Is a minimum price for artwork in open art exhibitions necessary?

This post argues that the use of a MINIMUM price for artwork entries for an OPEN art exhibition/competition needs to be ELIMINATED.

In my view, any use of a MINIMUM price for artwork entries for an OPEN art exhibition/competition needs to have 

• a clear and cogent business purpose - based on facts and not assumptions
• which generates positive results i.e. more income not less
• produces better value than no minimum sale price!

READ ON:  My investigations to date have produced no good reason for the use of a minimum price - and even less for raising it above the affordable art level if it is used!

PS. If you want to know why I write about the money side of art a lot, you might want to look at my background.

The Open Art Exhibition / Competition

The basic business premise of an open art exhibition / competition  is that it aims to

• attract lots of entries - and thereby generate funds via entry fees 
• get lots of good calibre art entered
• select art which is good AND is priced to appeal to buyers
• which sells well - and thereby generates funds from sales 
• which means more exhibitions next year!

However it cannot just be about wishful thinking.

Generating sales at an open exhibition/competition needs to be focused on:

• good calibre art - which appeals to people AND art buyers
• artists understanding how to price their art to sell (see How to Price Your Art) 
• including art which people can afford to buy (see my previous two posts: 
• What is "Affordable Art"? and
• The important things to know about pricing Affordable Art)
• attracting and getting visitors who want to buy - and not just look at art
• creating funds so you can do it all again next year!

Generating funds is about:

• covering the direct costs of the this year's exhibition
• making sure next year's exhibition can take place i.e. creating a reserve for expenses related to running next year's open exhibition - many of which need an outlay in advance of the exhibition opening
• contributing to the overheads of running the organisation / art gallery / competition etc
• making money for the artists 
• paying taxes!

What the exact business model is varies according to every open exhibition, its organiser and their business aims and financial / budgeting expertise.

So it's worth looking at what currently happens....

Specifically in relation to the concept of "the minimum price" for art entered into an art exhibition / competition.

What is a minimum price?

Very simply, SOME open exhibitions or art competitions require that art entered must be priced at or above a minimum specified price.

However, this is NOT a rule. It is NOT required. It is an OPTION.

I've rewritten this blog post a number of times. It keeps foundering on trying to define any sort of rationale for a minimum price - of which more below.

Who uses a minimum price for art in an open art exhibition/competition?

A number of open art exhibitions stipulate a minimum price for artwork entered into open art exhibitions. 

BUT NOT ALL DO. Below I've identified whether or not art competitions and open exhibitions use a minimum price

ABSOLUTELY NO MINIMUM PRICE

Figurative Art Now: how fair are the T&C to artists?

Some of you may have wondered why I have not promoted the Figurative Art Now Exhibition at the Mall Galleries. I have my reasons for not highlighting this art competition - and these are listed below.

I like art competitions to be fair for everybody concerned. I've recently found myself staring at a very difficult situation - which has given rise to a number of concerns about implications for artists. I have raised these (offline) but I'm still not happy that the issues this competition raises for artists are well understood by all those who need to understand. 

I've left it until now so that those who want to enter can. As all my regular readers will know  my art competition mantra is ALWAYS read carefully all the terms and conditions....

I really didn't want to write what I'm about to say - but, on balance, I think it presents an important learning opportunity for all concerned. 

So I'm writing in that context - and with the hope that some of this can be resolved before the exhibition goes online....

After which I may well do a checklist about government law and regulations relating to  ecommerce and trading standards for ONLINE art competitions / open exhibitions for both organisers and artists!!

Bottom line - online exhibitions can be way more complex than exhibitions in a gallery!

Non-involvement of the FBA Societies

Ostensibly this online art competition 'Figurative Art Now' is about the 60th year of the Federation of British Artists BUT having queried this competition, I found that....

• The exhibition was simply announced 
• It was NOT discussed in advance with the Presidents of the Art Societies which make up the Federation of British Artists.
• Which I just find really, really odd. The Societies are the FBA!! 
• How can they not be involved if it supposedly relates to the 60th anniversary?  
• Why aren't the Presidents involved with selection of artwork for the exhibition? 

Obviously life has been very difficult recently with all the disruption caused by the Pandemic - but even so, this just seems very odd to me.

 

Prizes for artwork which selectors have never seen?

