11/10/09
The Smaller Collective Art Shows
With the summer behind us it's time to think about getting our stuff together for a show. It seems there is no end to the questionable nature of the big shows like Art Expo and The Artists' project. But what about the smaller shows? Does anyone want to share their experience good or bad?
27 comments:
I would like to warn fellow artists of one particular woman who has been organizing art shows for the past 2 years.
Her name is Anne Hefter and company name is Canadian Art Toronto.
She has a great sales pitch to attract artists to join but does not follow through with promoting the show, staying around during the show to handle problems or providing needed information to artists attending the show.
Her next project is called "Art-09" and she is holding this at the Metro Convention Centre. I've read there will be 1,000+ artists at this show.
This woman cannot handle a show with 70 artists. I do not know how she will handle a show of 1,000.
Please, if you have been approached by her, think twice about doing this show. This woman should NOT be an art show organizer.
Previous shows I've been involved in that she's organized were Art at the Castle in Feb. and Nov. 08.
It will be my last with Anne.
Any other fellow artists who have experiences with Anne to share, please do so here. It's important to get the word out.
In regards to The Little Art Show, and the Riverdale Art Walk, I know more artists that have walked away from both feeling used and taken advantage of than any that are happily involved.
I was on the organization committee many years ago, and felt there was no discussion of issues, it was a dictatorship.
The process of jurying the elite artists, wile taking excessive fees just for the privilege was deeply flawed.
Having been on other art tours, and involved with other art organizations for many years, the cost to participate in RAW, considering the supposed fund raiser of The Little Art Show was way out of line.
After years of "donating" art to The Little Art Show", I was shocked to find out I would have to pay $20 just to enter, let alone buy a drink, or take a guest.
Even when it was $5, asking young relatives to come, I felt badly, and the food was beans spilled on a table top! Yuck!!
I have boycotted the show for years as the artists in the community they supposedly are supporting cannot even attend due to the inflated cost.
I heard about a man with a toddler and baby, who wanted to enter to see his wife who had a piece in the show. They were going to charge him $60!! Unbelievable!!
The Riverdale Art Walk was so interesting in the first couple of years. You could actually explore artists studios, now it is "Art in the Park" with artists who travel from location to location weekly and create manufactured art for sale, not unique are from the heart.
The Little Art Show was one of the best art events I have ever attended during the first couple of years.
The same force, and dare I say person, (dictator?), has, in my opinion, destroyed both of these events and the fantastic potential they offered artists originally.
I will not go near any of the organizations listed above with a 10 ft. pole, but will search out positive supportive arts groups that will hopefully counteract the poison of these associations and make the east end of Toronto a thriving hub of exceptional artists, galleries, art events and creative centres.
To the first Anonymous person -- I can understand you not revealing who you are but I have to say I agree with everything you said. If you like you could email me at admin@artiststoronto.net (I am the only person that responds to that email address). Or even better we could meet in person and talk about this further.
As an artist that lives in the Riverdale area, I have always refused to participate in the Little Art Show, The Art Walk, etc because it is an extreme example of all that can be wrong in the art world. Their arrogance, bullying and nepotism is unacceptable. That they take such advantage of artists is unforgivable. We artists are often easy pray because so many of us are so desperate to get our work out there, but it’s not worth it at the expense of your soul. It’s an ugly scene and I won’t be any part of it – a RAW deal indeed.
The fact that we feel the need to post anonymously speaks volumes.
Interesting to hear the comments regarding RAW. I participated in the show for the first time this year. Did not do well but didn't have any issues with the organizers.
Months prior to this, I attended the Artists' Network workshop on the upcoming shows for 2008 and found the info provided very good. Artists commented on what shows were organized well, promoted well and attracted buyers vs shows that weren't so great.
I have emailed March regarding my above warning and she was very interested in talking to Anne. She is apparently exhibiting in Anne's June show.
As for respectable shows, the Toronto Outdoor Art Show is my top pick. The fact it only costs $100 per day to the artist is absolutely amazing. They promote the show intensely as well as organize it extremely well. The attendance is truly worth it because it attracts art lovers of all kinds. Even if they don't buy, they take cards, have a genuine interest in art and visit your website. Just the exposure alone is well worth it.
So, I will be limiting my art show involvement to the big art shows. The ones that have an established reputation. Are run by large organizations with the expertise, manpower and financial stability to promote the show.
Thanks for the info on RAW. I won't be attending in 2009.
Responding to Leesa's post starting: "Interesting to hear the comments regarding RAW..."
You say you are "...limiting my art show involvement to the big art shows. The ones that have an established reputation. Are run by large organizations with the expertise, manpower and financial stability to promote the show."
If it is shows like city hall I would agree with you. But if it is big shows like Art Expo which, it seems to me, is there mostly to exploit artists, I would be really careful.
Stan could you elaborate on the Art Expo? I have signed up for the 2009 show for the first time.
Thought it was well known, promoted and attended.
Thanks
Responding to Leesa and Stan's comments:
I agree with Stan when he says:
"But if it is big shows like Art Expo which, it seems to me, is there mostly to exploit artists, I would be really careful."
