An art gallery is a public space that features artistic works such as paintings, sculptures and prints. Art galleries can either be commercial (profit-seeking) or non-profit and can showcase a broad range of styles from contemporary to classic. Most importantly, an art gallery is responsible for providing a cultural context for artists and their work. The way in which they accomplish this is by hosting and promoting exhibitions as well as providing educational resources to the community and art collectors alike.
The first galleries opened in France and England in the 18th century, and they functioned as tastemakers. These galleries set the trends for art in their time, and a number of artists gained international fame thanks to them. Later, smaller galleries began opening to display artwork that was rejected by the larger ones.
Aside from exhibitions, galleries also provide a variety of professional services for their clients. These services can include consulting on home art, advising on investment options and even delivering workshops and lectures. While these services are not a core part of the business model, they serve as additional revenue streams.
As a business, the primary source of revenue for an art gallery is the sale of artwork. Typically, the gallery will take a 50% share of the total price. However, there are some cases where the gallery will sell artwork on a consignment basis. In this case, the artist will set the retail price and the gallery will take only 10% of the sales.
In addition to commissions, art galleries also earn funds through other activities such as the production and publication of catalogs and brochures for their exhibitions. The gallery may also host a variety of events for their clientele, from educational art talks to benefit auctions.
Another major way in which an art gallery raises money is through its membership and service fees. These fees can vary from free to as high as a significant sum of money. In exchange for these fees, the gallery will offer various benefits to its members such as priority in submitting their artworks for consideration, special invitations to private and public events and the ability to receive a higher percentage of sales revenues.
If you are a newcomer to the art world and have just decided to submit your artworks to galleries, make sure you visit the gallery sites to see what kind of art they are looking for. Look for galleries that promote particular art genres like abstract or contemporary art, art on paper, or the masters of the 20th century. This will help you determine if your style fits in with the vision and mission of the gallery.
Once you’ve identified a few potential galleries, it’s important to start attending their exhibitions and events. This will give you a chance to get to know the people working at the gallery and build relationships. You can also ask them for tips on how to best submit your artworks to the gallery.