A New Era for Artists 

In this article, we highlight the Critique App, an app dedicated to making the world of online art critique a positive and constructive space, and an alternative to online forums where the quality of feedback can’t be guaranteed. Here at Art in Res we strive to support artists in whatever ways we can, and we believe Symposia’s Critique App will pave a better way forward for the independent artist community and the world of art criticism.

How the pandemic changed the world of art

Artists have long sought feedback from their trusted art communities to improve the quality of their work. Enabling dialogue catalyzes important conversations and provides a space for artists to explain their thought processes. But, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the traditional forum for conversations and critique has largely shifted to virtual settings.

The pandemic has had a huge affect on artists – as an estimated 63% of artists are are now unemployed. But even for artists who are still working, creative practices have changed and forced artists to adapt to this digital transformation, all the while dealing with new challenges that have surfaced with receiving feedback on their artwork.

New, virtual ways to continue fruitful discussions about your artwork

Artists who rely on critiques have been forced to find new ways to interact with each other online. Many different platforms and art communities have been growing rapidly in the last year, all with the intent of giving artists an online environment to chat and improve their artwork.

A few examples are: Discord communities, private Zoom critique groups, live streaming platforms, etc. Even Whatsapp message groups and the new voice app Clubhouse are being used to keep these important conversations going.

Problems with finding honest criticism online

These platforms are helping fill the void, but they can make it harder for artists to find honest criticism they can trust. It can be tough to build the courage to volunteer work to be criticized, and the feedback they receive can be mixed in its helpfulness. Some artists have abandoned the online critique format all together, citing toxic environments, mixed career levels, or unhelpful comments. In doing so, they're missing out on valuable criticism which can push them forward.

Importance of building a trusted network of peers

The artist’s journey is challenging. A common key to success is the interactions they have with peers, which allow them to find new opportunities and navigate key decisions. This is precisely why trust is so important during an art critique; artists want to feel like they can share their work without judgment and receive constructive and helpful feedback on their work, rather than discouragement.

Some of these public forums understandably have low artist engagement; when people don't take the time to understand the art before they offer feedback, their comments are often made out of context and seen as negative and unhelpful. Artists can begin to feel as though the process of posting online was a waste of their time and won’t do it again. This issue often arises due to the nature of the online format and the difficulties in finding trustworthy artists you can connect with who give good advice.

Private Zoom critique groups can be a great solution, but they are expensive; some artists may want to prioritize their budget towards materials rather than feedback. Additionally, with the Zoom fatigue setting in after a year of remote work, they may not be as conducive.

In public forums and Discord channels, it takes a lot of courage to show unfinished work, as it immediately places you into a vulnerable state. Artists often fear harsh judgment or discouragement if no one responds. That type of response can undermine an artist's confidence in their work or even their practice as a whole at a critical moment when all they need is some help to push their work towards a new level.

The digital transformation of the art critique has only just begun

New platforms have given artists more opportunities than ever before to showcase their work and receive feedback, but they have also brought about new challenges. Even as the U.S. is starting to reopen, these digital formats have forever changed how we interact with art and are here to stay.

Want to learn more?

Our friends at Symposia will be beta testing the Critique App this summer and have a larger release scheduled for the end of 2021. In the meantime, you can:

    • Learn more about Symposia
    • Take this survey to tell Symposia what features you want most
    • Continue to support independent artists!

If you want to get involved in the project or have access to the first release, send an email to team@artsymposia.com to get in touch.