Project Spotlight: Behind the Curtain
Behind the Curtain: Navigating the Art World is a new professional development membership program for art professionals. It’s a project of Ray Beldner’s Startup Curatorial, which grew out of the Startup Art Fair that Ray co-founded in 2015 (and which is how we met!). Like Rhizomatic Arts, Behind the Curtain and Startup Curatorial are helping artists find the resources, skills, and community that are essential to a sustainable career.
Artist and Startup Curatorial founder Ray Beldner
What is “Behind the Curtain”?
Behind the Curtain: Navigating the Art World is a membership program that is designed for art professionals, including artists, collectors, and design professionals, seeking to deepen their understanding of the art industry's diverse landscape. The program aims to bridge the knowledge gap that often exists even among experienced members of the art world, helping them maximize the immense value that art brings to our communities and in building one’s art practice.
Our members have the unique opportunity to connect with what I call the real "art world insiders." These insiders are not household names, but they each play a vital role within the art ecosystem and are eager to share their knowledge and experiences. Members gain insights into various niches of the art world, enhance their practices, and build a supportive network of professionals.
The program offers several things: our Tuesday Morning Zoom calls, Art Talks with professionals, Deep Dive follow up sessions, a Video Library of past talks, and a private, online Community Forum designed to support and enrich the member’s art practice. We want it to be a space for learning, networking, and growing within a community of like-minded individuals who are passionate about art.
Why is this program needed in the field?
I believe that Behind the Curtain fills a unique niche in the art world. While many programs offer artist coaching, we focus on two crucial elements. One is education about the broader art ecosystem through dynamic, insider guest speakers. This knowledge is essential for navigating and succeeding in the art world. The second is fostering a supportive community that makes this complex field more manageable. Members connect with like-minded professionals, share experiences, and provide mutual support and resources.
These elements empower artists to better understand and engage with the art world, while also building a support network that enriches their practice.
What led you to this work?
My journey to this work began during my 20-year career teaching studio art at universities and art colleges. I noticed many promising graduates disappearing from the art scene, realizing their education had not prepared them for sustainable art careers. This led me to create the first Professional Practices class at the San Francisco Art Institute.
In 2015, seeing the need for unrepresented artists to access the booming art fair scene, I co-founded Startup Art Fair. This platform allowed independent artists to exhibit and sell directly to the public in four major cities, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston, and Chicago, bridging the gap between artists and potential buyers, curators, and gallerists.
When COVID-19 halted our in-person events in 2020, I pivoted to hosting weekly Tuesday Morning Salon Zoom calls to maintain my art community. Behind the Curtain evolved from this, continuing my mission to help artists build and sustain viable careers in a changing art world landscape. This work is a natural progression of my career-long commitment to empowering artists with the knowledge and connections they need to thrive professionally.
Ray Beldner at work.
What vision do you have for the art world? How does this program help move us toward that goal?
I envision an art world that is more balanced, sustainable, and transparent. One where we recognize that old models need reform, and artists are empowered to create their own opportunities while also gaining access to established spaces and audiences. This new paradigm would balance traditional institutions with artist-driven platforms, provide fair pay and support systems, and offer education that better prepares artists for the realities of their careers. Ultimately, it would enable artists to build financially and personally sustaining careers.
What's coming up next?
I have a lot on my plate these days! First, we launch Behind the Curtain August 6th; here is the lineup of line up of speakers for the first half of the year. More will be added in the coming weeks:
Bridgette Mayer, Philadelphia-based gallerist, author, and artist coach: Navigating the Contemporary Art World
Liz Garvey, Co-Founder and Director of Garvey|Simon in NYC: Alternatives to the Gallery Model
Molly Casey, Co-Founder and Chief Curator of NINE dot ARTS in Denver: Harnessing the Power of Art to Transform Spaces
Martin Rauchbauer, Executive Director of the Djerassi Resident Artist Program in Woodside, CA: Tech Diplomacy and Why is Should Matter to Artist Communities
Verónica Muñoz-Nájar, Associate Curator for the Thoma Foundation in Dallas: The Unheralded Work of a Curator: Research, Public Engagement and Collaboration
If people want to learn more, or subscribe, they can head over to the Startup website.
I am also offering a workshop with the career coach Nicole Slater, called Art Fair Essentials: From Application to Exhibition. We delve into the nitty-gritty of art fair applications, exhibition strategies, networking and more.
As for myself, I am hard at work in the studio and I have a solo exhibition in a gallery on the East Coast that opens next February. Anyone who wants to know more about my work or to sign up for my newsletter can do so on my website.
