Making the Most of Exhibiting in Events Like the Incognito Art Show
The Sydney-based Incognito Art Show is now Australia’s largest annual art show. It is open to any artists intersted in taking part.
It is an event where artists anonymously donate postcard-sized artworks to be sold to the public at an affordable fixed price with proceeds being donated to Studio A, a North Sydney arts company providing professional development for artists with intellectual disabilities, as well as We Are Studios; a fully disability-led, inclusive studio that empowers artists with disability.
The Twist of the Incognito Art Show
The twist is that the identity of the artist behind each artwork remains hidden until after the purchase is made.
This concept adds an element of mystery and excitement to the event, as buyers have the opportunity to discover hidden gems from both emerging and established artists without being influenced by the artist’s reputation.
The Aims of the Incognito Art Show
The Incognito Art Show aims to support artists, raise funds for charitable causes, and make art accessible to a wider audience.
It provides a platform for artists to showcase their work, grow their artist profile, gain exposure, and connect with potential buyers and collectors.
A New Buyer’s Gateway
Importantly, it is a gateway for those who have not previously bought original art work to become art buyers, opening up an entirely new and supportive customer base for artists from across the country.
Additionally, the event fosters community engagement by bringing together art enthusiasts, collectors, and supporters of the arts in a unique and interactive setting.
The Incognito Art Show Brings Innovation
Overall, the Incognito Art Show offers a fun and innovative way to appreciate and purchase art while supporting Australian artists and charitable initiatives in the Sydney area.
While artists are not paid a commission from the sale of their work, nor do they pay to enter the exhibition. The funds raised from the sale of the works go to covering the costs of the exhibition and, importantly, to art related charities.
Participating in the Incognito Art Show does, however, give artists the opportunity to promote their work to a wider audience, not just in person in Sydney, but very importantly, online in the digital world via blogs, Facebook and Instagram.
How To Be Part of the Incognito Art Show and Significantly Enhance Your Artist Profile
Participating in the Incognito Art Show in Sydney can be a significant opportunity for Australian artists to enhance their profiles. Here are five ways they can make the most of it:
1. Exposure and Networking with the Incognito Art Show
Utilise the platform provided by the Incognito Art Show to network with fellow artists, art enthusiasts, collectors, and potential buyers, whether online or in person if you can get up to Sydney for the exhibition itself.
Make sure you engage in conversations, exchange contacts, and build relationships within the art community, in person or digitally. Online, this can be done via Facebook and Instagram comments, likes and shares.
Networking can lead to collaborations, future exhibition opportunities, and word-of-mouth promotion. Plus buyers like to feel a connection with the artist and to feel like they are being part of a supportive arts community. This is also the very premise of digital platforms such as Patreon.
2. Showcase Diverse Artworks
Display a diverse range of artworks that showcase your artistic versatility and creativity with your entries in the Incognito Art Show.
This allows you to appeal to a broader audience and demonstrate their skills across different styles, mediums, and themes.
Artistic Variety
Variety in artwork can attract varied interests and increase the likelihood of making sales.
It is also an enjoyable way to test out the new creative ideas and mediums that you are exploring.
3. Be Part of the Art Show in Person
As with any exhibition that you are part of, if you can get to the opening or during the show itself, it is worth the effort, both in terms of making the in person connections, but also for sharing on your blog and social media platforms.
While a trip to the mainland can be expensive with transport, accommodation etc etc, if you tie it in with three or four other rewarding activities it can be well worth the costs.
Great Social Media Content to Build Your Artist Profile
Social media posts showing the artist in front of their work at an exhibition always make great content as followers engage strongly with likes, comments and shares. And that is exactly what you want to achieve to grow your digital artist profile. It gives you credibility, demonstrates authenticity and builds connections.
It is always easier to get to the exhibitions being held within Tasmania, especially if you and a a couple of your art group friends are entering a group exhibition, then you can travel together and make it a valuable social and creative trip, especially if you add some sketching time!
A Gallery Rich City
But a trip up to Sydney can include visits to a plethora of galleries, art supply shops, world class sketching locations (what other city can complete with Sydney Harbour?), musicals as well as shows at the likes of the Bangarra Dance Theatre, The Sydney Opera House, NAIDOC Week celebration events, stunning National Parks and much more.
4. Create Engaging Digital Display of Your Work
Invest time and effort into creating an attractive and engaging digital display for the artworks that you’re sending up to Sydney.
Seven Plus Themed Posts
This can be done over a series of seven or more themed posts, featuring your journey from registering for the Incognito Art Show, receiving your package, drafting your ideas for the entries, the different stages of working up your entries, the finished results and the show itself.
These can be timed to coincide with the exhibition and the media attention around this popular event.
Popular Behind the Scenes Story Posts
Behind the scenes story posts like this are always interesting for your followers and make idea blog and social media posts.
