ARTIST AGENT DUTIES
_ General information about Artist Agents (See
details of course at Artist Agent Course at the ArtProCA website)
An agency consists of 15 -20 artists. The artists chosen should not do work that is in competition with each other. Criteria for choosing works will vary depending on the goals of the group. This is often determined by the founding members or the agent. There should be a board of 3 members who co-ordinate with the agent. The pay for the agent from artist commissions on sales and so the agent should have alternative means of income for at least a start up period. The artists in the group can be asked to help with any of the tasks of which they are capable. There is an initial payment from each artist to join the group which covers the cost of preparing promotion material for that artist. Artists are then asked to contribute a yearly fee if necessary to cover running cost.
ARTIST AGENTS - what can they do for the Visual Arts market
The agent is responsible for the following duties:
1. ARRANGING EXHIBITIONS
An agency consists of 15 -20 artists. The artists chosen should not do work that is in competition with each other. Criteria for choosing works will vary depending on the goals of the group. This is often determined by the founding members or the agent. There should be a board of 3 members who co-ordinate with the agent. The pay for the agent from artist commissions on sales and so the agent should have alternative means of income for at least a start up period. The artists in the group can be asked to help with any of the tasks of which they are capable. There is an initial payment from each artist to join the group which covers the cost of preparing promotion material for that artist. Artists are then asked to contribute a yearly fee if necessary to cover running cost.
ARTIST AGENTS - what can they do for the Visual Arts market
- Contact the new market
- Educate the new market
- Get exposure of artists to this new market
- Sell work to the new market
- Help the new market to embark on collecting -
- Connect artists to existing galleries and the internet
The agent is responsible for the following duties:
1. ARRANGING EXHIBITIONS
- At least one full group show per year plus several smaller group shows and one person placements
- Maintaining any permanent display showrooms (such as furniture stores or banks) with rotating exhibitions
- Organizing invitation cards, insurance, transport, distribution of work on the walls, opening party, supervising mailing list, negotiating contracts with the space officials
- Being the official
greeter at all exhibitions and the sales closer
2. SALES
- Developing client base
- Giving promotional talks about the artists
- Arranging studio visits for potential buyers
- Invoicing and after sales service
- Creating and maintaining website
- Developing links with
art organizations
3. ADMINISTRATION
- Collection of artists' fees and art work sales
- Previewing works of new artists who may want to join the group
- Supervising budget, payments in and out, statements, taxes
- Organizing group promotional material, e.g. printing of postcards, invitations and stationary
_Copyright © by Patricia
Frischer.
