How to Plan Your Miami Art Week with ArtSeen365
with guest editor Dainy Tapia of Artseen365
Miami Art Week is one of the most exciting times of the year for art lovers in our city and worldwide. With so many events and exhibitions, deciding which ones to attend can be overwhelming. Here are a handful of tips to help you navigate and curate a great experience.
Plan and be intentional about your visits: If you are serious about participating in the Miami Art Week events, it's crucial to have a strategy in place. Before choosing, consider your main goal for attending these events. Are you there to see the art, network, support friends, mingle with people? You can do all of the above, but understanding which is the most important will help avoid frustration. With your main goal in mind, devise a strategy around it, but remain flexible and have fun!
If your main goal is…
To see art and be inspired, come to the fairs and events early and beat the crowds. Look ahead at the list of artists/galleries showcasing work at your chosen venue so you can have a few points of focus.
To network with people from the industry, look for events (talks, panels) where there will be a discussion of ideas and people attending who are interested in this type of exchange.
To support artists and institutions you care about, look at their newsletters, websites, and social media to see where you will find them and what they are promoting. Show up at their events and share on social.
To be social and mingle, there are plenty of opening receptions and cocktail parties to attend. Some are ticketed, some require an RSVP, and some are by invitation. As a starting point, becoming a supporting member of local cultural institutions is a sure way to be invited to their opening receptions and events.
Team up with art buddies, but choose wisely. Going to the events with friends will give you someone to share your thoughts and impressions and carpool or share rides (to help reduce traffic and expenses!) But first, make sure they are on a similar wavelength and energy level.
Avoid unnecessary crowds: Don't let the hype get to you. Go back to your goals, and think if an opening event or party is the best use of your time and effort during the week. Maybe you don't need to be there the first day the exhibition opens, but can make a note to visit the next day—or even the next week, which is the case with most of the exhibitions at local institutions.
When in doubt, follow the lead of Miami-based art spaces and curators: local organizations curate special programs for both visitors and members. If you are not a member of at least one art institution, this is a great time to become one.
Keep an eye on where local artists are showing. This is an excellent opportunity to support emerging artists and discover new talent.
If you meet artists, let them tell you about their work and ask open-ended questions about their materials, process, or inspiration—but not all at once. Unless you are truly interested in acquiring some work, there are better times for extensive and in-depth conversations. If you genuinely want to learn more about their work, ask if a future studio visit is possible. There are several opportunities throughout the year when local artists participate in open studio events.
If you are an artist or art professional, invite at least one friend who doesn't work in the arts to one of the events. Visiting with someone who is not part of the industry will give you a fresh perspective and an opportunity to bring more people into the circle of people interested in the arts.
No one should ever feel pressured to buy art, but if collecting interests you, set up a budget and keep an open mind. There's nothing wrong with asking for prices at commercial spaces. If you inquire, galleries will email you a price list or a brief dossier with information about the artist and their work.
If, after a while, things start to look blurry, and everything looks the same, take a break, enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, and come back refreshed. Give yourself permission to rest.
If you are in for events the whole week, dress nice but comfortably, and stay fueled and hydrated!
Dainy Tapia,
Founder, ArtSeen365
ArtSeen365 is a platform for promoting the visual arts and artists in Miami and South Florida every day (365 days a year) to increase appreciation for art and support for local artists and widen the circle of people exposed to and interested in art.
Dainy Tapia, founder and curator of ArtSeen365