The 2015 Transforming Spaces season kicked off on Thursday,
March 19 with two panel discussions at The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas
(NAGB).
The first talk,
titled “So money”, was led by Jay Koment and Uli Voges, who hoped to examine
art entrepreneurism and developing a successful business as a visual artist. As
the director of New Providence Art and Antiques and the co-founder of
Transforming Spaces, Koment is no stranger to giving guidance on topics like
branding, pricing and legal protection. An international art dealer, founder of
the former Galeries Voges + Partner (Frankfurt, Germany) and co-founder of both
VOLTA Basel and VOLTA New York, Voges is also well-versed in advising artists
on developing their professional networks and building rapport with clientele
and audiences.
Focusing on
the strategic methods artists should use to promote themselves, Koment and
Voges honed in on the visual arts economy from both international and Bahamian
perspectives. Ceramicist and NAGB Curatorial Assistant Averia Wright found the
talk enlightening.
“It’s an
important conversation to have because, working at the National Art Gallery, we
always have issues with artists and how they go about dealing with the business
aspect of their careers,” explained Wright. “Money is an important part of the
career, and we should be able to support ourselves through our talents rather
than going through a completely different field and doing art on the side.”
The second
discussion, titled “You belong here”, was led by Baha Mar Public Relations and
Communications Strategist Royann Dean. NAGB Director Amanda Coulson and College
of The Bahamas Dean of Liberal and Fine Arts Dr. Ian Bethell-Bennett served as
panelists on the talk centered on the connection between visual arts and the
hospitality industry.
The
panelists touched on Baha Mar’s unprecedented focus on the local visual arts
community, which has already had an effect on Bahamian artists, many of whom
have been commissioned to create pieces for the mega resort. Other topics
included the importance of understanding trade agreements between The Bahamas,
the Caribbean and European nations.
Dr.
Bethell-Bennett explained the ease with which European Union citizens are able
to migrate to The Bahamas and work, compared to the process Bahamians,
particularly Bahamian artists, undergo when moving to the Continent for work.
“It seems
to be a one-way channel and not a two-way channel,” said COB Assistant
Professor of Art Michael Edwards. “The successive government administrations
sign on to these things without explaining fully to their citizens what these
agreements may mean down the road.”
NAGB
Director Coulson took the chance to encourage locals and private Bahamian
institutions to take initiative in lobbying for change and projects that would
benefit the Bahamian art community, rather than relying on government
leadership.
The
Transforming Spaces 2015 art tour takes place today and tomorrow, Sunday, March
22. To find out more about Transforming Spaces, visit http://www.bahamastransformingspaces.com.
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