Question

What made Sarah Butler decide to do the work she is doing?

What specific role do you play at your company?

I work with galleries throughout the U.S. and South America to promote Art in America and sell ad space in the magazine.

What are some things you do in a typical work day?

Research gallery shows, call clients, and send e-mails promoting our next issue. I also visit galleries in New York about once a week, and I try to attend as many shows as I can on my off-time throughout the city.

What resources do you use in your work (software, equipment, reference materials, Web sites, etc.)?

We use a database called FileMaker®, and I use Google™, and a few art Web sites (artnet®, ARTINFO), and we use Outlook® for e-mail. I use the Art Basel catalog as well as our own Annual Guide for reference as well.

What made you decide to do the work you're doing?

I have always loved contemporary art and made it a general goal to work within the field. After a few nonprofit internships at museums and galleries, I decided to try the for-profit art world and was offered a job as the ad assistant at the magazine. I much prefer the pace of the for-profit art community and have stayed with the company for three years, with a promotion to an Account Manager last spring.

What were you most surprised about when you started working in your field?

How very grassroots it is! We lay out the magazine with tape and printed pages on a big table each month. It's all based on aesthetics and feeling and some 'art politics'. Sometimes I think we're stuck in the 90s with the amount of outdated software that we use, but as artists I think we prefer the hands on method in the end.

What are some of your favorite parts about your job?

I love working directly with the dealers who, in a way, control what is happening in contemporary art. I do get to travel about every other month either to a specific city for gallery visits, or to art fairs. I go to Miami a few times a year and love it. That is the real payoff--being a part of a world that I find important and challenging. I also love being a part of such a well respected, time honored publication, and I love having my name on the masthead.

What are some of the biggest challenges of your job?

I am not very organized by nature, so it's always a challenge to get my left brain to do some work on billing reports, insertion orders, spreadsheets, general office stuff.

What project(s) are you most proud of?

I work on a map of Miami each year and rally to get every gallery in the city to participate. It is then handed out at Art Basel Miami, and used by every fair attendee! It's very time consuming and often frustrating but holding the finished product always makes it worth it.

What kind of educational background or training did you need to get started in your field?

I have a bachelor's degree in studio art and art history. My internships at well respected art museums were integral in getting the position as well.

In your field, what qualities are most important for someone to have?

A friendly demeanor, someone who isn't afraid to walk up to someone they don't know at a party and introduce herself. A strong interest in contemporary art also helps a great deal as it makes the job fun.

What advice do you have for someone interested in a career in marketing or business?

Get an internship, even it if is unpaid. Most unpaid internships are VERY flexible so you can work another job at the same time to stay afloat. Those few lines on your resume are very valuable!

Answer 1

Here’s a concise summary of Sarah Butler’s answers:

- What made Sarah Butler decide to do this work?
- She’s always loved contemporary art. After nonprofit museum and gallery internships she moved into the for‑profit art world, took a job as an ad assistant, preferred the faster pace, stayed three years and was promoted to Account Manager.

- What specific role do you play at your company?
- Account Manager — she works with galleries across the U.S. and South America to promote Art in America and sell ad space.

- What are some things you do in a typical work day?
- Research gallery shows, call clients, send promotional e‑mails, visit New York galleries about once a week, and attend shows in her off time.

- What resources do you use in your work?
- FileMaker database, Google, art websites (artnet, ARTINFO), Outlook for e‑mail, Art Basel catalog, and the magazine’s Annual Guide.

- What surprised you when you started in the field?
- How grassroots the process is (physical layout with tape and printed pages); a lot is based on aesthetics, feeling, and “art politics”; some outdated software is still used.

- Favorite parts of the job?
- Working directly with dealers, frequent travel (gallery visits and art fairs, especially Miami), being part of an important publication and having her name on the masthead.

- Biggest challenges?
- Personal lack of organization — administrative tasks like billing reports, insertion orders, and spreadsheets are difficult.

- Project(s) she’s most proud of?
- Producing an annual map of Miami that includes every gallery, distributed at Art Basel Miami — time‑consuming but rewarding.

- Educational background/training?
- Bachelor’s degree in studio art and art history; internships at well‑respected art museums were key to getting the job.

- Important qualities for the field?
- Friendly, outgoing (comfortable introducing herself to strangers), and a strong interest in contemporary art.

- Advice for someone interested in marketing/business?
- Get an internship (even unpaid); internships are valuable resume lines and often flexible enough to allow other work.