Well-Being Australia's 'Art Ministry' not only involves 'art for art's sake', 'art as a means of benevolence for the young', 'art as environmental awareness' and 'art as a means to raise funding', but it also involves the most difficult part of art, that of its marketing.
Mark Tronson, the Chairman of Well-Being Australia, has developed a number of strategies since 2000 to develop various aspects of marketing the Art Ministry which was initiated in conjunction with the existing athlete
respite facility 'Basil Sellers House'.
"It took us almost two years to construct the 'Basil Sellers Art Centre' in
Moruya on the New South Wales south coast. It was finally opened on 17 May 2003 by Mr Basil Sellers and Dr W. John Hackwell, an internationally
acclaimed artist," M V Tronson stated.
The following year, the 'Basil Sellers $10,000 Art Prize' was established.
This is now run by the Eurobodalla Shire Council on a bi-annual basis,
and it is the largest 'solely privately funded' rural art prize in Australia.
"Art teacher, Sylvia Dieck, also helped us to establish an art school
for young people at the Basil Sellers Art Centre as part of our benevolent
program. To complement this, we held a monthly 'cheese and wine'
evening for the local arts community along with numerous exhibitions of local artists," M V Tronson noted.
When Mark and Delma Tronson replicated their athlete respite ministry
at the Tweed on the north coast of New South Wales in 2006, they also worked to develop the Art Ministry in their new location.
"We limited our art activities for almost two years as 'Basil Sellers Tweed'
was developed for the athlete respite program. Once established then we were able to focus more on the Art Ministry," M V Tronson explained.
There are five marketing strategies for the Tweed-based Art Ministry.
1. 'Basil Sellers Tweed Art Studio'
2. Tweed Chamber of Commerce business card 'Art Print' give-away
3. Gold Coast Visitors Guide sponsorship with an advertisement
4. Art Exhibitions as fund-raisers
5. Art works placed in strategic locations as promotionals.
The Basil Sellers Tweed Art Studio was officially opened in September 2007 as a venue for the Art Ministry. The Tweed Chamber of Commerce and the Gold Coast Visitors Guide people have also shown strategic support.
"At the suggestion of my art agent Helen Loveridge, I established 'Tronson
du Coudray' (family ancestral name) as a stage name for my art in order
to raise funds for Well-Being Australia. Two exhibitions have already been
held at the South Tweed Sports Club and a third showing of 30 paintings is scheduled for four weeks from April 21 at their Horizons Art Gallery," M V
Tronson said.
The fifth strategy involving 'promotionals' has also witnessed good support.
Tronson du Coudray paintings are on display at Peppers Resort in Kingscliff, the Kingscliff Chamber of Commerce, a commissioned art work by theVictory Ford dealership at Tweed Heads is on display in their foyer and a web site for the Art Ministry has been established.
"While the Art Ministry was the focus in the early years, we now realise
that we lacked a coherent marketing strategy to keep pace. Our initial
efforts at the Tweed are an attempt to bridge that gap," mused M V Tronson.
The Well-Being Australia Art Ministry web site
www.bushorchestra.com/Art
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Art's Prints, Promotions and Advertising
Well-Being Australia's 'Art Ministry' not only involves 'art for art's sake', 'art as a means of benevolence for the young', 'art as environmental awareness' and 'art as a means to raise funding', but it also involves the most difficult part of art, that of its marketing.
By: Mark Tronson
Christian Today Australia Columnist
Christian Today Australia Columnist
Tuesday, 18 March 2008, 15:15 (EST)
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