Art Pro Net Podcast

In this episode, I have the pleasure of interviewing Larissa Wild, founder of Larissa Wild Fine Art Consulting ().  She is a fantastic new connection and opens up with me about her journey as an art pro. She shares her perspectives on everything from networking in our industry to her process for helping people achieve their art collecting goals.  It is a wonderful look at a pathway that is not as well understood as some, and I can't thank her enough for being a guest on the podcast. Make sure to check out her podcast too, The Art Elevator ().  Especially since I was a recent guest!

The world is opening up and people all over the industry are beginning to look for art pros.  Your interview starts from the moment you hit send on that email or Indeed application. Are you ready to make the right impression?  In this episode, I am going over my top five Don'ts for when you apply for a position.  I also give tips on how to get through the software filters, and what makes me as a hiring manager consider applications.  I also hope this podcast helps give everyone out there searching for their next position, some perspective on how it feels from the side of the hiring manager.  We are all in search of building the best team, and how you present yourself from the moment your application comes through, is vital as to how far you go in the process.

No matter where I work there is always one consistent challenge...natural light.  There are many reasons it is beneficial to visitors and how we experience museum spaces, but the thing we can all agree on is that it's rarely a positive for collections.  In this episode, I look at the reasons windows are in our world and how to deal with them in a way that safeguards against unnecessary damage.  I also discuss the misconceptions and myths surrounding both natural and man-made light exposure and give you tips on how to discuss the needs of your collection regarding exhibition, storage, and all kinds of viewing possibilities. Understanding your space and what your objects are made out of is key to success.  Art Pro Net is here to help you make all your variables work as well as possible to utilize and steward your collection.  Don't be shy. Reach out at to find out how we can help you!

Pop-up Installations are one of the most flexible scenarios I've come across as an art pro.  They often require some really creative and out-of-the-box thinking.  They have also been some of the most frustrating projects I have been a part of, and it really comes down to knowing how to plan them.  In this episode, I go through the basic and not-so-basic things to keep in mind when working with non-traditional installations.  Whether you are in a hospital or a bank lobby you will need to consider these details, and with some strategic planning, you will be able to focus on the amazing possibilities of these unique installations.

This episode is inspired by a question I found on a listserve this week..."How do you deal with the anxiety and stress that comes from handing valuable collections?"  I have thought a lot about this including the core priorities we need to focus on while building our teams and careers.  These include leaving time for people to continuously learn and grow in their skills, training those joining the profession so they continue to contribute to its growth, and considering short-term and long-term decisions and who should be making them.  This episode will help you think through managing the worries that come along with being entrusted with collections and installations no matter what their value in dollar signs.  In the end, it's about so much more than just putting a picture on the wall.

Planning for collections care can be confusing and complicated.  You have to balance the object's needs alongside many other factors...budget, time, and staffing to name a few.  Not to mention the regular changes in the availability of materials.  In this episode, I look at all these factors, the reasons they exist, and ways to cope with them.  Whether you're new to collections management or have been at it for years, I hope this helps you consider some concepts to make the best of whatever your scenario can be.

2021 is here and APN is renewing our connection with you by focusing on how you can revive your network and build it stronger.  Now is the time to get back out there and check-in with those people you know and connect with those people you want to know.  Creating a network is something we should all work on regularly but let's get real...2020 was about survival and keeping it together.  This episode is about how to get started or dust off those skills and make an impact in this new year and different climate.  It is great to be back and I can't wait to reconnect with all of you!

I want to start this season finale with a big thank you to everyone who has supported us this year.  I know that this has been, is, and will be one of the hardest years in memory.  It is difficult to find reasons to be thankful in 2020, and so I have dedicated this episode to how we can find opportunities in the midst of challenges.  I hope that we can all keep this year in perspective as we find a new path forward in 2021.  I am grateful for what I have learned this year and the new priorities that we have in our communities.  I hope we have all learned a lot. The Art Pro Net Podcast will be back in January 2021.  Also, subscribe to our newsletter and keep an eye out for our newly revised Resources page at We are here to help art pros in our expanding network.  Be well.

In this week of big decision making, we should all look toward next year with hope and purpose.  This episode looks at the top 5 things to consider when you are making that plan.  Everything on the list prioritizes your most valuable asset in moving forward...people.  Our human resource will be the most fragile commodity we have moving forward and we need to prioritize people's health and well-being by planning for the chaos we know is possible.  2021 will be a new era in our field where managers and institutions are going to have to regain loyalty and prove to their staff that they are a valued asset to the planning and mission of museums. I hope this episode helps you get started on making a concrete plan for the future. Reach out to us at Art Pro Net if we can help you. [email protected]

Well, we are 6 months in, and hopefully, your plans, processes, and protocols are proving successful.  This episode is about digging them out, getting the team back together, and seeing how the plan matches up with real life.  We are all working through the pandemic fatigue, and one way to alleviate some of the pressure is to see where you can adapt your process to allow people some room to work.  We also look at how to review your plan by discussing the difference in meeting styles and purposes.  Utilize new tech, and be intentional about your review and it will not be nearly as exhausting as the original creation process.  It is vital to review your plan and set your next goal.  No matter what type of plan it should be dynamic and ever-evolving.  A stagnant and unreviewed plan will eventually become irrelevant.