Kucera responds to this post: Is First Thursday Over?
At a recent meeting of the Seattle Art Dealer’s Association, we discovered by a poll that about half of us are now on a 5 or 6 week show time turnaround, doing about 9 or 10 shows a year.
Several more are on a schedule that allows for mostly monthly shows and a few shows per year, generally around the summer or the end of year holidays, that are longer. Fewer than half of us are on a strict First Thursday to First Thursday schedule.Personally, I feel that a show length of 5 – 6 weeks allows many more collectors and viewers to see our shows and the chance for repeat visits. If galleries stay on a FT – FT schedule, shows are up for between 18 and 23 days, Tuesday through Saturday business days. Last month yielded a short 18 day show; this month would be only 23 days. (Only a few dealers are still open on Sundays here.)
Working with nationally known artists, as we often are, it’s impossible to suggest with any credibility a show length of fewer than 5 weeks. And I don’t feel the artists of our region deserve any less.
Still, whether we’re opening our show that night or not, all of us in the downtown area are still committed to keeping First Thursday as a predictable night for being open to the public. At nearly 30 years of age, First Thursday has become the longest standing regular monthly arts event in Seattle. It has always been privately funded by the participating galleries. No public funds make First Thursday possible. SADA, arguably an organization of the city’s best dealers, produces and provides a monthly map and guide. We will continue to welcome the public from 6 – 8 on each and every First Thursday. Maps and guides are available at each gallery to help find the others.
I agree that 5-6 week shows is a better pay-off for the artist after so much time and effort invested into creating the work. Having my studio in Pioneer Square, I am very grateful for the first Thursday gallery walk. I can open my doors and friends and collectors can come in and see what I’m doing which in turn has directed them to my gallery resulting in sales. It doesn’t cost me much to be open for three hours once a month, it’s fee to the public and it also brings in cash to other non-art-related businesses in the area. It is indeed alive and well. Everybody wins.
Why does Greg Kucera sound as if he’s selling soemthing? Because he is. First Thursday is not the party it used to be.
Beth, you missed out last night. There were a ton of people and smiling faces, new shows, good art, laughter, dancing in the streets, a marching band, and a raffle. Did I mention smiling faces and tons of people? And dancing in the streets?