The arts should embrace LinkedIn, not shy away from it

The arts shouldn’t be so quick to rule out the ‘professional platform’ from their marketing communications program.

TL;DR

Despite its potential the arts often avoids or underutilises LinkedIn. By leaning into the professional nature of the platform artists, artworkers and arts organisations can put themselves out there as creative thinkers and enhance their professional presence which can be useful for grant applications, finding collaborators and partners and open up new pathways to customers and audiences.

Many artists, artworkers and arts organisations don’t use LinkedIn. Sometimes they overlook the potential of the ‘professional platform’ in favour of platforms like Instagram that showcase visual work because they see LinkedIn as ‘strictly corporate’ and unsuitable for creative fields. Their unfamiliarity with the benefits of LinkedIn means they may not fully understand how the platform can support their creative and professional goals, such as raising their profile, showcasing their transferable skills, networking, attracting partners such as collaborators, presenters, or funders and expanding their customers and audiences.

Back in 2022 I ran a poll on the Arts Marketing Communications Australia Facebook group. It asked: Who does or doesn’t have a LinkedIn profile and…