Individual Calling

Individual Calling Paper

     I came up with many ideas this weekend about what kind of business I will do in the future. I thought about mobile games, e-commerce, online media platforms, fashion brands etc. I don't know what I will pick exactly. Therefore I prefer to talk about more practical one, a multi-function art gallery. Actually one of my long-term goals is to run my own gallery in Shanghai, which is kind of a promise I made with my friend.

     It is an art gallery as well as performance space located in the west of Shanghai(It suppose to be in Jingan District). For customers, our gallery serve as a platform for those who are interested in the art industry. We provide them with high quality and interactive gallery experience. For artists, we provide them a unique urban space in Shanghai where they can present their talents. It will focus on presenting artwork with high quality from established local artists, and up and coming artists(night time). In my thought, it mainly focus on the exhibitions at daytime along with art classes (such like painting, wine tasting), while providing audiences with a comfortable space to relax. I will be operating our gallery in an easily changeable manner, where we will have open studio throughout the day sometimes, and night-life events in the evening. In my planning, the gallery will host different public/private events every month that highlight particular musicians or performers. These monthly event opportunities will provide the business with an alternative source of revenue as gallery's space will be booked at a flat rate.

    About my goal of running this gallery is trying to promote the local arts community in Shanghai and provide our consumers with a special experience that can be found exclusively at our gallery. My target audience would be the middle-upper class/ Those who have passion for art, music, and being in the community with people who share the same interests.

     Actually, I been to this kind of galleries in West Loop, Chicago and Los Angeles couple times and I do enjoy my time there, which kind of inspire me to open my own one in Shanghai. The reason is that this type of multi-functional urban space is not that common in my hometown. We do have some, but they do different things. As people say startup is something like you make a faith-based company based on your vision( and sometimes a notable absence of facts). The founders' task and responsibility is to translate this vision and make these hypotheses into facts. Therefore I'm eager to learn everything about art gallery business management before I leave US. I will collect information and write notes focus on existing galleries here in US. I don't want to live in my imagination, need go out of the building. It is always hard at the beginning.