Lawrence art galleries rely on secondary business ventures besides their galleries to draw customers in during the economic slump.

Fields Gallery sells poster art in addition to selling original art, a business endeavor that Sheila Wilkins, manager of Fields Gallery, 712 Mass., said kept the business afloat.

“A lot of artists think, ‘Why don’t you get rid of the posters?’ If we did, we wouldn’t be here,” Wilkins said.

Wilkins said business has been slow for her gallery since Sept. 11, 2001. Artwork in the gallery ranges from $75 to $4,000.

“Overall this isn’t a great time to be in the business of selling art,” Wilkins said. “When the economy is suffering, art is not going to be a priority.”

Besides the poor economy, Wilkins also attributes low sales to art auctions.

She said artists often give away their art or sell it for a percentage of the actual cost.

“As a local art deal, it’s frustrating to see local artists work to sell under market value in our local auctions,” she said.

Two new downtown galleries that opened their doors in Lawrence within the past year also do not rely solely on their art gallery for profit.

Signs of Life, 722 Mass., has a bookstore and a coffee shop in addition to its gallery. James Schaefer, gallery director, said combining the three parts was the vision of the owner to bring together different points of interest for the public.

“Art lovers also want a place to meet and talk about art,” Schaefer said. “Artists showing here want to recommend books to customers so they can see the influence and connections.”

The Olive Gallery & Art Supply, 15 E. Eighth St., opened last April and features an art supply store in addition to its gallery. Bailey Kivett, co-owner, said the art supply section brings people in for different reasons.

“Some people come in just for the art and are surprised, ‘Oh I can buy supplies,” Kivett said. “It kind of works out to fit everyone’s needs.”

Kivett said the galleries first year has been relatively successful but admitted the market is difficult right now.

“Nobody is doing really well,” Kivett said. “We are surviving.”

According to a report tracking the impact of nonprofit arts organizations in Lawrence, spending by nonprofit arts organizations was estimated at $16.94 million in 2000. With these numbers, art revenue generated for the city is not something the Lawrence Convention and Visitor’s Center takes lightly, said Brandy Ernzen, assistant marketing manager.

“It’s a very unique aspect of Lawrence,” Ernzen said. “We are lucky to have them because downtown is an incredibly popular area with the locals.”

The Lawrence Convention and Visitors Bureau offers vacation packages promoting the arts. Its Web site visitlawrence.com has an events calendar featuring art events in Lawrence.

“The calendar help events that otherwise would be really hard to get exposure at a state level,” Ernzen said.

Gallery managers and owners said the local Art Walks downtown galleries take part in have done a lot to bring customers in to their stores.

“So many galleries are coming together instead of working individually,” Kivett said.

The people of Lawrence must realize that the downtown art galleries are special, Schaefer said.

“A professor of architecture from San Francisco came into the gallery and said, ‘This Mass. Street is what everyone is trying to build prefab, and you guys already have it,'” Schaefer said.