6 Reasons to Seek Art Opportunities Outside of Your Local Area
Pictured artwork by Jennifer Peart
As we head into another holiday season (are we technically in it already?), I’ve been thinking about my goals for next year. It’s never too early to start planning ahead and hopefully you already are!
For artists just embarking on their careers, I always recommend seeking out opportunities in your local area first. One, because it is easiest, and two, you likely already have a network of connections to begin with. That said, eventually, you will want to expand beyond your town or city. You’ll likely arrive at a point where you realize that you are ready to take on bigger challenges and projects, and that you want to do more with your studio practice. You can make great strides promoting yourself and your artwork online, but here are reasons why you should seek out in-person opportunities beyond where you live or where you’re from.
Reach a wider audience of fans & collectors
This one is basically a given! The more you hustle to land exhibitions, gallery representation, mural projects, and/or museum acquisitions beyond where you currently reside, the more name recognition you will build for yourself. Others will learn about you and while at first you may only see more followers and fans of your work, over time this will lead to your collector base growing.
It is always nice to remember your roots and remain active in your local community, so even when you start to expand into new territories, be careful not to burn bridges and keep in contact with the connections who helped you out in the beginning.
Diversify your professional network
Securing opportunities outside of where you live can speed up the process of developing your career exponentially. Your work will often be seen by new curators, gallerists, writers, consultants, designers, and many others in the industry who may not have had access to your art otherwise. You never know what one person discovering your work might lead you to, and sometimes it only takes that one introduction to elevate your career. I’ve experienced this personally and I know many others have as well.
Pictured artwork by Neelam Padte
Gain a deeper understanding of the industry
Being exposed to a wider network of industry professionals will help you learn much more about the art world. You’ll hear their experiences, become aware of how their various roles differ, and see the multiple ways that people work. Although I hope in your case that these will be few and far between, putting yourself out there may expose you to scams, bullies, and others who will try to take advantage of you. As annoying, disappointing, or frustrating as it is to deal with them, it will arm you with the knowledge of how to avoid these situations and people in the future.
Meet new artist friends
There are so many incredibly warm, welcoming, and supportive professionals in our industry. If you have already have a great network of creatives in your community, this is your chance to add even more people to your circle! These connections may also lead to new opportunities in the future. Plus…
Have an excuse to travel
Now you’ll have another reason to travel, which I know numerous artists want to do more of. Whether it’s to see your first solo show in a different city, attend that amazing residency you were accepted to, or visit your artist friend in their hometown, these outside opportunities will provide you with many chances to visit exciting new locations.
Consider applying to a handful of opportunities in your dream travel destination to check more than one thing off your bucket list. Of course, more traveling will necessitate a bigger budget on your end, but this circles back to my first point. Building a wider audience invites new collectors, more sales, and possibly additional sources of income to help finance your trips.
Finally, keep in mind that traveling can also spark inspiration and bring you fresh ideas for your work, or simply give you a break from your normal routine.
Pictured artwork by Ji Young Yoon
Build up your resume
You know I had to end with this one since I’m such a stickler about having a professional resume! There will only be a finite amount of opportunities in your area unless you’re savvy enough to keep making them on your own. As such, I’d suggest strategically targeting a new geographic location instead. You’ll feel accomplished as you tack on lines to your artist resume.
Furthermore, you will instill greater confidence in your collectors about the value of your work, advance your career, and open yourself up to greater possibilities. The more experience you have, the more opportunities will come to you. It takes effort to get to this point, but is so worth it when you do.
So, if you’ve been shying away from looking for new opportunities beyond your local area, I hope you’re inspired to start laying the groundwork now. Do your research, send out submissions to ones that seem like a great fit for your artwork, and I’ll keep my fingers crossed that you’ll hear successful responses back for whatever it is that you hope for in 2026 and beyond!
-Alicia
If you enjoyed this article, remember that Kat and I offer more advice about the business of being an artist in our first book The Complete Smartist Guide.