TABLES, RACKS, EASELS, ELECTRIC POWER:
You can bring your own table, but we provide a table for free there are two sizes - 6 feet long or 5 feet long. This table is placed immediately adjacent to the artist's display boards or picture rail. Prints can also be displayed in Print Racks/Browsers. Cards can be displayed on tables.. All tables, card displays, print racks and easels must fit within the allocated display space. Corridors, doors and walkways must be kept free of obstruction and trip hazards. The organisers will remove any intrusive or hazardous displays.
240V power sockets are available near some of the exhibiting spaces. If mains power is required by an artist let the Organisers know in advance so you can be allocated a space near power. Mains
powered equipment must be PAT tested and labelled. No trailing cables can be laid across walk ways. Battery operated lights are
always welcome.
HOW ARE SALES PROCESSED, IS THERE A COMMISSION CHARGED ON SALES?
OF PRIMARY IMPORTANCE - ALL ART AND CARDS ON SALE MUST BE INDIVIDUALLY MARKED WITH THE ARTIST'S NAME AND THE PRICE OR WE CANNOT CORRECTLY PROCESS A SALE.
We provide a central
Sales Point to process all sales. Using a SUMUP machine we can process VISA,
MASTERCARD, AMEX and APPLEPAY payments Each customer paying by card is offered a printed receipt from the SUMUP machine. Cash is accepted, cash customers do not automatically receive a receipt. Customers can take their purchases away immediately
after the sale is completed. Artists can then substitute replacement artwork.
Bubble wrapping is provided as a free service
- If
we process a payment using the exhibition SUMUP CARD PAYMENT MACHINE,
then the artist will incur financial handling fee of 5% of the total transaction value.
After recording details of the sale we hand over the cash to the
artist.
- If the payment is cash, there is no financial handling fee. After recording details of the sale we hand over the cash to the
artist.
- There are no other Sales Commissions or Sales Charges at this exhibition.
- It take about 4-5 working days after the exhibition ends to receive and process
all the exhibition sales data. We send each artist a sales statement by WhatsApp.
Then artists receive due money directly into their Bank Account (details of
which must be provided). If sales are less than the fee, then the Artist pays the Organiser the net amount.
- If as a result of the exhibition an art commission is won, all aspects of that art commission are deemed "outside of the exhibition" and handled between the artist and the customer outside of the exhibition remit. The same applies to all follow-on sales of art e.g. where a visitor contacts an artist direct to buy more art, that too is
"outside of the exhibition"
. In all cases, the artist makes their own arrangements for receiving payment and for shipping etc etc.
- If you need assistance with a commission WAC can offer you an Art Commission Information
Pack on how to manage the complex and risk filled process of art commissions. Ask for a copy.
-
Once Buyers leave the exhibition with their purchase the art is
"outside of the exhibition"
the artists assume all responsibility for all aftersales issues including returns. So if a buyer wants to exchange it or secure a refund etc. etc. then this becomes the artist's sole responsibility not the Organiser's responsibility.
- Please notify the Pay Point of all sales during the exhibition, so we can record it and monitor the success of the exhibition.
DO ARTISTS HAVE TO ATTEND IN PERSON? Artists can attend this exhibition at any time if
they choose, but please don't sit inside your 5m exhibition area. There is insufficient room in Brownlow Hall and customers tell us that they find this is intimidating, they feel you are waiting to pounce on them. Monitor your stand and all stands from a distance and move in to help when customers show interest. We have five stewards at any time to help customers, talk to visitors and to greet visitors at the door - every artists has been asked to volunteer (not mandatory) to steward as part of the exhibiting agreement. Stewarding is essential to make visitors feel welcome and to aid the smooth running of the exhibition. There will be a Stewards Rota posted on the wall Artists are strongly requested to steward.
If an artist is not on site when a customer asks to meet them, we can always phone the artist and they can speak to the customer. It really helps close a deal.
Artists who do not attend during the exhibition and have not notified the organisers of a sound reason for their absence may not be asked back. We rely on artists to be there to make the exhibition buzz.
DOES THE ORGANISER NEED TO SEE ARTIST'S EXHIBITION PORTFOLIO IN ADVANCE ?
NO. There is no Exhibition Hanging Committee and no pre-exhibition vetting process for
art. The artists themselves chose what pieces represent them and their oeuvre best. This is your opportunity to present a wide range of your work, to be
experimental, innovative and to take risks. Not all the art will sell!
