Gallery Commission

[windfire]

Hi,
I have been approached by a gallery owner to show my work in her gallery.  I have never shown my work this way before.  Does anyone have an idea of what the normal range of commission is on this type showing?  What do I need to look for and look out for?  Any other hints would also be greatly appreciated!
Debby/windfire
 

[Anonymous]

First, congratulations!

Top end galleries can take as much as 60%.  Your average gallery will take 50%.  At Helios we take considerably less — but selling art isn’t a core part of our business (teaching is) so having excellent work in our window has huge benefits for us.  We also do very little market art — which is something you should expect if you are giving up 1/2 the price of the work.

Make sure you have a written agreement that covers things like shipping costs (possibly both ways) if the gallery isn’t local and liability if it gets broken.

Lastly – and what I think often impacts artists the most – you shouldn’t sell your work on your own for less than the gallery sells it.

Hope this helps.

– Paul

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Paul
FusedGlass.Org
Helios Kiln Glass Studio
PaulTarlow.com

 

[windfire]

Thank you!  Your information helps alot.  The last part is something I had not even thought about.

Debby/windfire

[kia_dallons]

There was a great article in the Winter 2007 issue of Profitable Glass Quarterly by Milon Townsend about dealing with galleries. I’m sorry it’s only a link to where you can buy the issue.

[Author]

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