My Gallery space...

Apart for getting disappointments in my study wise, at the moment I experience very exciting times outside the studies, witch still is very much linked with art and contemporary market for it.

 Last year during my Foundation Diploma I met lovely girl Patsy, which lead me to opportunity - to volunteer in small art gallery in Tutbury. Being more or less free that was exactly what I needed  -some arty environment to develop my knowledge and getting use to art market itself and its consumers.

As time went by I more and more started to learn all aspects of how to run a gallery and it really exited me. Till one day owners asked me if I would consider doing something like this my own.

I am person who is good at any job I undertake…use to, back in Latvia I was office manager in government offices. I loved my job, but circumstances in life brought me here – to UK, where I had to start all over again. There were no possibilities for me to return to paperwork – language barer was far too strong, is better now, but still, sometimes my sentences don’t make sense and I know that. I started with factories, growing up to retail till my last workplace, jewellery- currency exchange shop.

Along the way I was doing all sort of courses in college. I never stopped to learn and develop it was vital for me to keep myself educated and moving forward to become someone better.

So, when current gallery owners approached me with offer to buy this gallery – I couldn’t really refuse as it summed up all I know and loved. Paperwork, customer skills and art environment. To be honest I’m never consider that as possibility for me as I’m not a business person at all – all I really wanted to do is to be an artist, painter, maker… however business was all set up it needed someone, who would continue to run it. As easy as that.

If you think, there is 0 job opportunities for artists like me when I finish, chance to do something you really love don’t come to every people lives just like that. It cost me good part of my student finance, but then again, it would go anyway.

 

I took over completely just over a Christmas, building good relationships with fellow artists and searching for new ones there is never day same. It is so important to find such place.

Gallery’s location is not a great as its more residential, and people traffic is more likely to be busy -apart from event days, so there will be no much profit for myself, but besides money I get something what is more important for me. I get food for my soul.

I hope this course I’m doing at the moment will improve my skills and understanding of contemporary market and how to improve my gallery’s existence in times when people rather buy mass-produced prints in B&Q than actual original art piece - which is more unique in every way.