Website design for art groups

This article is aimed at art groups who are considering setting up a website and covers the main issues.

Does our art group need a website?

For an art group, the main benefits of having a website are:

1. Helps promote the art group's work, exhibitions and events to a wide audience
2. Helps create a strong group identity
3. The website can be used to assist communication within the group
4. Individuals in the group can use the address of their web page as a showcase for their work - a low cost alternative to an individual website
5. Provides a selling opportunity for artists

Recommended pages for an art group website

All websites are different and depend on the owner's needs. But typically, an art group website has the following pages:

1. Home page – this may include a text introduction to the group, contact details and links to the events page and list of members page.

2. Events page – this is an opportunity to inform visitors of past, present and future events and exhibitions planned by the group.

3. Artist showcase pages – each page usually includes the artist’s biography and source of inspiration, together with four signature pieces. Each signature piece is enlargable - ie a visitor can click on an image to see a larger version (each of these enlargement pages counts as a separate page in web design terms).

Optional pages include:

Links page – links to other art groups, suppliers, magazines etc.
Guest books – an opportunity for people to leave comments .

How much does an art group website cost?

Every website is different. The total cost of a website depends on the number of pages and the complexity of the design. Once we have received a full brief, we can give you a quote.

Here is a typical cost for a 10 person art group website.

- Domain name registration or transfer of existing name to our host £20
- Initial layout design of pages (using existing logo, or designing new logo) £70
- Site build (based on agreed layout) £25
- 10 artist showcase pages (including enlargement pages for each image) £35 each =£350

Total basic cost of a ‘bespoke’ art group website = £465

Note in the above example, each showcase page will have the same basic look and feel, text and graphic positions etc.

Unique website pages can be designed for each artist (ie the layout of each showcase page is different) at a cost of £99 per page.

You also need to take into account on-going costs which are hosting from year 2 (currently £39.99), domain name renewal (approximately £20 every two years, depending on the domain name).

Other options - template based websites

One way of keeping costs down is to opt for a ‘template based’ site. Unlike bespoke sites that are built from scratch, the layout of a template based website pre-defined (the layout of the menu bar, the position of the images on the web page, position on the text etc). The only input that a group can have is the colours used on the site, the font used and the number of pages. Although based on a template, these type of sites can look totally unique.

Development of a template based site does not include the initial layout stage (as this is pre-defined) or the build stage. Therefore, in the example above, the cost would be reduced by £95.

Optional extras

Any optional extras can be added to the site specification (visitor statistics, search engine submission etc) for a small charge.

Managing an art group website

Dealing with a group of 10 people or so has obvious logistical problems. We recommend that each art group appoints a website coordinator who will be the main contact. Typically, the website coordinator will:

1. Liaise with us on all matters relating to the website
2. Liaise with members on matters concerning up dates and provide update briefs when appropriate

Individual members should be responsible for providing us with text and images needed for their showcase pages.

Updating your website

Typically, art groups want to update their websites once or twice a year - perhaps replacing images or updating exhibitions or memberships. Updates are charged on an ad hoc basis of £35 per hour. When a change is required, the most efficient method is for the website coordinator to contact each member of the group and request if any changes are required. The requests for changes should be collated into one email and forwarded to us. We will be able to give you a quote based on the anticipated changes.

Obviously, the cost will vary depending on how many changes are required but rarely exceeds two or three hours work for us.

Very minor text changes can be implemented free of charge throughout the year.

What happens if a member leaves or a new member joins?

There is no charge for deleting a member from the website.. Additional members can request a showcase page for an additional £35 (or £99 if bespoke).

Managing the finances of an art group website

Different art groups fund their in different ways:

1. The art group pays for the entire site – perhaps yearly membership fees cover the cost of the website
2. The group funds the basic set up costs, and asks individuals for contributions to showcase pages (either the full cost, or a %)

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