Is Art All About Likes And Views?
Image credit: Amie McNee
Let’s talk social media and art! A refreshing substack article written by Amie Mcnee reminds us the real reason for social media is ATTENTION…but is this what we artists need? The model for ATTENTION suits the world’s biggest companies as they only get richer when they garner more of our attention. Amie points out that “Creators all around the world are being convinced that attention is the new marker of creative success. The prevailing narrative is that artists and corporations are now aligned in their incentives: get more attention.This is false. You will never be a successful artist if you only chase attention. You’ve been lied to. Attention is what they need. You need to create value. Real value.”
Amie researched on how her art successes correlated to her big social media moments…and found they didn’t match at all…
So what are her suggestions for alternatives to social media?
- Find platforms that have different incentives that are not driven by attention. There is a version of the internet that never had attention as its main driver, and it’s possible that it will return.
- Other than finding better corners of the internet, we can rebelliously and revolutionarily – make art that haunts people, heals people, holds people. We can choose meaning over metrics, depth over virality, value over noise. We can opt out of the attention casino and step into something more honest, more radical: a creative economy built on MEANING. On craft. On actual connection.
Read Amie and Jame’s full substack article below….
Is Instagram Working For You?
Christina Kent a full time artist from San Francisco with 77K followers on Instagram has put up the following 13 minute Youtube clip …well worth a listen to…” Why Instagram stopped working for Artists and What to Do instead.”
Since Instagram drastically changed its algorithm in 2024, it has become a lot harder for artists to get seen. In this video, she talks about what’s been going on with social media, why so many artists are feeling frustrated, and how she’s adjusted her strategy to make it more sustainable, community-focused, and actually useful.
Be Quick!
DEPOT are looking for a diverse range of creative projects for their 2026 exhibition programme. The exhibition programme spans three spaces;
Depot Artspace and Lounge at 28 Clarence Street and both the Gallery and DEPOT Shop | Toi Toa at 3 Victoria Road.
They aim to include projects that meaningfully contribute to the cultural fabric of New Zealand and want to see well-developed ideas and concepts. They prioritise artists that have not previously exhibited at the DEPOT as well as bodies of work that have not been seen before in Tāmaki Makaurau. They also appreciate projects that connect with or align to key cultural and community events or social causes e.g. Auckland Pride, Matariki, Diwali, Aotearoa Music Month, Auckland Festival of Photography etc.
The Call closes Aug 24, 2025
Emerging Artist Residency
Studio One Toi Tū is now accepting applications for the 2025 Emerging Artists Residency Programme, an outcomes-focused residency supporting early-career emerging contemporary visual artists/collectives to realise their next significant project or create a new body of work.
Recipients will receive six months of dedicated studio space at Studio One Toi Tū from November 2025 to April 2026, including 24-hour access to facilities, kiln and ceramic facilities, and general workshop tools. An end of residency exhibition will take place from 21 May – 3 June.
This residency programme is designed to support emerging artists while building Studio One Toi Tū’s reputation as a vital stepping stone in New Zealand’s contemporary arts landscape.
Applicants need to be :
- New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
- Early-career emerging contemporary visual artist
- Available for full residency duration
- Clear intention to develop and complete a new body of work or artistic project with an achievable outcome.
- Commitment to end-of-residency exhibition
Location: Studio One Toi Tū, 1 Ponsonby Road.
Applications close Sep 15, 2025
Artist Residency Rotorua
Calling all innovative artists! The Arts Village in Rotorua is seeking fresh, creative minds for their December 2025 – January 2026 Shared Studio Residency. The Arts Village is a significant community art space in Rotorua with a long history of growing Rotorua through the arts. Their vision is for Rotorua to be a vibrant, creative community, where art makes life good. Since 2011, their Open Studios Project has supported 62 artists with space, materials, and community connection. The artist residency is a structured opportunity for artists to live and work away from their usual environment, often with support like space, time, resources, and sometimes funding. The goal is to give artists dedicated time to focus on their creative practice, explore new ideas, or develop a specific project. In essence, it’s a chance for artists to step away from everyday distractions and immerse themselves in making, thinking, and connecting.
Four artists will be selected. Each selected artist will receive:
- Six weeks of studio space within a shared studio environment.
- Six weeks of studio support, promotion via the Arts Village Team, and access to equipment resources.
- A materials stipend of $200 this amount is dependent on funding.
- A living stipend of $2,000 to support your costs during this time.
Applications Close: 5pm on the Friday 3rd October 2025
Congratulations To Our Emerging Artists!
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