“Business Opportunities” for Artists. Clever Solicitations: Flattery, Foolery, False Hope, Fees
It’s nice for artists to think their artwork could have been noticed. But, as many learn, it’s better not to be fooled by e-solicitations. These may be to join on-line sites (seeking to sell or rep artwork), to participate in off-line shows or competitions (with hefty submission or registration fees) or to sign up with agents and representatives (who offer unusual promises or take high commissions). At the end of the day, it’s those making the requests who appear to profit most (through fee collection or resulting development opportunities for themselves).
Requests for participation or membership have gone from monthly to weekly to daily. From business managers in India to awards in Germany, to artist-specific social-networking sites, it’s astonishing how many "opportunities" can arrive in an artist’s website in-box. There’s the shows and organizations that have clever "personalized" letters, designed to make recipients feel special. There’s also the form e-mails that are cc’d from “unknown senders” to “unknown domains.” Below, you’ll find a variety of examples (in random order).
Please click on the links to try and determine which could lead to more costs (financial and emotional) than benefits (professional and income-wise):
• Who Is in Visual Art
• (Solo) Be Discovered (International Art Expo, New York)
• Art Expo, Montreal
• PooL Art Fair, Miami
• Chris Braken ("art dealer")
• Art Hamptons
• Premier Gallery
• World Art Media and Picks NY Arts Magazine
• My Artspace.com competitions
• Palm Award
• The Artist Project, Toronto
• DiscoveredArtists.com
• Gallery Gora, Montreal
• ModernPainters: The Artist’s Studio
• Balaark Overseas, New Dehli
• Amsterdam Whitney Gallery
One way to find out if something isn’t a good idea for follow-up is to do a Google search. Put the key words "scam" and "scams artists" in front of or after suspicious and/or unknown contacts or groups. Almost instantaneously, you can learn of others’ experiences (and cautions). I did this for the Amsterdam Whitney Gallery (listed above) and discovered relevant postings on a CAN page (Contemporarly Art Network). Also, when I searched Chris Braken (listed above, as well) I found a very useful page on the aristsspace.org site dedicated to listing individual scam artists’ e-mail addresses.
As for shows and organizers that you’d like to hope could (have) be(en) more reliable, still proceed with caution. As indicated elsewhere on this blog, I never did receive receipts from Toronto Art Expo, despite numerous reminder e-mails and phone calls to its organizer, Mr. Peter Maguire. The Florence Biennale (07) and the Artist’s Project (Chicago, 08) also had some financial and organizational suprises (and disappointments). Interesting to note that the 09 Artist Project (Chicago) was canceled.
Participants who have had a negative experience the first time around are unlikely to want to sign up again. The same applies to membership of fee-paying artist support organizations, like Visual Arts Ontario and CARFAC Ontario. If you feel you’ve been given inaccurate or misleading information by them, or they can’t answer fundamental questions appropriately (while still charging for services) where’s the benefit? Interestingly, CARFAC recently did a phone survey to help them better understand (ex)members’ perspectives. An outside agency called to find out what might have been discouraging… After answering honestly, I heard no more—from the outside agency, or CARFAC.
For earlier blog posts about art business and/or show concerns, as well as other (unexpected) art world disappointments, please see:
• Art Shows: Business Priorities Versus Exhibitor Satisfaction (July 23, 2008)
• March 5, 09, Art Events in Toronto, Invitation Reminder: Portrait Society of Canada’s Annual Juried Show, Opening Reception Tomorrow Night. Please Join Us! (March 4, 2009)
• Art Gallery of Ontario’s Short-Falls. Blaming Recession is Easy, Reaching Back to Local Artists Isn’t. “Massive Party” Might Not Help Solve Massive Problem (March 20, 2009)
On a more positive note, a (US) organization that helps artists as well as the community at large, is The Art Connection. Artists can’t go wrong by becoming donors through them! Their initiative has now spread to New York and Washington D.C., with LA following soon! Earlier posts on this blog that mention The Art Connection include:
• Giving Back, Creatively (August 26, 2008)
• Creating a MAGIC POT: Artists and Community-Giving (May 8, 2008)
• BOSTON Recommendations—An Insider’s Guide (January 10, 2007)
Those who have donated their artwork through other organizations (myself included) may have regrets. But, with The Art Connection, that’s never the case. You always know your work is going to a good home where it will be well taken care of, your time and effort truly appreciated. "Thank yous" are not forgotten, and there’s a sense of encouragement to give more and give often. Also, The Art Connection’s annual gatherings and frequent mailings to forward links to exhibition opportunities for donor members help nurture community caring and atmosphere.
