1. If you're an artist, and you think you'd like to start a gallery, sit down and really think about why. Write down a list of reasons. They'd better be good ones.

2. If you're serious about this, then you have to ask yourself "Am I an artist?" This is because starting and running a gallery, and doing it very well, will for any normal person require a significant sacrifice of time, money, and spirit that will be subtracted from your art making. If you think you'll start a gallery to boost your art, you'd better think about what it's really going to do for your art. Starting a gallery is like having a baby!

3. If one of your reasons for wanting to do this is because you want artists to have more opportunities to exhibit, take a look at an arts opportunities database like artdeadline.com and see just how many art opportunities are out there already. It's amazing! Do you still think you need to do this?

4. Most artists do not have the know-how to create a gallery business and run it well. Chances are, most artists' friends are also not capable. So if you're dead set on doing this, find people who you can work with who are not necessarily your friend, but who do have expertise in business management, finance, web design and internet technology, marketing, and of course exhibition design, writing, aesthetics, and public speaking.

5. Okay, you're doing it. But still, are you doing it for yourself and your art, or in the course of answering these questions and soul searching have you decided that this is just something that needs to be done, for the benefit of your community, or the public at large? If your answer is – it's for YOU (either to make money or to show and promote your work), then jump to number 10.

6. Okay, so you believe in something. And you're at least to some degree selflessly motivated by a vision. That's great! You need a vision, and oh yeah, a mission statement too. Congratulations, you've decided to start a non-profit corporation! But you need a reason why – and your mission statement will guide everything you do. You also need a board of directors, bylaws, articles of incorporation, and ideally a 501(c)(3) status ruling from the government. This last thing is the key to being eligible to access many thousands of dollars of funding available through grants at the local and national level! But believe me, they make you earn every penny, and account for every penny spent.

7. As a 501(c)(3) you will not own your gallery. Neither will your board of directors. The public is the owner of the non-profit, and the board serves as a steward of the public trust, for free.

8. Have a plan to make money. Yes indeed, contrary to popular belief, non-profits can and usually must have earned income or they would not survive. Part of your income should be earned, and another part should be contributed. The ratio of earned to contributed should be about 80/20. If you can get it to 70/30 or even 60/40 that's great. But beware of reliance upon irregular funding sources. What you have one year may not be available the next. Having a plan to earn income means knowing your market. So, know your market. Earning income does not mean saving money. A good non-profit fiscal reality is breaking even.

9. Do everything very very well. Do not fall into the trap where volunteerism is an excuse for mediocrity – because it's not. Non-profits (or any galleries) who do shabby work perform a disservice to the public whom they serve. Being non-profit or charitable does not excuse you from doing first-rate work. The world needs more excellence and less mediocrity. So if you can't do great work, especially when your work is exhibiting art, then don't even start.

10. Oh, hi, you're here for the profit part. Well, if you cheated and read on through the previous paragraphs you'll have noticed that the non-profit folks are able to access lots and lots of money through grants that support charitable efforts and lots of hard work. Unfortunately you are not able to access nearly as much. Although you may be able to apply to some grants, and you can certainly try to get people to give you money, chances are that your earned versus contributed income ratio will need to be 100/0. So you'd better have a really really good plan for making money, or have a lot of it already. Truthfully, this is possible. But historically it is very hard to do. Art as a public commodity has changed with the advent of other commercial whims. This fact has, as you may have noticed, morphed what is sold as art in 'selling venues' into a hybrid of decorative pastiche, nostalgic reverie, hobbyist vanity, and cheap wildlife print reproductions. The good news is, if you're a for-profit gallery you don't have to answer to anyone, except of course the local, state, and federal government, and of course yourself along with your paying customers.

Addendum:

The chances are you have good ideas, and a valuable point of view. But tackling a project like an art gallery is so often not the right choice (but sometimes it IS the right choice). An alternative way to help boost opportunities and places to exhibit is to help out with a gallery project that is already fairly well set up but still at the home-grown level. Manifest is just one example (and we can always use help). So there must be lots of others out there who could use a new board member, a volunteer, a creative advisor, or just some good ol' feedback from a serious point of view. It may not be as dramatic a contribution, but these little things add up, and can help boost the momentum of good projects into being exceptional ones. Think about it.

1. Create a high quality neutral space compatible with the art exhibited.

2. Excellent lighting. Lighting is 50% of the success of art presentation. Usually combine spots and floods, or use what is suitable for the work, not what just happens to be there.

3. Attention to detail. Patch walls properly, hang work level, use discrete labeling and install it cleanly, install 2D work with consistent center-line. If using pedestals for sculpture, be sure they're as pristine as your walls (MDF is a great pedestal materials). Attention to detail in everything the public might encounter.

4. Generous space for works in gallery. Do not over crowd. If in doubt, make a tough decision and eliminate something to create more space.

5. Have a website that is designed to be effective in communicating your programs, events, exhibits, mission, etc. The function is primary, the form should support the function, and represent the same attention to detail evident in your gallery. Keep the website up to date.

6. Marketing. Use internet, mail, and word of mouth to market your gallery. Be friendly, energetic, and professional. Use posters and postcards to promote. Have a good logo and use it.

7. Communicate with everyone you work with in a timely and effective manner.

8. Write good press releases and know your press targets and deliver the PR to them at least 3 weeks in advance of the exhibit/event.

9. Be very very nice to the artists whose work you exhibit. Treat them professionally. Their appreciation will pay dividends in many ways in years to come.

10. Be as passionate about your gallery presentations as you would be about a work of art. An exhibit is in fact a work of art if the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. This will produce excellent experiences for your patrons.

11. Collaborate in creative ways with other galleries, businesses, etc.

12. Ask for advice and help from those you see doing well what you want to do.

13. Be efficient!

Manifest is a hybrid of contemporary art museum, university art program, and professional gallery all shrunk down to an un-intimidating and accessible bite-sized non-profit morsel.

Manifest brings people together - professional artists and designers, students, and the public - to experience, present, and learn about art and design in the context of contemporary culture and everyday life. It is an organization dedicated to advancing individuals' understanding of and appreciation for the power of visual art and design in today's world, and to establishing a comfortable place in the context of daily life for artful experiences.

Manifest exhibits all kinds of artwork. The first and ultimate criteria is quality.

There are two ways to exhibit work at Manifest. Both are explained in detail on the manifestgallery.org website.

1. Submit work to our many calls-for-entry exhibits. These can always be found listed here: opportunities . One of the unique aspects of Manifest is that we produce a full-color catalog for each exhibit period at the gallery. We take the 'research' aspect of our mission and name seriously - and these represent our publication of creative research.

2. Submit a group, solo, or open exhibit proposal. These are accepted on an ongoing basis, with reviews occuring in spring and exhibit decisions made by May/June for the following season. Specifics can also be found here: opportunities On average 4-5 solo or proposal-based exhibits are awarded each season.

Any other questions about exhibiting at Manifest can be answered by email.