Art Exhibition Invitation Cards Art and Craft Exhibition Themed Invitation Template
7 Ways to Wow with Your Exhibition Invitation
Every contact you accept with someone is an opportunity to wow them with your art and your professionalism, so you don't want to miss the chance to wow from the first.
Robert Mapplethorpe knew this. For his first solo exhibition in 1973 at New York'due south Light Gallery–a evidence of Polaroids–Mapplethorpe's invitation was a hand-printed paradigm from a Polaroid original.
Mapplethorpe embossed his proper name on the outer border, included the protective Polaroid comprehend, and inserted everything into hand-addressed, foam-colored Tiffany envelopes.
His invitation was a work of art in itself considering, he believed, an exhibition doesn't begin when you become to the opening, merely when y'all receive the invitation.
The moment people hear about the show, they first judging. Volition information technology exist any good? Who else volition testify upward? Is it worth my time? Is in that location something better I could practise that night?
What experience do people accept when they get an invitation from you?
Hither are 7 means to use your invitation to wow guests and gear up the tone for your exhibition.
Real Mail
one. Transport it via postal service.
The simple act of putting a postage on an envelope and dropping it into a mailbox automatically increases the prestige of your exhibition.
In these days of email reliance, nearly anything you transport real post volition get more attention than if it were sent via electronic mail.
2. Brand it one of a kind.
Your invitation will exist extra special if you tin make each invitation by hand: hand-printed, painted, or collaged.
Yet, recognizing that it's not piece of cake to make a large quantity of handmade invitations, it's possible to begin with a mass-produced image and add together embellishments, such as:
- Areas of paint
- Embroidery
- Collaged elements
If you aren't able to produce handmade invitations, become a professional person to pattern them and use high-quality newspaper for the printing.
iii. Focus on the art. Focus on the art. Focus on the art.
This should be obvious, but accept a clue from Mapplethorpe and hyper-focus the invitation on the art. He embossed a reproduced image from his show and reinforced the Polaroid theme in the invitation.
Consider making an invitation that is a artistic preview of the work people will see when they attend.
iv. Don't skimp on the envelopes.
If you utilise a printing company, ask them to relieve their envelopes because they're unremarkably too flimsy to impress.
Yous can grab someone'southward heart without Tiffany envelopes, and you'll pay significantly less than what Mapplethorpe shelled out for those back in 1973. Two of my favorite envelope resources are Envelopes.com and Paper Source.
5. Comprehend a gimmick.
Your invitation shouldn't look annihilation similar the bills and junk postal service landing in mailboxes. Swanky envelopes and hand embellishments will eliminate all possibility of that, and you tin expand on this desire to stand out.
Enclose your invitation in something with an odd shape.
You lot can mail in square or articulate envelopes, mailing tubes, and almost annihilation else you tin dream upwardly.
six. Add together handwriting.
Write a personal annotation by hand on the invitation and accost the envelope by hand. Anything with your handwriting will get more attention.
Even if you lot're merely sending a postcard, write a personal note somewhere on it.
If the envelope or invitation is a dark color, I recommend the Uni-brawl Signo broad white gel pen. I've tried my share of white pens and had well-nigh given upwardly on them before I came across this brand, which was a lifesaver for holiday cards.
Electronic mail
As I mentioned above, an email invitation will never have the gravitas as ane delivered in real mail. Even so, because we use e-mail so much, it's important to exist aware of how y'all can raise the value of your email.
The all-time (and perhaps just) way to do this is …
7. Send 1 e-mail to 1 person.
It'south like shooting fish in a barrel to send an electronic mail to many people at once, but at that place'due south non a whole lot that is special nigh those. If you want people to act, send a personal message to a single person. They'll notice the difference.
Here are some pointers for this procedure:
- Address the person by name.
- Add together a line or 2 (or more than) that acknowledges the human relationship y'all have with them.
- Tell them, with sincerity, how much information technology would mean to you lot if they would attend your show.
- Employ a personal subject area line such as I'd love it if y'all could come to my bear witness.
