Replies

1. 
   fredsmart48 | Jan 23, 2003 04:15am | #1

   I don't know if it is normal or not. Privet galleys I have been told clip you for about  70%

   COOP is own by the members that will be you if you join.  $500  plus $720 plus the 10% where is that money going.  Who gets it?  Is it going to one person or is it expense of the operation.   

   Are they going broke so they need more people to take the pressure off of them?

   What other kind of art are they displaying  will it compliment your work?  would some one looking at theirs be interested in your work. 

   How many sq ft do you get for your "art"? How often do you get to display your art?  Where is it going to displayed most of the time? 

   How many people enter the gallery every day average?  1 or 1000.

   Is it 10 % of every thing you sell even if it did not happen because of their gallery?  Will you have to open your books at the end of the year?

1. 
   crt2cu2 | Jan 23, 2003 09:33am | #2

   Fredsmart,

   Good questions of layers I had not considered. The only thing I thought about is what cut the coop might take for a commissioned piece from a gallery visitor. The explanation was that the upfront costs go to rent, utilities, mailing costs, printing, etc. I have no idea how many people walk in to the gallery much less how many actually buy works. Artists are notoriously private about their sales margins. I do plan to attend a show at the gallery Friday night and will feel out the public and artists in attendance. I would like a local venue for display of my work but, the last thing I need is more business expense sans profit!

   sawick

2. 
   MPHarper | Jan 23, 2003 06:45pm | #3

   Sawick,

   My wife is an artist and we have been involved in the gallery scene for a few years and there are a lot of things that you need to look at.

   Getting into a top grade "exclusive" gallery is hard but it is very advantageous to the artist.  Yes, they take about 50% commission but the reputation and image that comes with those galleries is very valuable.  It often helps get you into shows, and invitations to other galleries.

   COOP galleries are often (not always) put together by a group of artists who weren't able to get into other galleries.  We have visited many of then and been invited to join three or four.  The quality of work in these galleries in often not of the caliber that if you want to become a "fine" artist you want your work associated with.

   On the flip side if this is  your first go at putting your work out to the public for display and purchase COOPs are a good way to get your foot in the door of the art world.  You can use it when you go to other galleries (they like to know that artists they take on are represented elsewhere also).

   Learn everything you can about the COOP and then think about what your goals are for your "art."  Will the COOP help you get there?  Or, will it just be a pebble in your shoe, bugging you about dues and fees without producing results?

   A big question to answer is "does the COOP gallery move much work?  Do they sell, and who do they sell to?"  Make sure you put yourself in the market that will support your work.

   Congrats on being invited, its an honor, regardless of who make the offer. And good luck with your work, I hope you do well.

   Matt-