Making Gallery Walk changes for the better

The next Gallery Walk is Saturday, August 6 from 7 to 10 pm. The Paper Bag Heads, left, will be back with another piece of peformance art (you can join in if you like, info here).

At the last Gallery Walk meeting, gallery owners discussed the subject of bringing more people and revenue into the galleries. Lilia Garcia, from the Coconut Grove Arts Festival Gallery suggested that the focus now should be on collectors, as they are the ones in the market to buy art. The closing of Commodore Plaza was suggested, but that is too expensive and really didn't work as a block party, so I'm not sure how that would help with art sales.

Another suggestion was to hold educational type things in in the galleries from classes to displays; placing digital signage at critical points, this usually works for festivals around town, the signs are usually placed on US1 and/or South Bayshore Drive; making use of trolleys, this was fun at last year's Art Basel event; rewards for purchases (dare I say Grove Bucks?); differing projects to link the galleries each month; extensive use of social media and mailing lists; restaurant involvement with free drinks and/or dinner specials; the establishment of a group to be called tentatively the Coconut Grove Collectors’ Circle, with discounts and other perks following art purchases by collectors. The last idea was enthusiastically received by the group.