Two of the prizes are very odd (a £5,000 prize and a week-long exhibition in one of the galleries) given that the artwork entered will NEVER EVER be seen in person by any of the Selection Panel.

I'm just gobsmacked about this! Seriously? How does that work?

I've been looking at online images of artwork and actual artwork in open exhibitions and art competitions for very many years and I'm certainly very familiar with the fact that 

• There can be digital enhancement of artwork by artists for competitions! It's far from unusual.
  
• Which is WHY all art competitions routinely have the proviso to eliminate any artwork which does not measure up (literally) to the digital image once received - even if it has been pre-selected.
  

 

ONLINE ONLY Exhibition + MAJOR changes in who does what

THIS IS AN ONLINE EXHIBITION ONLY i.e. no artwork will be hung at the Mall Galleries.   

Nevertheless

• Non-refundable submission fees are the same as the submission fees for the open exhibitions - once you discount the fact that the latter also provide for free entry to the REAL exhibition in the Galleries!
• Commission is 35% plus VAT - slightly less for an organisation which is doing an awful  LOT LESS than it normally does for a hung exhibition i.e. 
• No involvement of the Presidents / FBA Societies in the presentation / marketing of the exhibition or artwork 
• no use of the gallery space at all 
• no receipt / handling of artwork to be hung 
• no storage of artwork
  
• no hanging of artwork 
• no manning of a live "on the wall" exhibition 
• no return of artwork unsold 
• no communication with buyers re collection / shipping
• no financial transactions re shipping 
• no arrangements for delivering art (including Customs documentation as appropriate)
• (i.e. putting artwork online is now a routine and expected part of EVERY exhbition held by the FBA at the Mall galleries - NOT an added extra)
  

Artists are next expected to do MUCH MORE than they usually do - BUT this difference from the normal open exhibitions of the FBA Societies is NOT highlighted in the summary on the competition page.

No mention in the summary of the additional costs for artists
(re finance / time / effort of packing and shipping art - potentially anywhere in the world!)

What this means, for starters, is....

Artists have to ORGANISE AND PAY FOR ALL PACKING AND POSTAGE TO BUYERS as stated in the Terms and Conditions TO ANY DESTINATION within 14 days of the sale being confirmed.

4. PRESENTATION 

4.1 All Works must be exhibition-ready as if they were to be exhibited and ready for sale. All work needs to be delivered or shipped to the buyer as advertised. 

5. SHIPPING OF WORKS 

5.1 Artists will be responsible for the delivery of work to the buyer, including the cost of shipping.  All work should be labelled and attached to the works. 

5.2. Work should be despatched within 14 days of confirmation of the sale 

Thus, the artist is liable for the cost of sending the artwork anywhere in the world - in whichever country the buyer lives in - no matter what the cost!  

The buyer does NOT have to pay. No matter what the size or weight of the artwork!!! 

Mall Galleries is 50 years old and the FBA is 60!

Two anniversaries

In February, two anniversaries occurred

• the Federation of British Artists achieved its "Diamond Jubilee"  having been 
• established as a Company Limited by Guarantee - following a Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 13th February 1961; and 
• registered as a Charity with the Charities Commission (see website)

The Federation provides exhibition facilities and organises open art exhibitions for public viewing in the Mall Galleries. The open exhibitions provide opportunities for developing artists to exhibit alongside more established artists. Our education programme incorporates collaboration with people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities.

• It also acts on behalf of its nine members societies, eight of which are also charities.  
• the FBA was originally formed when this group of national Art Societies joined together to offer each other mutual support in exhibiting their members’ works.
• the Mall Galleries celebrated its 50th anniversary. The Mall Galleries were opened by HM The Queen on 25 February 1971 - as a brand new gallery in London.  It provides a home for the Federation of British Artists.  It is also the trading side of the operation of the exhibitions and events which happen at the Mall Galleries - covenanting the profits of Mall Galleries Trading Limited to the FBA.  In doing so it helps.....
• support the 500 member artists of the 9 Art Societies that make up the FBA. 
• enables c.5,000 other artists get their work exhibited in a prestigious Central London Gallery each year. That's a LOT OF ARTISTS!
• provide much enjoyment to all those who travel from near and far to visit the art exhibitions in the Mall Galleries.

Sadly, what should have been a time to celebrate properly has instead morphed into recognition online only.

It's time to take stock....

