Internship at Taipei Treasure Hill Artist Village 台北國際藝術村實習 (PR & Marketing)

Job Nature and achievements

(i) Department of PR and Marketing

I worked in the department of Media and Marketing and completed 11 weeks of the internship program. Under the supervision from the assistant manager of Media and Marketing department, I had to post two posts on Facebook Page of Taipei Artist Village daily, collect and report news and article writing about Taipei Artist Village on the internet, design events and projects for finding sponsorship, write and publish press release on official website and Facebook Page, maintain official website and Instagram, translate text and design presentation PowerPoint for different events. It was also similar to an editor to edit written material.

Video presentation for my reflection:

(ii) Art administration in the gallery

In July, besides worked for Media and marketing, I also stayed in the gallery (Barry Room) and handled exhibition duties every day. Taipei Artist Village had arranged art administration lesson for interns and I learned practical exhibition management from installation, opening and dismantling of the exhibition. For example, I learned only a wood wall was allowed to drill, what materials had to be prepared, and problem simulation. Then, I helped to dismantle “Season 2 Residency Artists Exhibition”, installing and dismantling “Body Displacement-HUANG Meng-Chin Solo Exhibition” and installing “Ashes of Whispers-CHEN Yow-Ruu Solo Exhibition”. I met many interesting audiences from different countries through audio guiding such as asking me to introduce Taipei Artist Village to him, met Director from Art organization from Hong Kong, and met young artists who were looking for opportunities of art residency. I had learned problem-solving and event management by working in the gallery.

(iii) Curate exhibition

The most evidential achievement was being one of the curatorial team of an exhibition “Daily Pottery” in Upper Ray Gallery No.11 of Treasure Hill Artist Village in 10th of August to 9th of September. The exhibition was curated by interns only and I handled the whole process and human resources as some interns had ended their internship in the middle and some interns were new. The exhibition was showing the pottery artwork by visually and hearing impaired so we presented in a diversification form that emphasized the sense of touch, sound, and smell. I was in the visual team designing the postcard, logo, graphics for Facebook Page, exhibition decoration, publishing, installing and video production. Many details and practical administration duties were learned from curating this exhibition from words, vision, media, promotion, budget, and communication. For the project I learned to curate an exhibition had to think about who (artists and audiences), what (what value that wants to deliver), why (why design this area in this way), when (schedule), where (limitation of the spaces), how and how much. This also trained my problem-solving skills when facing obstacles.

(iv) Assist activities

I also assist activities and assist artists for doing their artwork in Taipei Artist Village such as “Art Space Survival Kit-2018 Annual Conference for the Artist Village Alliance of Taiwan”, “2018 Friday Night Talk”, Welcome Party for New residency artists, 2018 Summer Open Studio. Through these conferences and talks, I listened to point of views from directors in art organization from different countries and communicate with artists face-to-face for the first time. On 3rd of July, Taipei Artist Village arranged outreach art organization visit for interns. We visited the Bamboo Curtain Studio and Whitestone Gallery and learned about their administration, mode of operation, limitation, and expected future of art field.

3. Reflections for Artist Village and personal development

For my personal development and inspiration, I hope I can be a community-based artist or being an art administrator in the artist village. For being a community-based artist, it is great to participate in the art residency program in different countries and create artwork that related to the community of that region. Sure creating artwork is my interest, and I think the art-in-residence program can help artists to develop their network and insight. Also, I got a great interest in working in art spaces such as Taipei Artist Village. Since I think artist Village has their revolutionary goal and special value of art in the community and international.

I found that I have to be more out-going to interact with people since I am introvert. But I notice that being an introvert are good at doing details and duties of long progress. I was learning fast and doing fast. But my weakness is communicating with people due to shyness.

By observing the fulltime officers, I learn that I have to keep learning new skills and be an almighty person. It is because art administration involves various category and trivial matters. Keep developing different skills can enhance the competitiveness. Therefore, I think I am suitable for art administration job because I can do design, photography, creation, advertisement and manage social media.

4. Reflections and inspiration on the Internship

Through working in the Artist Village, I have got great interest in creating an artist village in Hong Kong, and other aspiration about working in the art field or even how to be an artist. I think the cultural cluster is important for the promotion of art to the society.

Through talking with some artists in Taipei Artist Village, many of them agree that artist village provides great opportunities for them. They travel to another country and the artist village provides studio, funding and exhibition support for them. They may get great international insight and enrich their profile. According to Boram L., Ian F. and Ian F. (2018), the exhibition provides opportunities for the contemporary artists including provide platform as steppingstones by increase the exposure, networking, experience, marketing, ambition, and inspiration. Through the exhibition from Taipei Artist Village, artists could communicate with other artists from diverse nationalities. I think the artist village is great for helping young unknown artists to build their networking and experiences, and also let the local audiences can get close to the artists and participate in art. Through my observation and research about Treasure Hill Artist Village, since there are many old residents (that are not artists) living inside the Treasure Hill Artist Village, they are interested in art through the development of Treasure Hill Artist Village. Since Treasure Hill Artist Village will hold dinner that invites international artists and old residents bring their food from hometown and have a happy party night. During the opening party of the art exhibition, some old residents will come and visit the exhibition although they do not understand art very well. This may have called a community-based art project and encouraged students and residents nearby to visit artist village.

Therefore, I think the artist village can help artists, encourage the community to participate in art, help increase the value of art in the society, and also provide many job opportunities for art students. For my personal growth, I hope I can promote artist village in Hong Kong. There are many artist villages worldwide such as Japan, Taiwan, Germany, India and etc.… I would create an artist village in Hong Kong If I have the ability to create it!

I Think one of the reasons that let Treasure Hill Artist Village be so successful in promoting art is that they got enough funding from the Taipei Culture Foundation to attract artists join the art-in-residency program. The rental fee for artists is reasonable. In Hong Kong, the suggested Artist Hostel in West Kowloon Cultural District are as expensive as high-grade hotel (“Yi shu jin zhu xu yi yi shu wei ben wei, wu ling jin zhu ji hua bian jing pin jiu dian [Art-in-residence should put art as the main point, do not let it be a hotel],” 2018). This may let people think that the art in Hong Kong is very commercial.