Company: mariART art mediation and art events (sole proprietorship)

Founder: Marion Schellenberg

Date of foundation: June 1, 2023

Industry and company: Art and culture

What drives you? What is your motto?

My motto is: "Art FROM art FOR art"

"Art FROM art FOR", because I sell art from the artists' studios (FROM) to the world of buyers (FOR), collectors and art enthusiasts. Art inspires me and makes my heart beat faster - especially when I have discovered a new artist and am already mentally imagining the next exhibition.

The special thing about art is that you learn to see things in a new way through it and can understand people and the world better, and that it brings people together. Because in a world that is often characterized by hecticness and fragmentation, art and creativity are the bridges that connect us. Of course, music and dance do too, but art is more accessible through the moment of seeing.

What is your foundation about and what is special about it?

I select regional, national and international artists and curate exhibitions with the aim of selling art.

I also offer my artists' art on my website. This means that people interested in art can also choose from a broad portfolio of all art genres online after the exhibitions have ended.

If desired, I can also advise my customers on the art that would suit their rooms. Another special feature is that I have 2 showrooms:

A large showroom where I can present large works and a small room where I can hang smaller formats or expose works by artists who are exhibiting for the first time or are a little "different". It's an experimental space, so to speak.

But my showroom should also be a meeting place between creative people and their audience, between artists and buyers. It should be a cultural meeting place where people can come in, meet and feel comfortable without fear of thresholds. I therefore regularly offer events, such as lectures or live artist interviews.

The symbol for this is the blue sofa, which I had in mind even before I found the store at Wilhelmstraße 38, which is ideal as a gallery.

What are your first successes?

After setting up, I initially looked for a suitable space for a pop-up exhibition, but after a short time I came across the wonderful store in the Arcade Passage, which is simply ideal for an art showroom; with a lot of wall and exhibition space on two floors and centrally located in the renowned Wilhelmstraße.

After the renovation, the space looked sensational! Even the landlords hardly recognized it. I think I managed the renovation and design of the space quite well.

Many people - who walk through the arcade and come into my showroom - say that it really enhances the arcade and are very happy that there is now a gallery here.

The biggest success so far: 80 guests came to my first event and I sold 8 works of art.

and I sold 8 works of art. I want it to continue like this!

What is your professional background?

I've always been employed by book publishers in Munich, Barcelona and London, then in the music industry and finally in the art industry.

After returning from London, I had a few years of family time and then started working again in my mid-forties. Fortunately, my return to work after a long break was very easy. I completed a re-entry course at BerufsWege für Frauen e.V. and already had a job at an online gallery before it ended. The online gallery later merged with a "physical" gallery. Over the last 5 years, I learned almost everything I needed to know as a gallery owner and supplemented this with courses at Sotheby's Institute of Art. Unfortunately, my employment there did not last.

As I could only work freelance for the new employer at the fair, I entered the world of freelancing for the first time in my life after many years as an employee - quite a change in thinking, but one that I found very exciting.

However, after a few months at the trade fair organization, the idea of doing my "own thing" matured in me. With so much experience, knowledge and my own contacts and connections in the art world, my self-confidence had grown and it was actually obvious - all that was missing was the leap!

A friend gave me the tip to apply for a start-up grant from the employment agency. After drawing up a business plan, a financing plan and a profitability forecast (which cost me a lot of sweat and nerves), I was immediately granted the grant for 6 months. When I found the store in Wilhelmstraße, it became increasingly clear that I wanted to stay there permanently to set up my own art showroom.

What was the trigger for you to set up your own business?

When I left the gallery where I had previously worked, some of the artists with whom I had previously worked closely and whom I had "discovered" for the gallery suggested that I could set up something of my own.

During many conversations with these artist friends, it became increasingly clear to me that I wanted to create something myself and that I was confident of doing so.

Who advised you, who are your helpers and mentors?

My husband and a close friend were the first to encourage me in my plans. Especially the one friend who is very interested in women taking the plunge into self-employment and being independent.

As soon as I had formulated and expressed the idea, however, encouraging voices came from many quarters. I received a lot of help from BerufsWege für Frauen e.V., who had already guided me through my career re-entry course. I can highly recommend this organization to all women who are planning to return to work after having children.

They also recommended a tax consultant who advised me specifically on viability planning. After I had worked out my business plan and viability planning, I was then granted a start-up subsidy for 6 months by the employment office. The IHK, especially Ms. Fäth, was also very helpful.

How did you experience the first few days as a founder?

Planning seemed incredibly difficult at the beginning. I had never had anything to do with business and financing plans before and was extremely stressed at first, but I kept going. Somehow I found the idea of being self-employed much more exciting and promising than finding a job as an employee again. Implementing my own ideas and no longer having to conform!

The encouragement I received from artist friends also really encouraged me to go my own way. But it was still a long way from the first registration at the trade office to opening my showroom. It took almost 10 months.

A big moment - actually the moment when everything became "real" - was when I signed the lease for 3 years. That was a point of no return.

What was your biggest challenge and how did you overcome it?

The business plan for the start-up grant was the biggest challenge. I worked on it for weeks. But I also had a lot of support here from my husband, who is an entrepreneur himself, and of course from the BerufsWege für Frauen e.V. team.

The good thing about the deadline for the start-up grant was that it meant I had to stick to a strict schedule, otherwise everything would probably have taken even longer.

How do you draw attention to your company? What is your best marketing idea?

I mainly invite my customer base directly by email. Many of them pass on the information. The network grows quickly through word of mouth.

Friends often bring new friends who are interested in art to the exhibitions. There is a lot of interest in art. I also advertise on Instagram and LinkedIn and have distributed flyers individually. I recently decided to place an ad in a local city magazine.

How did you finance your start-up?

I received a start-up grant from the employment agency for the first 6 months. After that, I financed it partly with my own funds and partly with an investor.

What dream would you still like to realize?

My dream is to one day have a well-running, i.e. high-turnover and renowned gallery where people will stop by of their own accord because they know that they will always find good art here.

It is also important to me that my gallery is a meeting place for art and culture, where art enthusiasts and artists can exchange ideas. And of course I want to make my artists known and help them gain a reputation!

As I also sing (UFA Schlager and chansons of the 30s and 40s), a big dream of mine would be to give a concert with a big band.

Please complete the following sentence: If I had more time I would...

... continue to give concerts with my pianist alongside my gallery. But you can't do both at the same time.

What is your special tip: What would you recommend to founders?

I would recommend that female founders seek advice from BerufsWege für Frauen e.V.. There you can get help on the topics of professional self-discovery, business plans, taxes, financing, social media, etc..

What also helped me a lot was the offer from BIEG (Beratungs- und Informationszentrum Elektronischer Geschäftsverkehr GbR) and the IHK.

If you want to make bookkeeping easier for yourself, work with "lexoffice" right from the start. Be tidy right from the start and avoid chaos in your bookkeeping and with invoices and receipts.

Separate your private and professional accounts. And use the time before you really "get going" to organize and structure your work processes.