Here’s a link to a list of well established contemporary art spaces in Montréal that are operated by artists. A solid portfolio has to be submitted.

http://www.rcaaq.org/html/en/membres/index.php?region=06

I’ve been asked to expose my illustrations in an art gallery.

The idea is that people from barcelona expose in berlin and people from berlin in barcelona. They’ve asked 390 euros (includes: framing, hanging, shipping from barcelona to berlin and the international promotion of the event).

Then the art gallery in berlin asks for 25% comission on every sold print. Is this normal. I’m honoured they’ve asked me and it would be perfect to promote my work as i’ve just started as a freelance illustrator but it seems like a lot of money to me. Please help!

Ana

Sad there are such dirty people in this world.

It hasn’t been good for a long time. The place is just downright scary. They avoid giving refunds at all costs even when they get caught lying and their is always a different person I have to speak with (turnover?).

The ones I have heard lots of stories about…not good ones…are:

Mr. Joseph Gora, owner/ scammer

Lyne Duble – partner in crime to Mr. Gora

Tanya Whittall (I believe that is her name) who plays dumb but seems to be part of the scam at the gallery.

BE VERY CAREFUL!!!

Do not send your money to the po9nzi scheme known as Galerie Gora in Montreal. Report any problems immediately the the local Better Business Bureau or Chamber of Commerce.

Good thing there’s internet!

I received an email from Gora Gallery last week..and as usual when I get these I do a search on the internet with the gallery name and ‘scam’. I also check out their website, which I have to say is pretty good..clean layout, well thought out. But what you’ve said above and everything else I’ve come across on the internet pretty much seals Gora’s fate for me.

My first thought when I get an email like the one printed above, is great! Someone’s seen my work and thinks it’s worthy. My 2nd thought is…hmm how much do they want for this ‘opportunity’?

Last year I paid Artbelow £800 to ‘exhibit’ two posters of paintings on the London Underground for 2 weeks..great..I knew what I was getting into. But I had to push really hard to get the promised ‘complimentary copy’ of the posters. They initially sent me 2 very badly printed A3 copies..the colours were like mud and looked like they’d been done on the office printer. After a lot of outrage & indignation on my part, they gave me full-sized copies (1m x 1.5m) as promised in the original application material.

The offer from Gallery Gora? It looked really good, up until I got down to the $2700 fee, so I know more than likely its not. Dodgy sangria and friends of the artist won’t get paintings sold, but then they’ve already been paid, where’s their incentive, why should they care?

I think I’m in agreement with what a few people on here and elsewhere have said. If a gallery believes the work will sell, they won’t want vast quantities of money up front before they’ll touch it.

Also, I’ve learned to ask questions…lots of questions.

Thank you for posting, it really helps. I can only hope despite what you said you saw at the previous openings, they provided great wine, music and clients and you sold loads of work!

This is exactly right.

I’ve advised a few artists this same thing, and they always come back with ‘but it gets exposure.’ Exactly the kind of exposure you don’t want.

Furthermore, a gallery is first and foremost a business. Once they have your money up front, they have NO INCENTIVE to sell your work afterwards, as the cost/benefit ratio doesn’t add up for their effort. And the icing on the cake, once they have your money, their profits are maximized by spending the least amount possible on promotion. Basically, they’ll promote as little as they can get away with.

I will pass by this weekend and take a fee shots of the place!!

See Ya!

That said, this form of self promotion might work with potential patrons, if they don’t know what they are doing, or buying …

For the high-end galleries that exhibit the big names, the arrangement is similar to that in the US, although I believe the commission may be higher, but I’ll have to do some research to be sure.

Also, it is my experience that a 50/50 split is not the norm. Dealers and galleries usually split 60/40 to the artist. And THEY are responsible for promo, opening, media coverage. However, it behooves the artist to tie in with all those things as much as possible. Again, in my experience, THEY pay for these things, not the artist. I have noticed a change in this lately though. Galleries are TRYING to foist more of the expense onto the artist AND retain their cut. Negotiate, and yes, get a contract that clearly states respective ‘responsibilities’.

The higher up the food chain the more the dealers/galleries will cover YOUR costs cuz they believe in you and can see their market … Publically funded galleries in Canada offer an exhbition fee in keeping with CARFAC guidelines, and do all promo, including an ‘exhbiition catalogue’. … It’s generally a long haul to get to this stage. Publically funded exhibitions only come after a good 10-15 years of exhbition history.

In my experience …

It’s not a “scam” if they deliver all the things promised in their letter for the fee discussed. But the deal they are offering is atypical when compared to most respectable galleries.

This is basically a vanity publishing deal. For a fee, you get a gallery show. Is that horrible? I suppose it depends on what you want. It probably won’t accelerate your career (and in some instances it might hurt). But it probably will make you feel good (especially if you sell some work).

As long as you understand the benefits/risks it boils down to a judgment call. It’s not beyond belief that doing a show like this could give you the visibility that might lead to better things. Most galleries are basically commodity brokers — they invite artists who’s work they think will sell. They aren’t always right.

The sad part in this case is there are probably uninformed artists who might be swayed by this offer and wind up spending money for a gallery show that probably won’t yield positive results.

If you have exhibited with them in the past, delete them from your resume.

There may be some catchet to being able to say to your local audience “I exhibited in NY/Montreal”, but make sure your not talking to someone who knows the backstory.

I was tempted by offers from both over 5 years ago. Once I controlled the ego boost and investigated, it was a simple walk away from this tree of false knowledge.

Ray

http://www.heyhotshot.com/

Their competition is not quite a pay-to-play scheme like this Montreal gallery. Instead, you pay $60 for the opportunity to have three pictures put in front of a panel and *possibly* chosen for exhibition at the Jen Beckman gallery. There are 5 winners, they are given a group show and they are each given a $500 award (though the photographer incurs the cost of “producing and framing their work, as well as shipping it to/from the gallery”). According to their website, this competition runs 2-4 times a year.

Does it really cost $60 to handle the online entries? I can’t find how many people enter the contest but the gallery would need at least 42 entrants to cover the winners’ honorarium. I assume more than 42 people enter the contest. Subtract web costs (because you enter online), wine costs (for the gallery opening) and the rest seems like profit (unless they pay the judging panel).

Am I tempted to enter? Yes, I’d like the exposure. Am I conflicted about it? Yes, because photographers pay $60 apiece for the gallery to scout new talent–which kinda seems like the gallery’s job in the first place. Will I enter? Dunno yet.

At least with the Montreal gallery, if you pay your $150 you’re *guaranteed* placement in a group show.

Both situations rub me the wrong way.

Thoughts?

Where we vary from the place above is cost to participate. A single photo cost ranges from $27 to $40. Our next upcoming exhibit, there is a flat cost of $27 per photo. I have 40+ photographers participating already.

We further differ by allowing the photographer to keep 100% of whatever they sell, minus any credit processing fees. Those fees are pass through, not in addition too. What we pay is what the artist pays.

Our model allows more people at lower cost to get experience and sell.

If you are interested, check out atlantaphotography.org

If it isn’t costing anything, and you enjoy participating in your community, I don’t see why you shouldn’t put something in a local community center.