Gallery Options

The local Art League Gallery charges space fee something like this - IF people in your area or visitors are buying art - OK - but if it's like around here - I just can't see the outlay without a return. Even I can afford FAA premium account - but no way $40 - $100 / mo for space.

I'd go with consignment - that makes them want to sell your art. Purchase wholesale ?? are you willing to accept that amount for your art?

Heather,

Any of those will work and that's why they have them.

1. If you can rent a space, for a month and see if you have sales, you're just out that single month's rental.

2. Consignment isn't bad either, acts like "storage" and you keep your artwork (matted?) in a browse bin and if people go through it, you might get sales. If the artwork is framed and on the wall, better yet.

3. Wholesale? Based on your FAA prices? And does this sorta come to what you would see from FAA on sales? If so, no brainer, instant sales! AND if they do indeed sell, then with the next lot, ask for more on your wholesale price.

But I would ask the gallery owner too, what they think you should do, based on sales of other artists just starting out and then decide,

Rich

The 10% is actually very similar to the co-op I am in. (A little cheaper per square foot.)

I make money doing that, BUT, I make most of my money selling the small matted and bagged work. The large art is there as an example of what they can buy online and to wow them. The small work is there to actually sell. In the year I have been there I have sold 1 36 inch metal, 1 24 inch metal and two framed 11x14s. ALL the rest of my money from being there is from small prints or people finding my work there then buying online.

Can you sell small works in the gallery and can you advertise your website? Those two would be critical for my business model.

Consignment is safest for you, but risky for the gallery - I'm surprised they'll offer that to artists they've never worked with before.

The booth rental is a reasonable arrangement. You're just up in Johnson City, right? Booth rentals at places like Kress and Woolworth Walk in downtown Asheville are significantly higher. So depending on where the gallery is, and the amount of foot traffic you can expect, that's not a terrible deal. You may want to start on consignment and then switch over after a year or so if the consignment is working well. For a reasonable amount of space, the two would about equalize in terms of commission, and you may be able to get a lease-like agreement that would give you some security about staying there. Can you customize your space? Signage, paint, that kind of thing?

Wholesale can be nice for a gallery that moves artwork, but you have to be ok with; a) making wholesale, and b) not choosing which of your pieces hang and where/how they are hung. Presentation is huge, don't give that away too easily.

What will they do for you? Do they advertise in local media? Are they active online? Do they have a good website? Mailing list? Events? Ask them about all of that, you want your commission to be partly working to support the space and the staff, but also working towards promotion to get people in to see your artwork.

Good luck! I've been in galleries in the area for going on 12 years now, I'm happy to share with you whatever you think would be helpful. :)

PS. I just started in a new gallery in Kingsport. We should get lunch sometime!

I would choose Consignment since it is new if they can sell your works that will be great otherwise you still have the space to show your works for free.

I'd go with consignment initially. Make sure and have a good inventory list. Cynthia has some great info....go Cynthia! lol

Consignment would be my choice for a new gallery.
Only a big name and a great foot traffic would make the expensive space fee worth a try.

Consignment options with no fees unless an item sells (35% commission on sales), otherwise you have to pay before you sell anything, right :)!

I price my prints here and in my shop at a retail price so that if I sell wholesale I will still make a profit. I'd be very surprised if they are willing or able to buy much. I'm also surprised at the low commission of 35%. My guess is they don't really know what they are about. Most commercial galleries have to take 50% on consignment otherwise they can not pay the rent and make the payroll. I'd be carefull. Better to pay more in commissions and have a marketing and sales staff that do the work for you not one just, "giving you great exposure." blah, blah, blah.
You may need to raise your prices to make selling wholesale or paying a gallery the normal commissions to do marketing and sales for you. It's a trade off and worth doing your due dilligence on every gallery. You have to find a gallery that is professional and experienced at marketing and sales. What you are looking at is a newbe gallery which may or may not be worth your time. Galleries come an go very rapidly. Everyone thinks it would be great fun to work or run a gallery. It's probably one of the most difficult brick and mortar businesses you can imagine and today they need to make every use of the digital world as well.

Thanks guys - I've signed an initial contract for consignment and will re-evaluate later down the road. The space is gorgeous, good location downtown and they have a lot of artists & crafters signed up now. Opening will be by First Friday for March.

At all my shows people ask if I am in the galleries here or have a shop somewhere, so now I'm glad I can finally tell them I am.

Yes, I will be able to have a rack or 2 of prints - those are a must for me. I'm also going to start selling boxed notecards for another price point.

Cynthia - which one in Kingsport? I'm in the Art in the Heart one now (formerly known as Flying Pig)... I start volunteering there as well this weekend every so often. I've not got all my stuff in yet, will be doing that this weekend I hope.