The Arts Map is a new site, still in BETA, that uses a version of Google Maps to list artists, arts organizations, galleries, and other arts related people, places and things in a geographical context.
Other than those who operate their own gallery or offer instruction in their studios, I’m not sure how useful it would be for artists to list themselves (I didn’t see any reason to list myself at this point); but if this catches on and fills out significantly with galleries, art schools, art supply stores, museums and related subjects, it could become a very useful resource for artists to consult.
The site is still young, and the listings sparse particularly compared to what I know exists in areas I’m familiar with, like Center City Philadelphia. This becomes obvious to almost anyone when viewing the map of lower Manhattan. Though art museums and art schools, for example, exist on the map as location highlights, as they would in any Google Map of an area, they are not yet pins, or clickable entries, on the Arts Map.
It’s apparently up to each institution to enter their information, just as an individual artist might, and participation is at an early stage.
According to the founders, “The Arts Map is about inclusion, not exclusion. Our goal is to provide a resource which will benefit the entire arts community.”
Listings are free, and you can be non-specific about address if you want to (street address is optional), providing other locations or ways to see and access your art, including galleries, websites or blogs. So in that respect, it may be worth listing for artists who don’t have a reason for someone to come to their location, just know where they are in a general sense.
[Via Jeanette Jobson's Illustrated Life]
It will be interesting to see in a year. I listed the other day. Still waiting for the phone to ring.
I am going to Paris for the summer, and something like this will hopefully prove indispensable. In one way it can be a sort of walking tour of what is available, i.e. I am going to this neighborhood today, what can I see church/museum/school/etc. Also a great way to find your closest art supply store when you are in a strange city and you run out of Ivory Black.
Cool find – thanks for sharing. I just might have to add myself to the map and see what, if anything, happens.
I don’t see this tool as a instant line to potential buyers, but more a resource and way of of promoting the arts in my area and knowing who else is around. I also see it as a way of scoping out areas where I travel to find out what is available in terms of supplies, workshops, networks.
I don’t have qualms about providing specifics about myself in terms of location either. I’m an artist. All this information is on my business cards and I want people to find me. And as I teach and sell from my studio, and live in the boonies, even the map directions are pretty sketchy on Google. (I will let you know if strange people turn up at 3am and then may change my tune, but as of yet that hasn’t happened)
I don’t see this tool as a instant line to potential buyers, but more a resource and way of of promoting the arts in my area and knowing who else is around. I also see it as a way of scoping out areas where I travel to find out what is available in terms of supplies, workshops, networks