Instagram for Artists - online course this December
"In today's climate, social media is a great leveller that brings artists into contact with the people who love their work. … for artists working in visual media, Instagram is an incredibly useful tool that can fuel your success when used effectively."
Navigating the Art World: Professional Practice for the Early Career Artist, Delphian, 2020
[Course trailer: click on the CC button to access subtitles in English]
Love it or loath it, Instagram is increasingly becoming the home of visual artists, craft makers and art workers - it's a place to share your practice, find opportunities and sell work; especially for artists based rurally who are not in proximity to galleries or artist networks. Research into art on Instagram revealed 94% of the audience wanted to see real exhibitions by the artists who they follow online, 79% see more art online than in person, and 57% think the art they find online is as important as what they see in person (Paul Weiner, 2020).
This online course is designed by Digital Skills Education, for Scottish Artists Union members, and will consist of 12 short videos for you to watch in your own time; taking you from beginner to more advanced tutorials.
The course will mainly use the features and tools built into the Instagram app, but we will also touch on other tools and services that extend the functionality. It covers:
- Getting started with Instagram as an artist
- Investigating how successful artists use Instagram to share their work
- Creating posts and stories that highlight you and your artwork
- Using a content calendar to plan your posts
- Understanding how to make the Instagram algorithm work for you
- Selling your art through Instagram
- Using analytics and insights tools to understand your audience
- Keeping your Instagram account and your art safe
Taking place over 3 weeks, you will receive a weekly release of short videos and these tutorials are supported by three weekly Zoom advice sessions with course tutor Craig Steele, from Digital Skills Education, and invited artists.
Weekly Zoom, Tuesdays from 1-2pm
7 December: Artist Rachel Adams will share her experience of setting up Urpflanze and selling via the platform.
14 December: Artist Matthew Burrows will share his experience of founding #ArtistsSupportPledge in the Covid-19 pandemic and how it's grown into an important micro-economy and global movement for artists and makers.
21 December: Our final drop-in session with course tutor Craig Steele, who will be on hand to answer any of your Instagram questions.
Members can sign up today via the learning email newsletter - check your junk!
The weekly Zoom sessions can also be accessed via our Events page.
