use of, to their advantage. It can be a difficult territory to navigate and ‘the algorithm of every social media platform is different, but they are all based on machine learning and a set of factors called ranking signals. These are exactly what they sound like: signals used to rank the value of each individual piece of content for each individual user….Ranking signals are individualized because they are often based on your previous interactions with the app’ (https://blog.hootsuite.com/social-media-algorithm/).
The vocabulary needs a new dictionary: analytics, API, branding, CTA’s, carousels, chatbots, CTR, content curation and community management to name but few. Possibilities of hacking your site, risks to your mental wellbeing and loss of creative identity are well documented.
Social media can feed my creativity and inspire me, whilst navigating this maelstrom of data and opinion.
I have been encouraged to use a blog to both reflect on my own learning and also find out how social media can help me develop my career. I found navigating the process tricky at first but the more I use it and practice, I can see the benefits of this type of communication to reach an audience (on a-n, for example, connects with other artists), potential collectors and curators. Katherine Tyrrell is a top art blogger with information about art exhibitions, but also contains articles for art lovers as well as artists. Along with art news and ongoing/upcoming art competitions, Making a Mark has guides, tutorials, and how-tos. You can also visit links where Katherine posts her own artworks made with pastels and pencils. You can read about the materials she uses. Also writes for many other blogs.
I recently visited Tate Modern to see the Hilma af Klint and Piet Mondrian exhibition. Using YouTube I can watch videos and listen to audio to gain insight and opinion about the show. Tate also uses the platform to create interest in their own exhibitions as well to educate. I can look at other exhibitions from all over the world easily and research information about the art world. Uploading films of my own practice, I could gain followers and it is free to use. Artistic processes from online tutorials as in the example below, is easy and often useful. Louise Fletcher for example has created a large following (52.7K subscribers) with her online tutorials which leads them to her paid-for membership group Art Tribe and her own exhibitions.
YouTube had 2.6Billion users last year which is an incredible potential audience and although not every artist wants to engage with it, this platform could enable me to grow my audience if I used it regularly to post about my work and processes using short films.
On Instagram, I noticed Winchester School of Art started following me, so I followed back and saw their post announcing the nominees for the WCA 2023 Painting prize, which included me from University of Suffolk. This was uplifting so I reposted on my feed and on stories which got quite a bit of traffic and likes. This shows how having my social media tags on any prize application can lead to extra publicity, and a symbiotic relationship between curators and artists.
Today, I applied for the Ipswich Print Week 2023 exhibition with one of each print editions I have been making. Prints must be framed, but I have already identified some suitable ones which I hope will enhance my work. It costs £15 to enter but only if I am accepted and any sales are commission free.
I found details on the Print Week website which is very comprehensive and up to date, with links to reviews, mentions, reels, photos and videos. I saw it had links to Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, showing its varied presence on social media. As an artist, a professional and up to date website, showing Bio, Artist statement and portfolio looks professional and gives a good impression to anyone interested in the artist, although social media has, in many ways, bypassed the need for one. Social media can include links to an artist/art organisation website too.
Facebook has 2.94 billion monthly users and has 59% of all social media, and is linked to Instagram. As an artist I can post to both platforms to simultaneously and efficiently promote myself. As Facebook is free and easy to use, many artists use the platform like a website.