Just imagine, for a moment, if there were no Mall Galleries...............

What's been happening in the last 12 months?

The Mall Galleries - closed most of the last 12 months

The pandemic - and associated lockdowns and constraints on opening - in 2020 and the beginning of 2021 - has created a very challenging time for both the FBA, its societies and the Mall Galleries.

• The Gallery has been open for only a few weeks in the last 12 months. It closed from March - August 2020 and again from November until now - with a brief period of opening in early December. 
• It had to create 
• a brand new way of running exhibitions - which worked really well - and 
• a brand new way of booking visits to them (to keep numbers under control and facilitate contact tracing)
• It has been continuing to run the annual exhibitions of the FBA Societies - not knowing whether and when they will run in reality (I remember well the Annual Exhibition of the RI being postponed twice from April before it finally opened in September)
• My exhibition reviews this year have been much reduced! see 
• my first exhibition at the Mall Galleries in six months was held by the RI - which got postponed twice (moved from April to September 2020)- see Review: 208th Exhibition of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours
• the second society to exhibit were the portrait painters - see Review: Annual Exhibition 2020 of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters
• the RSMA (I think) opened at its normal time - see Review: Royal Society of Marine Artists Annual Exhibition 2020 It had LOTS of red dots!
• the SWLA closed early due to the second lockdown - but I got to see it before it did - see
• SWLA's new website and annual exhibition closing early
• NEAC was also caught by both the first and second lockdown - and finished one day before the third! See New English Art Club - Annual Exhibition 2020 (Part 1) and the New English Art Club - Annual Exhibition 2020 (Part 2) - but also had the very first virtual exhibition (see below)
• The Annual Exhibition of the Pastel Society has had to be postponed - but is available to view online and (fingers crossed) will be in the Gallery later this year
• It has delivered one virtual exhibition - of an exhibition hung for opening - but unable to do so until allowed to do so - see A Virtual New English Art Club Annual Exhibition 2020 - online now!
• It has continued to achieve sales for the member artists and those selected for the open entry via online exhibitions of the artwork. I had a discussion with the Chair of one society recently who said sales had held up remarkably well
• However it has lost 
• sales associated with the shop - which is now very successful and generates significant income. 
• income generated by third party / corporate events in the Galleries - again an important source of income.

It will, of course, have received grants for the government to offset its running costs and provide furlough income for its employees. 

However it will face a very different set of numbers in its accounts in 2020 and 2021.

We receive no on-going public funding. With the doors of the gallery closed, we have lost a large source of income that we usually obtain from gallery rental and corporate events in the evenings which helped to fund our Exhibitions and Events.

Which is one of the reasons why it has now created a NEW DONATION PAGE.

A NEW DONATION PAGE

We are a registered charity, providing opportunities for developing and established artists. Any amount will be greatly appreciated.

The banner image for the Donation Page reflects the opening exhibition 50 years ago.

My top seven from The Figurative Art Fair

In the age of Coronavirus, the online art fair becomes the norm.

The Figurative Art Fair

Thus we have a new online art fair in The Figurative Art Fair - which is currently online on the Mall Galleries website.

It comprises

• 248 works for sale 
• by around 100 elected members of the country’s leading national art societies, including:
• The Pastel Society (PS)
• Royal Society of British Artists (RBA)
• Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours (RI)
• Royal Society of Portrait Painters (RP)
• New English Art Club (NEAC)
• Royal Society of Marine Artists (RSMA)
• Society of Wildlife Artists (SWLA)
• Royal Institute of Oil Painters (ROI)

In the decade of “The Triumphant Return of Figurative Art” (The New York Times, 2015), and at a time of isolation, the societies have come together to celebrate figurative art, contemporary artists, and the spirit of artistic collaboration in their first-ever “figurative” art fair, outside of gallery walls, exclusively online.

All works are for sale and all works are also available for despatch immediately - with FREE delivery!

It's interesting how some artwork I started out to like - and then the photograph was not up to standard and I switched off straight away.  It really highlights why excellent photography is required if you're going to exhibit online. I hasten to add that most have excellent photographs.

Works which caught my eye include the following.

Quince by Charlotte Sorapore

Oil on gesso panel (framed) 35 x 29 cm

This is the one I liked the best - in part because of a really excellent photograph which revealed the wonderful surface of the painting and the mark-making. The light and the optical mixing are also wonderful. A skilled painting of a very simple subject

I'd buy it if I could afford it.