Your Plow
How do y'all employ invitations to add cachet to your exhibition?
This post was originally published on April 26, 2016. Information technology has been updated with the original comments left intact.
Click here to run across how invitations fit with your comprehensive exhibition plan.
- past Alyson Stanfield
- April x, 2019
This program emphasizes your limited capacity. It'due south non about remainder.
It's about being fulfilled—about enjoying the life of an artist. To do that, you seek to optimize how you spend your precious time.
It'south non a social media class and it's not about posting more!
Be intentional with your artist life.
In two hours a day I walk you through steps that will result in a program that only y'all could make because information technology's based on your goals, your current commitments, and how you desire to run your art business and live your life.
Get real with your time.
lx thoughts on "seven Ways to Wow with Your Exhibition Invitation"
Source: https://artbizsuccess.com/invitations-for-exhibitions/
Hello what a timely note from you. I will accept my first booth at an art show this weekend in Aureate Colorado. I'yard super excited. I hand-painted concern cards to requite out – which I'yard really excited about. I'm as well thinking of making bookmarks or postcards as well. I'g but selling originals and then I'm looking for trivial things to handle people if they don't buy. I'g not sure if I should just hand them out to everybody though. At least non till they spent some time looking around. Beloved the content that you share – thank yous so much.
How-do-you-do, Nikki! I'm here in Aureate. Where is your show ???
Continue the special stuff for the special people.
Dearest these ideas. I am wanting to accept an art garden party and invite my neighborhood. Even the ones that I practise non know. Doing something special like this would be perfect to go their attending! Thanks Alyson!!
Swell idea, Rebecca. And at that place'southward then much you tin can do with a garden theme. Have fun with it.
An first-class take on this and great timing for me. I e'er appreciate your newsletter and quick tips. Thanks Alison!
Thanks, Kit. E'er happy to see your proper name here.
Also, kind of a bummer: I was going to pivot from your site, but it won't allow me.
Timely indeed! I have been invited to prove nigh all of my work from the last four years at what is – for where I live – a very prestigious gallery. It's in a tourist town and in the summer so it volition likely run into a lot of traffic. I'chiliad excited.
Merely the gallery is creating the invitations and I am to utilise their invitations (they have a very specific contract)… it is a post carte. They are always well done simply nevertheless… what would you think of putting their post card in my envelope and adding a brusque handwritten note?
Congratulations on the opportunity, Victoria. Yous tin certainly use their invitation +. Add together your special bear on to it. Put a bow on it! 🙂
Cheers for this wonderful commodity. I have always done this for my open studios every other year, merely it is e'er gratifying to realize that 1 is doing it right.
This year I take included a sheet with particulars about pricing, and also letting everybody know about the new directions in my work and request for their ideas. I'll take work past my students up, too.
I beloved having the open studios; information technology's so much fun seeing all the work up at one time. And information technology is such a pleasure to run into the friends who come and relish the work.
Lee
Dainty piece of work, Lee. Keep it up.
Groovy post, Alyson, and very timely! My solo showroom opens in ii weeks. I take taken a lot of care in designing my invitation to make it eye-popping and compelling. Clarity of information is likewise crucial and then people who aren't familiar with showroom protocol understand that the show runs for a menstruation of weeks AND that, additionally, at that place is an artist reception on a given evening. Again, thank you Alyson for your always-pertinent posts.
Mary Lou: I promise I get one of those! 🙂
Thanks Alyson, I had almost given up on snail mailing invitations, but you've convinced me that information technology is however valuable. I usually have written notes on those in the past but now I'thousand going to exist thinking more than near the hand-busy touches that could be incorporated. For next fourth dimension…
Joy: Yay! They're more valuable than always.
You're so right Alyson. We're artists so we've got no excuse to ship out non-artistic invitations.
I like your idea of mitt-made/embellished invitations. If we can't send them to everyone nosotros could send them to our most important people (collectors/mailing list) and apply mass-printed ones to get out in venues etc.