Link to Your Email Newsletter
Be sure to provide links to your email newsletter signup page in your blog and social media posts so potential buyers can keep learning about your work, exhibitions, workshops and progress.
This is a very powerful way to build lasting connections that can result in new opportunities as well as sales of your work.
Remember, you own and control your email newsletter subscriber list where as Meta owns and controls your Facebook and Instagram followers and page, and they have been known to blow away pages.
Meet Our Members
Art as Unspoken Expression and Exploration with Sarah L Stewart
Meet abstract artist Sarah L Stewart as she creates art for herself in her beloved studio on Bruny Island and exhibits in Hobart in her Artist Profile story with Art Trails Tasmania.
Navigating Two Worlds Through Evolving Art with Pakana Artist Dean Greeno
Meet Pakana artist Dean Greeno as he navigates two worlds, finding deeper meaning in connection to country through family and art in his Artist Profile story with Art Trails Tasmania.
Meet Artist Emma Pilgrim: Capturing Wildlife and Wild Places Through Art
Be inspired by artist and biologist Emma Pilgrim as she captures wildlife and wild places in her watercolour paintings from her living room in her Artist Profile story with Art Trails Tasmania.
Basic Website Mistakes to Avoid
Here are the basic website mistakes I’m noticing with our artists’ websites and the simple solutions to make it work better for you.
7 Ways to Use Exhibitions to Grow Your Artist Profile
Entering art and craft exhibition can be a very effective way to grow your artist profile. Here are 7 tips on how to do this easily by Art Trails Tasmania
5. Use Relevant Hashtags in Your Social Media Stories So You Are Seen
Hashtags are the perfect way to categorise your posts, get in front of your ideal supporters and be seen.
12 Hashtags To Promote Your Involvement in the Incognito Art Show
Here are the top 12 hashtags that you can use in your Facebook and Instagram posts related to the Incognito Art Show:
1. #IncognitoArtShow
2. #SydneyArtScene
3. #ArtForACause
4. #SupportLocalArtists
5. #HiddenArtGems
6. #ArtCollectors
7. #AnonymousArt
8. #ArtCommunity
9. #ArtExhibition
10. #ArtistsOfInstagram
11. #AustralianArtist
12. #AustralianArt
Reach a Broader Audience with Hashtags
These hashtags can help you reach a broader audience interested in art events, support local artists, and engage with the Incognito Art Show community on Facebook and Instagram.
Include Location Specific Hashtags
The location of the event will also have 2-3 relevant hashtags that should be used, such as #PopUpArt.
A Tasmanian example would be for exhibitions held at Salamanca, #SalamancaArtCentre #SalmancaGallery could be two space specific hashtags to include in your posts for Hobart events held there.
Additionally, you may consider using location-specific hashtags such as #SydneyArt or #SydneyEvents or #DiscoverSydney to target audiences in the Sydney area.
Include Your Specific Hashtags
As always, be sure to include your own specific hashtags with each of your posts.
For example, all Art Trails Tasmania Facebook and Instagram posts have #arttrailstasmania, just as our Art profile stories have #ArtistProfile.
6. Capture Feedback and Follow Up
If you are up in Sydney for the exhibition, take advantage of the opportunity to gather feedback from attendees and potential buyers.
Actively engage with visitors, solicit their opinions, and listen to their insights about the artworks.
Constructive feedback can provide valuable insights for artistic growth and future exhibitions.
Additionally, follow up with interested individuals post-event to nurture relationships and explore potential sales or collaborations.
This follow up process applies for both the real world connections made in Sydney as well as the digital world connections made on the socials.
7. Promote the Incognito Art Show
Make sure that you tag the @IncognitoArtShow in your blog and social media posts as every link works in multiple ways to benefit you and the organisers.
Tagging the exhibition organiser makes your post visible in their notifications, giving them the opportunity to engage with your post (which is exactly what you hope for).
Meta Rewards You
Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, rewards the Pages, eg. your artist page, for linking, tagging to another relevant page.
In turn, both YOU and the tagged page are given Brownie Points by Meta with the reward that they and they show both of the pages to MORE followers, which is always the goal for the effort you put into posting.
For example, when you publish a post about your involvement in the exhibition on Facebook and Instagram, be sure to tag @IncognitoArtShow, Meta will see that your artist profile page is linking directly to another artist page. This tells Meta that your audiences are shared and they reward you with showing your art relevant post to more art interested followers: to more of the Incognito Art Show followers – exactly what you want.
This delightfully simple strategy works for all the art exhibitions, workshops, galleries, groups etc that you tag, including Art Trails Tasmania.
Will the Incognito Art Show Tag Artists?
