Submitting Artwork to the Detroit Artists Market
Posted on July 16, 2010 at 1:44
Thank you for your interest in the Detroit Artists Market. We are a nonprofit contemporary art gallery, and produce a variety of exhibitions throughout the year. These shows are generally planned out 6-12 months in advance. All work shown at DAM is for sale, and DAM takes only a 33.33% commission. We also have several programs which provide opportunities to local artists. We strongly encourage artists to become DAM members to take advantage of those programs.
SUBMITTING YOUR WORK FOR CONSIDERATION
There are two ways to submit your art for consideration – in response to a posted Call For Entry, or as a general submission for our information.
Call For Entry Opportunities – To show in an Exhibition, artists are invited to submit an application when a Call For Entry goes out; this includes our All Media Exhibition, the Holiday market, and our Garden Sale in June, and might include others during the year, depending on the show schedule. Artists who are DAM members receive a reduced or free application fee. Calls are mailed to our mailing list, sent through email blasts, posted on our Facebook Page, posted on our website, and available at the gallery.
General Submission – During times when we do not have a Call For Entry offered, artists can simply submit a disc with digital images of their work, information about media, size, and retail price, and personal background and contact information. When we receive a general or unsolicited inquiry, that is shared with the Exhibitions Committee for their information. This committee periodically reviews these inquiries to keep in mind for upcoming opportunities, or perhaps to suggest for the Elements Gallery, etc. They do not provide a “yes/no” response, they simply are made aware of artists and their work.
DAM ARTIST MEMBER OPPORTUNITIES
Membership with Detroit Artists Market provides benefits and opportunities to local artists. Programs include the DAM Gallery Shop, our Art Placement Program, and our new DAM Artists Database.
The Gallery Shop is our on-going sales gallery, which features a wide range of work that is regularly updated and refreshed throughout the year. Artists and works shown in the Elements Gallery are reviewed and managed by the Exhibitions Committee and Staff, and artists are invited to add work. Being an active member does not automatically allow your work to be shown, but all work shown is by DAM members, and we give first preference to DAM members when various other opportunities come up, such as Art Placement.
Our Art Placement Program is a small but growing program, whereby we assist local businesses to place local art in their offices. Often they chose a six-month rotation schedule, but sometimes they chose to purchase. DAM staff works with these clients to identify the type of work they would like to install, determining their wall sizes, budget, media or style preferences, etc. We have also used this program for the film industry by assisting with rentals and purchases of local artwork for set dressing. We have started to use our DAM Artist Database, which is accessible through our website, as a tool for these clients to look at various work and select what works for them.
The DAM Artist Database is a new tool that provides a page for artists who are active DAM members. These pages include up to ten images, an artist statement and CV. Additional data such as artist contact info, artwork prices, additional images etc. are included but only accessible by DAM. Works shown on the database are expected to be current representations of work, but don’t have to specifically be for sale at that time. In other words, this is not a direct retail site where visitors can order work or purchase
specific pieces – it is meant more as a visual reference. Artists will soon be able to update their information and images at any time. It is our goal to use the Database as a tool to assist Art Placement clients and other collectors, to educate the public about the work of local artists, and to provide our members greater public visibility.
DAM MEMBERSHIP
Artists are strongly encouraged to become members of Detroit Artists Market. There is an Artist level membership for $30 per year, or you could also join at any other higher level. A full list of membership levels and benefits can be found at http://www.detroitartistsmarket.org/membership/index/ , and the membership form is available at http://www.detroitartistsmarket.org/pdfs/membership_application.pdf
