FAQ About Artist Studio Management and Liaison Services
Mallory Shotwell provides artist studio management consulting designed for mid-career and established visual artists working in contemporary art.
This work is often also called artist liaison services or professional practice consulting. It supports mid-career and established visual artists who are overwhelmed by the demands of a growing practice by offering direct solutions to common challenges like missed deadlines, stalled applications, disorganized inventory, unclear communication with galleries, or unsustainable administrative loads.
Services address the full scope of a working artist’s career, including exhibition coordination, gallery sales, art fair logistics, grant and residency applications, public art project management, studio operations, inventory systems, institutional partnerships, and collection placement strategy.
Support is tailored to artists who need to stay professionally responsive and organized without sacrificing time in the studio. Whether restructuring your systems, managing communications, or preparing high-level proposals, this work builds stability, clarity, and capacity into your practice.
Service areas include West Michigan, Chicago, Milwaukee, and Detroit, with full remote consulting available to visual artists and arts professionals nationwide.
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Who is artist professional practice consulting for?
This consulting is designed for mid‑career artists and arts organizations working within nonprofit, artist‑run, and civic contexts. It is best suited for artists actively applying to exhibitions, residencies, or public programs, and for institutions managing artist‑centered initiatives that require coordination, documentation, and follow‑through.
What kinds of artists do you typically work with?
Most artist clients are mid‑career practitioners working in contemporary art, public art, or interdisciplinary practice. They are often balancing exhibitions, applications, residencies, and institutional relationships, and need systems and operational support to manage overlapping opportunities.
Do you work with emerging or student artists?
This consulting is not designed for students or early‑career artists seeking foundational guidance. Artists should already have an active practice and be engaging with professional opportunities such as exhibitions, juried calls, or residencies.
How is this different from artist coaching or mentoring?
Artist professional practice consulting focuses on systems, materials, timelines, and execution. It does not provide creative critique, mindset coaching, or personal development support. The work is practical, structured, and oriented toward institutional participation.
What does a Discovery Call involve?
A Discovery Call is a short conversation to understand current goals, challenges, and timelines. It helps determine whether ongoing consulting, a project‑based engagement, or a strategy session is the best next step.
Do you offer ongoing support or only short‑term projects?
Both options are available! Some clients work on a short‑term project basis, such as application support or a systems reset, while others engage in ongoing retainer support across multiple exhibition or program cycles.
How do retainers work?
Retainer engagements provide ongoing monthly support and are structured around a minimum three‑month commitment. Retainers are best suited for artists or organizations managing multiple opportunities or long‑term programs.
Do you help with grant writing or fundraising?
Support may include organizing materials, timelines, and application requirements for grants or funded opportunities. This consulting does not replace professional grant writers or development staff but can support preparation and coordination.
What kinds of organizations do you work with?
Mallory works with galleries, museums, universities, nonprofits, and community‑based arts organizations. Common projects include exhibition coordination, juried program administration, residency support, and documentation or archiving systems.
Can you support juried exhibitions or open calls?
Yes. Support may include application logistics, review workflow design, artist communication, materials coordination, and documentation processes for juried exhibitions and open calls.
Do you work remotely or in person?
Most consulting work is conducted remotely. In‑person engagement may be possible for specific projects, exhibitions, or institutional collaborations, depending on scope and location.
How far in advance should I reach out?
It is recommended to reach out at least 4–6 weeks before a major deadline or program launch. For complex projects or ongoing support, earlier planning allows for more effective systems setup.
How do I get started?
The first step is to submit an inquiry or schedule a Discovery Call. From there, scope, timeline, and next steps are discussed before any engagement begins.
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