Over the years, Ballroom Arts has hosted several group exhibitions in both our Courtyard and Ballroom galleries, bringing diverse and often themed showcases of contemporary art.

With cost of living rising, and expenses for artists climbing higher and higher, we are aware of the challenges faced by artists wanting to expand their community and put their artwork on the map. We greatly appreciate the feedback we gather from the artists who hire our gallery spaces and have witnessed a large range of circumstances of artists pooling together to stage spectacular events.

Maybe you’re starting out as an artist, or you’re quite well established in your community but you haven’t exhibited in a public gallery for a while. Below, we address the benefits of hosting a group exhibition and settle some queries regarding group shows that we have witnessed over the years.

First thing’s first: the money

Gallery hire can be a pricey commitment to make without the knowledge of how well your art will perform in a specific community. It can be a daunting and time-consuming investment, without the promise of a busy footfall and works selling quickly. Whilst a solo show can give you the most creative freedom and little complexity over curation clashes and sales processes, a group exhibition is a very cost-effective approach if you’re willing to share the space with other artists.

The cost of hiring is instantly split, lightening your financial burden, and for those artists wishing to dip their toes in the water, it allows you to get your work out there without large and costly pressures looming over you. 

Grow your platform in a group

One fantastic benefit we’ve seen thrive in the group exhibitions hosted at Ballroom Arts is the fantastic growth artists have received- both from fellow artists and audiences. 

Let’s say you work with two other artists- any social media posts, flyers, or conversations through word-of-mouth will be spread between you and your two collaborators. Immediately, your work is published with their audiences, and their friends and buyers will visit your exhibition where they may not have if you hosted a solo show.

Share your passions

Many Ballroom Arts group exhibitions have been underpinned by a specific theme- whether it’s a shared medium, content theme, or regional familiarity. Finding a shared interest or link between your practices can help you direct the work you create leading up to the show and help you discover a community with shared passions and interests as yourself.

Making Lighter Work

For busy artists who have little spare time to dedicate to new projects, a group exhibition really helps to lighten the workload when staging an exhibition. Admin, marketing, curation, hanging work, and managing the gallery daily is split 2, 3, 4 or more ways depending on the size of your group! Where you might not have much experience knowing how to curate a varied exhibition of artists, one of your colleagues may be more seasoned at this and can teach you a thing or two to take into future exhibitions.

Final Thoughts

Yes, the spotlight may not be entirely on you in a group exhibition, but group exhibitions are a wonderful experience that is more cost-effective, a fantastic opportunity to grow your audience, and learn exhibition management skills from others! 

Our Ballroom Gallery upstairs is our larger space, perfect for hosting group exhibitions with a servery for offering drinks and canapés at opening events, sea views from the east windows, and a professional wall hanging system- all within a modern, beautifully styled building along the busy Aldeburgh High Street. 
If you have established a group and would like to exhibit with us, why not send us an application via the Bookings Page and email admin@ballroomarts.org if you have any questions.

Image: A group exhibition in 2024 showing Louise Sant Jewellery, David Gillingwater, Claire Fried, Kate Reynolds, Richard Dack, and BJ Kearns.