artistcareer.com.au is a joint initiative of the Australia Business Arts Foundation and the National Association for the Visual Arts.
It is a great pleasure to discover a work of art or craft that elicits such a strong response that "you just have to have it!" Whether you intend to buy modestly priced work or seriously collect major pieces by artists of significant reputation, collection of art and craft significantly assists in the development of artists’ careers.
Most work made by living Australian artists is sold on a commission basis. This means the sales outlet will charge the artist a commission fee for providing sales services. The commission fee on consigned work can range from 25% to 40% or more. Some buyers are tempted therefore to approach the artist directly and cut out the sales outlet’s fee. This is seen as unethical practice because it undermines the commercial relationship between the artist and his/her sales intermediary.
Buyers who have committed to a purchase either verbally or through part payment, need to pay the outstanding amount as soon as possible. Income statistics on Australian artists tell us that most Australian artists are not well off. Delayed payments can mean real hardship for the artist.
NAVA Resources:
Exhibiting, Selling and Collecting Art and Craft, Chapter 1. NAVA Code of Practice, 2nd edition, 2004. ISBN 0 9751929 0 6
Read the chapter online.
Buy the full publication.
Competitions, Prizes, Awards and Fundraising Exhibitions. Chapter 4 of the NAVA Code of Practice, 2nd edition, 2004. ISBN 0 9751929 0 6
Read the chapter online.
Buy the full publication.
Code of Practice for Australian Commercial Galleries and the Artists They Represent
This is the national best practice standard for professional engagement between commercial galleries and artists and was the result of an agreement between NAVA, the Australian Commercial Galleries Association and the Australia Council. Published 2003, 8 pages. ISBN 1 920784 10 1.
Read the Code of Practice for Australian Commercial Galleries and Artists.
