Selling New Brunswick Art: Created Here, Loved Everywhere
SAINT JOHN – A New Brunswick entrepreneur is helping local artists reach a wider audience.
Created Here is a web and print publication that aims to create a space where people can discover and get to know N.B. artists, and where artists can get exposure.
Founder Marie-Hélène Morell got the idea for Created Here about two and half years ago when she ran into an old friend while visiting a craft show.
“He had become a glass artist and I was just fascinated by this. I stayed and chatted with him for at least a half hour,” Morrell says. “I wanted to know how he got there and why he decided to do this. I started looking around at the other craftspeople and I thought ‘what is their story’?'”
While catching up with her friend was great, the experience left her with a burning question.
“When I got home I started thinking, if I hadn’t have been there, would I have known that’s what he was doing? Is there anyway that I could have found out about his story?”
After doing some digging online, the answer was “not really.”
Though there were some galleries and organizations that had lists and basic information, there weren’t a lot of stories. After reaching out to several people, working with consultants and getting some start-up funding from the Pond Deshpande Centre, Morell launched the Created Here website and started writing.
“I just started interviewing artists. I just cold called them, go and visit them, take photos and talk about their stories and just started posting,” she says.
Last Spring, Morell took part in ArtsLink NB’s Catapult Accelerator, which helped artists across all mediums turn their passion into a business. From that, the Created Here magazine was spawned. Two issues have been released so far with the third expected in early July.
Besides sharing artists’ stories, Morell says Created Here aims to expand the community of people who care about artists, are buying local and investing in the local art economy. She says there’s a lot of New Brunswickers making art, but not a lot of New Brunswickers buying it.
“Just because we tend to be more frugal and we don’t often spend a lot on this kind of thing. I think the market for a lot of what people are making here is elsewhere,” Morrell says.
“I think people are starting to try to learn about exporting and how to get beyond [New Brunswick]. People are making a lot . . . it’s selling it that’s the tricky part.”
Morell says a lot of the artists she’s interviewed are already doing this, whether it’s selling on Etsy or going to the States for major craft shows and workshops.
“It’s a totally different skill set than creating. It’s pretty rare to find an artist that’s really good at creating and really good at the business side,” she says. “Not even as far as skills go, but time. Your time is prime when you’re an artist. I’ve heard a lot of people say taking care of the business side is draining and it’s not easy.”
Part of Created Here’s goal is to take a little of that pressure away from artist, to help point potential customers in their direction. She also sees the publication playing a role in building a collaborative and supportive arts community.
“I see a lot mutual building up, cross-promoting and a team approach. I think that’s what we need,” Morell says. “Rather than each person being like an island onto themselves and having to do everything on their own, I think it’s really valuable to work together and where people may lack in skills, help each other.”