One technique I've used in the past when using mass-produced invitations is to use several dissimilar images – that way if I know someone personally, I tin can choose the 1 I think they'll virtually like. Plus when people go far clutching their invitations, they realise that they didn't all become the same affair.
Groovy idea, Cherry-red!
Hi Alyson,
I've mentioned this on your weblog before, but information technology'southward of import to include the words "you are invited…". YOU know information technology's an art show, but I once handed a show invitation to my hairdresser, who looked advisedly at it and said, "Is this a business carte du jour?"
Excellent point, Rani.
Thanks, Alyson! I'll definitely be using these tips for invites!
What a useful and interesting ideas focused on invitations to shows…. when I retrieve that I "have information technology" under control I read some of your articles with totally new and very useful advice. I will put in practice some of the points I take read hither. I am having a big solo show in a prestigious art center, I want to practise information technology well.
E'er thankful Alyson!
Forgot to mention…..
At present that I think virtually it….I re married a couple of years ago and had a very lovely but small reception. I did all those invitations past manus. A simple but bright colored design they made an affect. For some reason never crossed my listen to utilise the idea for a show. So…. yes thank you once more Alyson!
Hullo Alyson,
This is such a timely web log mail. I recently took studio space with two other artists in an old loftier schoolhouse that has been converted into artist studios. We are planning our kickoff Open Studio/Grand Opening this month and I'm very excited to show my piece of work. Thank you so much for sharing your ideas. I am working on sending out my invitations past snail mail, adding a personal note and I love your idea to send a personal email. Thank you lot for your post. All the all-time.
You really make it seem actually easy with your presentation
still I discover this topic to exist really something that I believe I would never understand.
It kind of feels too complicated and very huge for me.
I am having a look ahead on your next post, I will try to get the hang of it!
I'thou curious about how to arroyo this for out of town shows. I'1000 showing in a variety of places where I haven't lived and I don't know anyone who lives almost by. Can you talk most how to market myself for those types of shows?
Just amazing article! Has anyone ever wondered how to fill up out forms online? I have, and plant a simple service. I mostly apply
http://goo.gl/X4uJQtto edit my PDFs. I think information technology likewise allows you to to create fillable pdfs and esign them.I'm not having an exhibition still, simply many of these ideas could work for all kinds of events!
Perfect timing Alyson. I'g just finishing invitations for my upcoming solo exhibition in June. Your suggestions are, every bit ever, practical and well-considered.
And I love the snail postal service bear upon. As one of the last diehard fountainpen users, I'grand inspired to make my invitations more personal.
Thanks for your ongoing support.
Kathi
Fountain pens are, indeed, special. Lucky recipients.
Timely post! I just sent epitome + data to gallery last night for upcoming show.
the gallery has a standardized postcard invite and sends out virtually a yard.
To notation, with USPS bulk postal service, they don't allow personal notes on the postcards, I will use your idea though and put those I want to personalize in envelopes. Thank you
Evon: So good to see y'all hither. I'chiliad glad you constitute this helpful.
Give thanks you for pointing this simple truth out because I take installed x of my paintings in a Victorian bed and breakfast and they will be having a reception. I accept several people I would beloved to transport a personal invitation for the the opening and I now know that it should be very special since this is my starting time exhibition.
It's going to be lovely, Katherine!
Thanks, Alyson! Finally have made efforts to contact and contract advertizement services to get my brand out there. I e'er thought my piece of work would draw enough attention to keep me in business concern…….. Incorrect! There are so many talented artists out there cranking out high-quality art, that I realized I have to spend some coin to go the give-and-take out. I'm much obliged to you!
Thank yous for the timely post, Alyson! I'thou having my kickoff open up studio in a little over 2 weeks and only had a bunch of beautiful notation cards printed—I've hand-addressed the envelopes and am going to write a personal bulletin to each recipient.
A quandary I have is how shortly should I send these out? Two weeks before the event? A week before? I'm going to reinforce with private emails and then, then week of, a couple Mailchimp blasts. I would appreciate your thoughts.
Many cheers for your blog and workshops!