The Incognito Art Show social media team will tag exhibiting artists after the opening. So the best way to make it easy for this very busy team is to clearly write your Facebook and Instagram page name, for example, ours would be https://facebook.com/arttrailstasmania (this is a vanity username url, click here to set this up and find out how to use Facebook to grow your Artist Profile) and https://instagram.com/arttrailstasmania.
If you don’t write it clearly and easily for the person doing all the work with temperamental Meta/Instagram/Facebook posting then you may easily miss out on this vaulable promotion by them.
And remeber, this is also for your buyer, so if you want the buyer to follow you, make sure your handwriting is clear and easy to read.
The Incognito Art Show does attract some very big names in the art world, eg. Julia Gutman and Reg Mombassa, and in 2023 had over 2,000 artists enter over 5,000 art works.
Share Your Own Joy, Create Your Own Success
The best approach is to also share your joy of being part of the Incognito Art Show and share stories about your participation via your blog and posts on Facebook and Instagram. Be sure to tag the @IncognitoArtShow and make good use of the hashtags.
Maximising Your Participation in the Incognito Art Show
By leveraging these strategies, you can maximise your participation in the Incognito Art Show to elevate your artist profile, expand your networks, and create opportunities for further success in the art world.
These strategies can be adapted for any art exhibition, show, trail, project, workshop series that you are part of, so you can flourish.
Plus, the sale of your work contributes to the game changing charities Studio A and We Are Studios, similar to our own Hobart Artosaurus community art spaces.
Discover our Artist members…
Come be inspired by the Artist Profile stories of our members; from galleries to art societies, artists to festivals and more!
Meet Jane Seychell: Capturing the Realism of a Moment in Time
A Love for Nature Shines Through Jane Seychell's Art My work captures the realism of a moment in time. I use colour pencils to blend hues and bring my art to life. My subjects range from childhood memories to the vibrant flora around me. A love for nature shines...
Discover Local Talent, Vibrant Spaces & Community Connection at the Sheffield Art Gallery
Renew Your Creative Spirit at the Sheffield Art Gallery Sheffield Art Gallery is our venue to share local art with other creative people and patrons. We have many talented local artists and it is a joy to come together collectively in our designated space that is very...
Two Decades of Art, Creativity and Community at the Scottsdale Art Gallery Cafe
It's Time to Celebrate the Game Changing Scottsdale Art Gallery Cafe It's almost 20 years since Rod and Shirley began their business in Scottsdale, today known as the Scottsdale Art Gallery Cafe. Since 2005, it has been an incredible journey for us as our business has...
Read What Our Members Say About Belonging
Join the growing, supportive artists community today and have your Artist story told here.
Want your Artist Profile story told and shared by us? Join as an Artist Profile member.
Want your Profile story AND Events News promoted by us? Join as an Artists Ensemble member.
Belinda is doing a great job creating a professional looking artist hub online. Check out the profile I posted recently to see how well she does them. To all my artist friends let’s help make this THE go to place to discover local artists.
You won’t regret joining Art Trails Tasmania . It’s a welcoming community for creatives at any career stage.Becoming an Art Trails Tasmania member wasn’t a hard decision for me to make as it’s such a wealth of knowledge and support.Being member provides a quality way to showcase your creative endeavours and it’s quickly growing in reach.
We operate a home based picture framing business and recently joined Art Trails Tasmania as a means to giving us exposure to the wider artist community. We have almost immediately seen increase in activity thru our online sites, which I am certain will lead to more opportunities to grow our business.
Be Part of Artist Led Events Across Tasmania
Come explore the fabulous events our members are hosting across this deeply inspiring state!
Nature Market at the Bruny Island Bird Festival
Explore the Bruny Island Bird Festival Nature Market The Bruny Island Bird Festival – Nature Market Day on Saturday 16th March 2024, offers a wonderful array of produce, merchandise and information. A great community event for all. The Nature Market is a brilliant day...
Bruny Island Bird Festival Art Exhibition
Be Part of the Bruny Island Bird Festival Art Exhibition Bruny Island Art Exhibition is bringing together Science, Conservation, Community and Creativity to showcase some incredible art, and share the joy of birds with the Island.The Bruny Island Bird Festival is...
Bruny Island Bird Festival Speakers Series & Evening Events
Be Part the Bruny Island Bird Festival Speakers Series & Evening Events Fun The Bruny Island Bird Festival is for all nature lovers, especially anyone with an extra interest in birds and returns again this year 15th to 17th March 2024 with the Speakers Services...
Nurture Your Creativity
Every month the lastest Creativity Calendar story is shared in the Community Newsletter, on Facebook and Instagram and it is all about living a more authentic life connected with your own creativity.
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
Grow Your Skills and Flourish
Dive into our constantly growing skills sharing stories so you can make more money from doing what you love.
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
Go Deeper With Our Members Only Content
This growing collection of practical skills sharing stories are the next level and are just for our members. To access these game changing stories you need to login.
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
