Top 9 Social Media Strategies for Art Galleries to Attract Visitors

Photo by pixelshot via Canva
Shortcuts
In the digital age, art galleries can connect with a diverse audience like never before. Social media is more than just a platform for sharing images; it’s a way to engage with potential visitors and develop meaningful relationships.
Social media is a way to engage with potential visitors and develop meaningful relationships
By effectively using social media, your gallery can attract more visitors, increase engagement, and enhance your reputation as a key cultural destination. Let’s dive into the top social media strategies that will put your gallery in the spotlight and draw in art enthusiasts.
What is Social Media Marketing for Art Galleries?
Social media marketing for art galleries is about building a strong online presence to attract visitors and art enthusiasts. This includes showcasing artwork, promoting exhibitions, sharing artist interviews, and engaging audiences with behind-the-scenes content.
With the right tools - especially AI-powered ones - marketing becomes more efficient. These tools can automate posts, suggest relevant content, and optimize strategies, allowing gallery owners to focus on curation while effortlessly growing their audience.
What Social Media Channels Are Best for Art Galleries?
The best social media platforms for art galleries are Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube - ideal for sharing visual content like exhibition previews, artist spotlights, and creative process videos. LinkedIn is also useful for networking with collectors and industry professionals.
Focus first on one or two platforms, get comfortable, and grow from there
Are you managing multiple channels? The right tools can simplify content creation and scheduling, helping you stay consistent, attract more visitors, and build a strong art-loving community. Let's talk about these later.
Not sure where to focus or thinking about expanding? Check out our blog post on choosing the best social media channels for your gallery!
9 Social Media Marketing Ideas for Art Galleries
Let’s explore some practical and effective ways you can use social media to grow your gallery and attract more visitors.
1. Establish a Strong Brand Identity

Arianna Taliadoros is a Floral & Ocean-Obsessed artist from Hampshire, UK, offering a private and virtual gallery that showcases her art beautifully and personally. She has created a calm, inviting profile and has also included her website link.
A clear brand identity is key to attracting visitors and forming emotional connections
A clear and consistent brand identity is key to attracting visitors and forming emotional connections. Ensure your gallery’s personality shines through in your social media posts.
For example, use a consistent color palette, logo, and font across all platforms. This creates a recognizable brand that resonates with potential visitors.
2. Showcase Your Art Collection
Visualuca showcases Ian Rayersmith's art gallery with descriptive captions in a simple, yet powerful video.
Share not just visuals, but also the stories behind the artists and their inspirations
Highlight your art collection with eye-catching, high-quality images and videos that capture the unique details and features of each artwork. Share not just visuals, but also the stories behind the artists and their inspirations. For example, feature a local artist’s work alongside a short video interview about their creative process.
This context helps deepen the connection with your audience, increasing the likelihood of a visit.
3. Post Behind-the-Scenes Content
Above, ZUVA gallery is an award-winning destination for contemporary art from Africa. They’ll take us behind the scenes to show how they source art for their gallery.
Behind-the-scenes glimpses engage audiences and make them feel involved
Behind-the-scenes glimpses engage audiences and make them feel involved. Share videos of gallery installations or exhibit preparations. For instance, a time-lapse video of an artist creating a mural can captivate viewers. This transparency fosters a deeper appreciation for the effort involved in curating exhibitions.
4. Create Content Calendar

Easy scheduling with Hookle App
Consistency is key to maintaining an engaged audience. Plan your posts in advance with a content calendar to ensure a steady flow of updates, event promotions, and behind-the-scenes insights. This keeps you organized and reduces last-minute stress.
Consistency is key to maintaining an engaged audience
Better yet, save time by using a social media scheduler like Hookle to manage all your accounts and automate posting in one app!
5. Promote Upcoming Events
Mash Gallery, a contemporary art gallery in West Hollywood, USA, promoted their free Saturday events on TikTok, as seen above.
When hosting events use social media to spread the word
When hosting events like exhibitions, workshops, or artist talks, use social media to spread the word. Create countdown posts, share event details, and encourage RSVPs. For example, posting a teaser video a week before an exhibition can build excitement and anticipation. This strategy helps gauge attendance and generate interest in advance.
6. Utilize Google Business Profile

For art galleries, optimizing your Google Business Profile is a powerful way to attract more visitors. By adding essential details like your location, hours, and artwork showcases, you enhance visibility. If you don’t have one yet, you can easily create Google profile for free here.
Keep your profile fresh by posting updates, events, and offers directly. Save time by publishing these updates simultaneously to your other social channels using scheduling apps like Hookle, ensuring consistent and efficient engagement across platforms - all from one place.
7. Host Contests or Giveaways
Vanessa is a self-taught abstract artist based in Naarm, Australia. She shared a short clip showcasing her early artworks, which she is giving away to her audience. In the clip above, she beautifully signs her artwork - a great and inspiring detail.
Create excitement by hosting contests or giveaways
Create excitement by hosting contests or giveaways. Offer free tickets to an exhibition or a signed print by an artist. Engaging contests not only raise awareness but also encourage followers to share your posts, expanding your reach.
8. Optimize Posting Times

Discover the best times to post by analyzing engagement data. Regularly posting during peak activity times can boost visibility and attract more visitors. For instance, posting in the evenings or on weekends, when most people have free time, can enhance your outreach.
Better yet, forget about tracking posting times altogether and let AI do the work for you. Scheduling apps like Hookle automatically schedule your social posts at the optimal times, allowing you to focus on more important tasks!
9. Leverage Hashtags Effectively

Ella Moulding from the UK shares this post on Instagram using local hashtags like #SouthDownsArt and #WestSussex, effectively reaching her local audience, as seen above.
Using relevant hashtags helps categorize your posts and expand your reach. Popular hashtags related to art, local events, and exhibitions can attract new visitors to your gallery. Researching trending hashtags ensures your content gets maximum visibility.
Save Time by Managing All Social Networks with One App
Running an art gallery means balancing exhibitions, visitor engagement, and marketing - all at once. A strong online presence is key to attracting visitors, building trust, and increasing awareness.
Managing social media can feel overwhelming, but with tools like Hookle, you can plan and schedule posts in advance - keeping your content consistent without the hassle.
AI-powered Hookle is built for busy gallery owners like you
AI-powered Hookle is built for busy gallery owners like you. Easily create, schedule, and manage posts across multiple platforms, including Google Business Profile, all from one place.
Don't just take our word for it. Try Hookle for free and simplify your gallery’s social media marketing today!