From the Gallery to the Internet: The New Zealand Art Show Launches On-line Art Gallery
The New Zealand Art Show has launched a new online service for artists and people interested in buying original New
Zealand art: artshow.co.nz is a dynamic on-line art gallery where you can view and buy quality art works.
Carla Russell, Executive Director of the New Zealand Art Show, said that it was the most logical step to take after
promoting artists via the New Zealand Art Show for the last nine years. Many of the artists on the site have previously
exhibited and excelled at the New Zealand Art Show.
Carla Russell said that the initiative was borne as a direct result of demand: by artists who were seeking a reliable,
easy and dynamic on-line facility; and by the public, who expressed an interest in seeing their favourite New Zealand
Art Show artists on-line.
“We were asked the same question countless times: ‘Can I see any of the New Zealand Art Show artists on your website?’
“Prompted by this impetus, we set the wheels in motion, and after a year of intensive preparation we have a gorgeous
looking site. It’s sleek, smooth and very easy to navigate.”
The on-line gallery has been designed with simplicity in mind, both for the participating artists and the visitors.
Artists can load up to 24 images of their artwork and update their details easily. Visitors browse through the portfolio
of artists and artworks and if they see anything they like they can contact the artist directly.
“We wanted to keep it easy for every one, leaving the middle man out of the equation. Therefore, the buyer and the
artist liaise directly with each other and the New Zealand Art Show takes no commission if a sale is made.”
She sees artshow.co.nz as the best option for artists wanting to showcase their art on-line and lists the following benefits: the New Zealand
Art Show administers the site, updating the look on a regular basis keeping it fresh; it comes with an already
established and sizeable client base and, as the New Zealand Art Show undertakes the bulk of the promotions, regular
traffic is guaranteed; uploading artist images and details is easy as ABC; and it’s cost-effective, compared to the
normal running costs of setting up a similar site.
Wellington-based ceramic artist Mia Hamilton agrees. She was one of the first artists to sign up for the gallery and she
sold a work within the first 24 hours of the site going live. Mia Hamilton says that, as someone who doesn’t have that
much to do with computers, the site is so easy for her to use. And the convenience of someone else administering the
site means she can get on with the business of creating art.
For those who are sceptical about buying art on-line without the benefit of viewing it first Carla Russell is quick to
point out that all participating artists are on the site by invitation or application only: all applicants will be
subject to a selection process ensuring that artshow.co.nz only exhibits works from artists who demonstrate skill,
consistency and commitment to their craft.
Carla Russell also says that artshow.co.nz is not restricted to only those artists who exhibit at the New Zealand Art
Show. Any New Zealand artist can apply to appear on the website.
“On the face of it, it may seem as if the on-line art gallery services the New Zealand Art Show event solely. However,
although they complement each other very nicely, they are separate operations: what happens at the New Zealand Art Show
won’t necessarily be mirrored in the on-line gallery. But we promise that both will deliver quality New Zealand Art,”
Carla Russell says.
ENDS
What: artshow.co.nz – a dynamic online experience celebrating New Zealand art.
http://artshow.co.nz/