Economic Pressures

There are many unfortunate side-effects of the economy being down. Money is tight for a lot of people and organizations throughout the country, and the effects of this are hitting hard. I am becoming aware of more and more art groups, galleries and organizations struggling to make ends meet, even here in St. Louis where we have seen a lot of new places cropping up in recent years.

Entries seem to be down everywhere, perhaps in part because artists do not want to pay fees, deal with shipping/travel expenses, and/or do not have the time or financial resources to make new work. As a result, a lot of show deadlines are being extended and, even afterward, many shows are still not seeing the quantity of submissions that they would like to.

A lot of funding is being lost. Patrons are unable to give as much as before, causing grants to become even more competitive. As a result, more organizations can need to tap into fewer opportunities in order to survive. This can really hurt non-profits who are competing for a slice of what seems to be a shrinking pie.

Some sales are down because buyers and potential buyers seem to be watching their pocketbooks more. A lot of people are still buying art, don't get me wrong, but many of them are forced to be more selective about it than before, having to pick and choose between the pieces that they want rather than purchasing several at once.

However, good can come of all of this too. With finances being tight, a lot of organizations are forced to reevaluate their goals, ambitions and needs. Many institutions are doing even more outreach to broaden their horizons and reach out to a larger audience. And a lot of artists are coming up with creative solutions, including non-gallery events, increased online presences and exposure, interactive low-budget projects and alternative exhibitions. All of this encourages people to think about how art is shown in new and different ways. So, in the long run, a lot of good changes may come about.