Bonnie Lambert
Bonnie: I would ship those now and use e-mail equally reminders.
Alyson! Thank you lot so much for sharing Mapplethorp'southward idea! I love the concept of the exhibition beginning when the invitation is received, not at the opening. Brilliant!!!
You're welcome. I love sharing great ideas!
Timely, indeed! Nifty suggestions about personalization. My question is nigh a small foldable postcard catalog to send to collectors. I would like to blueprint one myself. Exercise you know of any templates in regard to folding postcards (2 folds, six images)?
Cynthia: Confused most "postcard catalog." What do you mean by this? Is information technology just 1 postcard that is folded?
Gotcha! Then, the original newspaper is larger than a postcard.
Thanks for this, Alyson, My curator/designer is working on invitations for my December. solo prove at Miami Dade College. Her invitations are so beautiful that invitees actually frame them and hang them on their walls. The evidence is entitled Garden Political party and the epitome is from my painting – a figure with a skirt fabricated up of flowers and then I am now thinking of a couple of dried existent bloom heads to put inside the invitation.
Cheers again,
Susan
Oh, that would be lovely, Susan!
Slap-up ideas! I realize I don't accept snail mail addresses for many of the people who come to my shows. Emails yes. I'll have to endeavour to collect home addresses because I love the Existent mail idea. Equally always, thanks Alyson!
Geri: It's worth reaching out and getting those addies.
Cheers, Allison. Your ideas are e'er interesting. I but finished reading (every give-and-take) your 10th ceremony edition of IRBITS. It's wonderful. I made lots and lots of notes. I'g trying to become the social media stuff organized before I leave on my May/June chance from Montana to Missouri along the Oregon Trail, then back along the Missouri River. The work will exist function of my August solo about homesteads and trails w at MonDak Heritage Center.
Thank you once more for the wonderful and updated volume!
Carol HARTMAN
Montana
Carol: Cheers for reading IRBITS! Your trip sounds astonishing!
I've printed upwardly little notation cards with my logo and contact information on them, and I hand-write personal notes on them to invite two kinds of special clients: the people who give me consistent interest and business, and the people who showed interest back in the very starting time, when I was kickoff starting out on my own. The latter group may not be the biggest spenders, merely they're among my biggest supporters, and I value them tremendously.
Awesome, Cara!
Thanks Alison , this page was so important and adept to know information technology certainly would make a deviation when sending invitations, Bang-up tip and appreciated.
What a cute and timely article! Thank you! At that place is a beautiful garden in my town and I would love to have my exhibit in that location. Hand written artsy invites would be perfect! Much honey to you!
That sounds lovely, Rosalind.
I really enjoyed this article and I read it before my opening at Gallery One. Two blessings right at that place. I thank you.
Yay! Promise you have a super successful prove, TM.
I have quite a big list of established clients, both electronic mail and snail mail service addresses, but my trouble is how to send snail mail service to new people whom I have never met? Most offices ( like art centers, etc.) volition non give y'all their list of dwelling addresses. I have sold a lot of piece of work over the years to my established base simply at present observe that I need a new audience.
I dearest your weblog and have been a follower of your since early days!
Yea. I enrolled in your ArtBiz Course because you lot have marketing ideas I never learned with my BFA! Later educational activity for 24 years, I am retired (yea) to paint to my hearts content. Since I am starting out in business organization with a limited budget, what do y'all remember almost having a portfolio show in my home? I tin transport paw painted invitations to friends and my guests tin can bring more guests. Therefore I can develop my mailing list and sell art at the same fourth dimension. Volition this work?
I felt like reading this email from you again today equally I was organizing my favorite emails into folders. What a happy surprise to (re)discover my painting "Baguette et Fromage" in here. Thank you again for using it.
I'grand now thinking using these tips about invitations to pattern a "paper" mailing to collectors from France. I am daily seeking the right balance betwixt art making and art biz (poppy fields are calling)!
With gratitude.
-Simonne Roy
Simonne: I love that y'all have favorite emails! It makes me happy to revisit your painting here as well.
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