Art galleries are a great place for people of all ages and backgrounds to explore different forms of art. They offer a window into the past, present and future of the arts, which can be very inspiring.
The main function of an art gallery is to nurture artists, promote their work, and expose them to the public, collectors, media, and cultural institutions. The gallery also works to ensure that their artists are properly paid for their work and that they receive the correct value in the professional art market.
Artists who want to sell their artworks need to sign an artist-gallery working agreement in order to benefit from a mutually beneficial relationship between the two parties. This agreement sets forth how the gallery will display, promote, distribute and sell the artist’s artworks.
This agreement also sets forth how the artist will receive a share of the sale price when the artwork is sold. The gallery takes a commission on each artwork that is sold and divides it with the artist. This amount may be a fraction of what the artwork sells for, so it is important to negotiate with the gallery in advance of signing the agreement.
If the artist is not comfortable with this arrangement, they should look into another art gallery that is willing to work with them in this manner. This will help them grow their audience and build their reputation as an artist while building a good relationship with the gallery in the process.
Besides the working agreement, there are several other things that artists should keep in mind when considering whether to work with an art gallery. These include ensuring that they have their own website, portfolio, and social media accounts to showcase their work and to build their credibility in the art world.
Make sure that the gallery you are interested in working with is a legitimate, established one. This will help you avoid any issues in the future and prevent any complications that might arise if you decide to work with a shady, unreliable gallery.
Many people assume that once they have signed with a gallery, they will automatically be adopted as their client base and that they will get a cut of the sales made. This is a common misconception that can cause a lot of frustration and unnecessary stress for an artist.
The best way to avoid this is to be open to criticism and feedback from other professionals in the industry. This will allow you to improve your body of work and learn from those who know the art world better than you do.
Often, art galleries will have openings for new exhibitions and this is an opportunity to get your name out there in the public. Getting your work into these events will help you establish yourself as an artist and increase your chances of getting into a larger gallery down the road.
Art galleries can also be a great place to connect with other local artists, as well as neighbors. This can be done through monthly newsletters or by organizing a monthly art walk night where neighbors can stop by to view art at a nearby gallery.