Some may be there to impress and wow and provoke further discussion, especially if they are very large or very highly priced. But all of the art you show will help create the right impression and help secure buyers now and in the future.
Artists can display both originals and prints; provided prints are clearly marked as prints. The only hanging art permitted is
- framed art or photos or
- box canvases (framed or unframed).
Additional art can go on a tabletop or in a rack/browser. All art must carry a price & artist name label.
We recommend artists display art in a range of prices, sizes and media to match the varied requirements of the buyers. Whilst only 1% of sales are over £300 showing higher priced art will create a positive image for the artist, and may help the sales of lower priced art. Many customers purchase bundles of mid price art rather than one very expensive piece. Repeat customers are important to our exhibitions. Greeting cards act as profitable, colourful starting point and can often lead buyers to make future sales or discuss commissions. Prints sell well especially if the original is also on display at a much higher price (at least 5 x the print price).
All prints must be marked as "Prints" or "Limited Edition Prints" or "Lithographic Prints" or "Hand Embellished Prints" to clearly differentiate them from originals.
We will remove work that may offend a family audience or work that manifests blatant copyright infringement.
PRICING GUIDANCE
There is no simple answer to "what price should my art be?" Art prices are always based on a combination of factors - the venue, the customers, the artist's reputation and the type of art. Pricing is not derived from a mechanical formula based on how long it takes to create the art, the cost of your materials, the size of the art or even how someone else is pricing their art.
We can help and advise if requested and we will actively intervene if we think
your pricing is so low it undermines all the other artists, or it's so high
its never going to sell - ever. So, here is some pragmatic advice on pricing.
- Unlike many art exhibitions customers at the Exhibition are not paying a sizeable commission - other exhibitions charge up to 50% commission plus VAT
- The majority of original art sold at Brownlow Hall will be priced under £300. From five years of sales records we see that only 1% of individual pieces of art sell at a price exceeding £300
- Customers may spend more than £300 in total, but they will buy a collection of several pieces of art, sometimes from more than one artist.
- We recommend exhibitors display very high priced art as well as art at lower popular prices because it demonstrates the breadth and depth of the artist's whole artistic output and creates greater interest, a wow factor. High priced art on display can and does lead to sales of other art at lower prices.
- If artists really want to sell and make some money, then they will chose a range of commercial prices for some of their art. If artists don't do this then you wont be invited back.
Every piece of art including cards and prints must be individually priced and carry the artist's name. This ensures the Pay Point can process a sale of your work. No price labels, no sale.
ART HANGING & SET-UP TIME?
Hanging time is on
3.30pm to 7.00pm on Friday 28th August or 9.30-11.15 on Saturday 29th August . There is a floor plan, it is sent out in advance, it identifies where each artist exhibits.
Each space will already be labelled with the artist's name. Artists hang their own work with assistance from friends or family. The Organisers can offer hanging advice to new artists. There are no fitters, technicians, lighting engineers etc. We supply free of charge all the chains and hooks to attach your art to the boards or rails, and all the tables you will need.- Repair kit. For art and hanging emergencies we also provide a comprehensive repair kit with tools, string, d-rings, screws, glue, tape etc for artists to use.
- Wrapping and waste material. All packing, bags and wrapping materials must be taken home, nothing can be left under the tables during the exhibition, it looks scruffy and is a trip hazard.
END OF EXHIBITION TAKE-DOWN?
Exhibitors remove all their unsold exhibits on Sunday at 5.00 pm – no
earlier. Nothing can be left in the hall over night.
HOW ARE PICTURES TO BE HUNG IN THIS EXHIBITION?
The organiser provides the artists with everything they need to hang their art from the boards or the picture rails - as shown below..
This hanging kit is on loan for the exhibition and is returned at the end. Exhibitors must not use screws, nails, staple guns, glue or any destructive
fixing systems on the walls or exhibition boards. Any damage caused by ignoring this instruction will have to be paid for in full.
BUT firstly, before hanging on the day, artists must have prepared their art in advance to make it "hanging-ready"- FRAMED ART MUST HAVE STRONG AND ATTRACTIVE FRAMES with fixings and tape at the back to stop the glass or picture falling out. Shoddy, unmatched frames detract from your art and all art and will reduce its sale price significantly. Nice frames are available from local retailers or on-line (advice available)
- ART MUST HAVE HANGING STRINGS OR LOOPS, BRACKETS, ETC ON THE BACK (as pictured below). The hanging string or D-Ring(s) should be situated no more than a quarter of the way down the back of the frame, so that the picture can hang flat and vertical against the wall. You can buy D-Rings and strong cord, hanging wire or nylon from a hardware shop or Amazon.
THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF ART HANGING SYSTEMS AND BOTH ARE SUPPLIED FOR FREE USE BY ARTISTS
1) PERLON HANGING SYSTEM FOR WALLS (we will supply these on the day for free use) This is for use on the picture rails in Brownlow Hall ( images below). We also supply the picture rail hooks. The thick nylon threads are called PERLONS and loop over the hooks that fit over the picture rails. Sliding up and down a Perlon are adjustable Zipper Hooks that can be set at any height. These Zipper Hooks are attached to the back of a picture. Two artworks can be hung on one Perlon using two separate Zipper Hooks. Extra wide art can be hung from two Perlons side by side and this gives the picture stability. Excess unused Perlon length is wound up neatly in a circle behind the art. Never ever ever cut a Perlon shorter, they are expensive and reusable at future exhibitions.
2) CHAINS HANGING SYSTEM (we will supply these on the day for free use) Chains are for pictures hanging on the exhibition boards (images below). The big top hooks go over the top of the boards, from which a long chain is hung. Small "S" attach the picture to the chain. Two artworks can be hung on one chain one above the other with two S hooks spaced out on the chain. Extra wide art can be hung from two chains side by side and give the picture extra stability.
LABELLING ART
Every single piece of art, sculpture,
photo or greeting card must be clearly and individually labelled with the artists name and a price. Hanging art labels are
a) attached to the display boards by free supplied drawing pins or your own velcro or can dangle down from the art i.e. luggage labels.
b) attached to the wall by free supplied Blue Tac .
Obviously the label must face forwards and be visible and legible for the visitors to be able to read it !!! Greeting cards or unframed prints must also carry an artist's name and the unit price, so the Cashier can sell it at the correct price. No price label, no sale. Customers when buying art like to take home the labels, so maybe a duplicate labels or basic artist information can be attatched to the rear of a picture.
It is proven again and again, the more information you write on a label about the artist and the artwork the more likely you are to sell.
Labels for hanging work should be informative and include at least
- a) the artist’s full name,
- c) the title of the piece,
- d) a selling price
- e) Is it an original or a print or limited edition print etc.
Extra background information is always read and consumed by visitors. Why did you paint it? What were your thoughts? Anything anecdotal to say?
EXAMPLE OF A TYPICAL ARTWORK LABEL >>
DRESS CODE AT THE EXHIBITION?
Wear a badge with your name to help visitors recognise you and identify you as an artist. Bring one you have designed at home. There is no pre-set format for name labels, make it from a piece of your own art! We can supply a badge on request
Brownlow Hall can get quite warm because it has underfloor heating. It is recommended that you wear layers of clothing so they can be added or discarded easily if the temperature variation affects your comfort. As there is a lot of walking about in the exhibition, comfy shoes or trainers are essential.
STEWARDING ROTA
We pay someone to run the cafe but all other Stewarding duties are handled by the artists throughout the exhibition, there will be a Stewards Rota with 4 slots i.e. 12.00-2.30 or 2.30 to 5.00pm each day. Artists are asked to Steward for one slot. Stewards meet & greet the arriving public, make them feel welcome, up-sell the art, help close sales and bubble wrap purchases. The public like to meet the artists, and artists can convert a viewing to a sale better than anyone else.
MARKETING & PROMOTING THE EXHIBITION:
In addition to the
organisers' own marketing campaigns for this and all exhibitions, we
expect all exhibitors to help promote this
exhibition via social media (we supply a marketing image for use) and whatever other means you can find. Artists will be posted a FREE media pack including 100 printed A5 flyers and A3 / A4
posters. Please open the envelope containing the flyers and briefing packs as soon as you receive it to read the contents
Also bring your own literature and business cards
to hand out. Is there a printed bio? Will a buyer know your name when they take your art home, has it got your name on the back? Are contact details on everything presented, published and printed? Want more help
marketing? We can provide advice
NOTE:
This is a friendly, supportive, collaborative, non-politicised art exhibition of very high standard art.
We do this because we are keen artists and passionate about what we do. All aspects of the exhibition are undertaken by the artists and their friends or family (except the cafe). That is how we keep our costs and your fees under control. There are no paid lifters or movers, no bought in marketing teams; we do everything ourselves as a team. If this really doesn't suit you and you like paying £500-£5000 to exhibit at Racecourses and Alexandra Palace - that is absolutely fine, please send us an invite to see your work.
