Home > Essays > Entry deposits instead of entry fees
By Alonso del Arte, March 15, 2016
I have never charged an entry fee for any of the shows I've curated. I've always felt that's wrong somehow. But I have also wondered whether I have missed out on showing some pretty good artists who felt the lack of an entry fee meant my show was not to be taken seriously.
This train of thought has led me to the idea of entry deposits instead of entry fees. I might implement this idea at the next show I curate, depending on the gallery and other factors.
Here's how it would work: you give me some JPEG files and a check made out to the gallery, for say, $20. I don't cash the check for a while (so far this does not sound that different from entry fees, as some galleries are notoriously slow to cash checks).
Once I review all the submissions, I make decisions as to what goes in the show and what doesn't. If I reject your piece for the show, I void your check and send it back to you with a rejection letter. Since I'm not taking your money, I feel no obligation to give any detailed explanation for the rejection. I can just say your piece did not fit my vision for the show.
If I accept your piece for the show, then I make arrangements with you for you to deliver your artwork to the gallery. But I still don't cash your check. When you show up with your artwork ready to hang, I give you your check back.
The idea is that the only circumstance under which I would cash your check is if you flake out, if you fail to deliver your artwork as agreed. Or maybe also if you do deliver the artwork but fail to supply some additional thing needed for proper hanging.
Hopefully the exhibit is a success and at the end I give you a check for the stated price, minus gallery commission. But if your piece doesn't sell and you fail to pick it up within the time period specified by the consignment form, I may just take it for my personal collection.
I'll let you know if I ever implement this idea of entry deposits, by adding an update after this paragraph.