Art Makes Headlines

Do you ever wonder how an artist or a band suddenly shows up in the newspaper and TV news? How did they get the coverage? Doesn’t your project also deserve press attention? Of course your work deserves to be broadcast too; and, with knowledge of how the press functions and a touch of creativity, your project can make headlines.  

When it comes to press, every artist we work with tells us that their central vision is for more people to see and experience the work. Starting from this place of intergrity will serve you well as you engage in media outreach. Peter Krsko, Director of Albus Cavus, says, "Press fulfills two major roles for our organization - promoting our work and, more importantly, educating the public about the issues that we are addressing. Our art on the front page means that more people see how their neighborhoods could improved and get excited to participate in the process." The Washington Post has twice featured Albus Cavus murals on the front page of the paper this year, which has led to increased interest in the public art group. See Albus Cavus on the front page HERE and HERE.

The secret recipe to creating headlines is knowing how the press works and delivering great stories to them in a timely fashion. At a recent Washington Project for the Arts panel discussion about DC's media coverage for the arts, writers stressed the importance of creating news. (See Philippa's thoughtful coverage of the panel HERE.) Art becomes news when art fits into the news frame for storytelling. Some key ingredients for the news recipe are: controversy, trend, new, local angle on national story, and unlikely bedfellows.   

Controversy – Are you flying in the face of the rules? Artist Dana Ellyn recently garnered international headlines with her solo exhibit for the "International Blasphemy Day" at Center for Inquiry DC. The Fund for Women Artists held a Push the Envelop, Please! free Oscar night party to raise awareness for female-directed films. No woman director has yet to win the Oscar.

Trend – For the purpose of the press, three is a trend. Three new murals are painted in public spaces. That's a trend.

New – By it’s name, art news is new news. Alert the press in a timely manner about an event. Don’t waste time with something that was done yesterday. It’s old. Artists Matt Sesow and Dana Ellyn have been spending every day in July for the last few years painting a picture straight out of the headlines from the Washington Post. That's new and news.

Local or individual angle on national story – This one is a little more difficult, but get creative. Power Pirate, DC's youngest electronic rock band, is a DIY band. The national music story is the recording industry shake up from music sales going online. Here is a local band that is making it without a record label.

Unlikely bedfellows – This means unexpected collaborations. Hip hop lawyer Shahid Buttar personifies this concept. During the day, he protects civil liberties at city halls across the country. At night, he rhymes on the mic.

And, finally, "if it bleeds it leads," which is why you always see violence at the top of the news. I have to mention here, because this column would be errant without it. Just don't do it.

With these key ingredients in mind, analyze the art news you see. What is the frame for the story?  Has an artist done something new or controversial? Is the story related to a national trend? Consider your own project and the frames it fits into.

Arts and artists pull from the world around them and reflect back to us. Photographer Rosina Teri Memolo recently created a series of images of chairs that people had planted in public spaces. She realized she had a commentary on trash and global warming, and she linked them in her artist description. Three chairs used in public spaces are a trend. Global warming is the news of the day. Soon, Memolo will be making headlines and so can you.