Quince by Charlotte Sorapore

Shallows by Ruth Stage 

Egg tempera (framed) 73 x 83 cm

I'm a big fan of Ruth Stage's egg tempera painting. I wanted to include two but restricted myself to one.  She has a happy knack of abstracting the real and layering up her paintings with paint and marks that make it intensely interesting such that you want to keep on looking at the surface and not just what it represents.

Shallows by Ruth Stage

Leaning Hawthorns by Sarah Bee

Acrylic on gesso primed mount board (framed) 68 x 68 cm

This is a typical Sarah Bee - acrylic underpainting of old and twisted trees and then developed on top through the use of pastel. Each one always looks fresh.

Bonfire at Akeld by Frances Bell

Oil on board (unframed) 36 x 56 cm

Frances works with a very muted and cool palette - and yet always seems to find light within her subject matter

Bonfire at Akeld by Frances Bell

Moment of Majesty, Mt Elijah above Ano Boularii, Sundown by Toby Wiggins

Oil on canvas (framed) 96 x 144 cm

This is big - and reminds me a lot of paintings of New Mexico by both Georgia O'Keeffe (see Georgia O'Keeffe's landscapes of northern New Mexico) and Lydia Baumann (see Painting Georgia O'Keeffe Country). Desert landscapes as a subject are hugely under-rated.

Moment of Majesty, Mt Elijah above Ano Boularii, Sundown by Toby Wiggins

Alcazar Gardens (Seville) by David Curtis (sold)

Oil(framed) 38 x 38 cm

This reminds me of when I visited the Alcazar Gardens and did a pastel painting plein air.

However this is an oil painting. I want to see the brush strokes in every plein air oil painting - and in this one I can. When I look at the enlarged painting it's as if it's in front of me.

I note it has sold and I'm far from surprised.

Social Distancing on the Trent by Chris Myers 

Watercolour (framed) 54 x 102 cm

The title of this one made me smile - because it provides a record of a particular time - and yet it was painted last year. A neat example of how a change of title suddenly makes a painting very relevant and contemporary.

Social Distancing on the Trent by Chris Myers

Mall Galleries to close until further notice

The Mall Galleries premises - in the Mall - and FBA offices in Carlton House Terrace are closing until further notice. In effect, until such time as the Government advises that it is safe to open again.

However lots of the SERVICES provided by the FBA and the Mall Galleries will continue.....

Mall Galleries is closed until further notice but remains very much open online for new exhibition content and artwork sales.

When will the doors open again?

I've been waiting for an announcement from the Mall Galleries - the home of all the annual art exhibitions of the majority of the major national art societies for a little while.

It's now up on the website.

The Trustees of the Federation of British Artists (FBA) therefore regret to announce that Mall Galleries will close during Thursday 19 March, in light of the most recent official government advice in combating COVID-19. The gallery will remain closed until further notice and will re-open when possible, following government recommendations.

You can read the formal statement on the website

The safety of our visitors, artists and workforce is paramount to us as we navigate this challenging time.

It highlights how.....

You can make a difference

Especially in times of trouble and reflection, art has the special ability to transport and delight us – and indeed contribute to our ‘wellness’. The FBA Societies offer you access to the outstanding work of a talented army of dedicated working artists who depend on the continued support of tens of thousands of visitors (currently unable to attend). The arts face an unparalleled impact from the crisis, and we ask our visitors and Friends to come together to continue the support we absolutely rely on to keep the lights on.

How you can play your part

There are a number of ways on which the FBA and its members societies and theMall galleries can continue to interact with fans and regular visitors - see below

Visit our virtual galleries and browse our new exhibitions from the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours (RI) and Royal Society of Portrait Painters (RP). Tell your friends and spread the wordWhy not consider buying a new artwork by ordering online?You can choose a portrait artist and commission us to create your own unique workJoin our excellent Friends or Patrons scheme - and be at the heart of what we do.You can make a donation or consider signing up for a legacy to continue our charitable work when the crisis is passed.Please join the conversation on our social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest or our email list for updates.

NOTE: Apologies for the sequencing of blog posts - but things are moving so incredibly fast at the moment - so I'm switching to a frequency similar to that used on my Facebook page

• short posts posted more frequently than usual
• longer posts - periodically