I have exhibited twice at the Art Expo. Each time, I was frustrated by the lack of communication on the organizers part (unanswered or very delayed response to emails). When they did send out general emails to all exhibitors, they were almost always very lengthy single paragraph, run on sentences - often outlining how wonderful they are and how much the do for the artists and that artists who do not follow instructions "will not be welcome back next year" (often providing a case study "Last year we had an artist who...blah blah blah - who has not been welcome back."). The Expo needs to hire staff if they cannot respond to inquiries in a reasonable amount of time (is within the week too much to ask for?). I had, at one point, needed to remind the organizers that I, and all of the other artists were paying a lot of money to attend this show and that I expect prompt responses to any questions I may have no matter how trivial (of course, I kept my questions to the most relevant).
The Expo show itself is fine. It is a big, glitzy production with a seemingly large attendance. I did very well financially the first year while the snowstorm hurt the second with poor attendance. However, I can do without the stress of dealing with the organization while I need to focus on painting.
The Artist Project, on the other hand, I have not yet done. I have applied twice. It is more difficult to get into as it is actually juried and not just using "juried"
to describe reviewing applications. Other artists have told me (and I urge more people to share their experiences) that the show was beautifully executed, professional and enjoyable from start to finish. They told me it was heavily attended by what was considered "very serious art appreciators, galleries and collectors". My experience with communicating with them has been very positive. I send an email with questions, I receive a response containing answers. The correspondence has always been very professional and seemingly supportive of the Artist themselves. So far so good.
In my opinion - we must be very wary of the giant shows. However, we must also recognize that although some of the shows are out for profit (AP) - they seem to treat the Artists respectfully. Other shows forget who are really paying the bills.
I hope that this information doesn't panic you. It shouldn't as long as you are aware of possible road bumps. I feel it is important that artists share their experiences with these shows. I have found that very few artists are willing to speak out about their own experiences for fear that they "won't be welcomed back" since one big show a year can make a big difference financially for some of us (myself included - I need it). I do wish you a very successful show. I would still be doing the Expo if the AP had not arrived on the scene. The AP simply suits my work more than the Expo did.
Thank you for your insight and experience.
What I have learned in my short time doing Art Shows is how the organizers treat and respond to the exhibiting artists.
Of course, there are those shows that are mainly there to make a profit and it's only a matter of doing one show to notice this. But sharing this information is crucial to the art community.
This particular forum is an excellent way because you can place your comments anonymously which should rule out the "fear factor" of being blacklisted.
I have no quibbles with a show that promotes the show well. If they say they will place ads in particular newspapers, then I look for them. The general public is not looking for them so it's important that YOU see them.
As long as they have made their promotional commitments, are well organized during the show and treat the artists with respect there is no need to complain if the sales aren't there or the attendance isn't there. No-one can control this.
RAW, Queen West Art Crawl, Cabbagetown Arts Festival are just a few of the smaller shows that are advertised well. At least I think they are.
There is the Artisan's Craft show at the Distillery that is advertising in the local newspapers. I've already noticed two ads, Globe & Mail and Toronto Star.
I'm not participating because this show appears more like a mini One of a Kind show than an actual Art Show. However, they did have a Visual Arts show previously. I would like to hear feedback from artists who exhibited at this show.
Hi Leesa - I totally agree with you on the fact that we should not complain about a particular show if our sales were low. This is just the way the dice rolls on occasion. I hope you didn't think that's why I would comment on the expo.
The first year was very good for me, the second not so much. Sure its a concern - but not a reason to blame a show.
Both years that I did the Expo, I experienced the same issues I mention in my post. It wasn't an issue that happened once and ticked me off - it happened each time I tried to communicate with someone regarding important matters.
I should point out that the only "Anonymous" post I made to this particular thread was the one starting out "Responding to Leesa and Stan's comments:" - just wanted to clarify. Sorry to not have signed the post. I haven't done the RAW or the Little Art Show and don't know anything about those shows - so that wasn't me writing about those :)
I truly just wanted to give a "heads up" to other artists as to what to look out for based on my experience.
Like I said about The Expo: when it is on and happening it appears pretty solid and is really up to ones opinion of how good the show itself is.
For $1600 or more for a booth - we should expect a response to emails, and returned telephone calls regardless of what show it is. My concerns were not with the actual show itself but with the organization and communication leading up to the show which I felt was poor. We are paying customers.
I might add that, spending great amounts of money on advertising campaigns is great - and benefits everybody - totally agree. In my opinion though - it would be nice if some of that money was spend on a good ad campaign design team. I had dismissed the Art at the Castle show from my radar for a similar reason... as soon as I saw the website. Does anyone else see some of these ad campaigns and websites and just get the "low budget" feeling?
So.. I hope that clarifies things... I sincerely hope that things have changed and the experiences other artists have are positive ones.
I shall sign off as:
AJ
:)
Update on the Art-09 Show.
At first I was told by Anne that the show was cancelled. The overwhelming response she received from the artists from her last show made her throw in the towel.
However, a few days later I find the show is still scheduled to proceed. Mainly because she has a contract with the Convention Centre.
The show is now 300 artists, not 1,000 as originally planned and she also plans on establishing a committee of artists to help organize and promote the show.
This is a good sign. I view it as a result of artists speaking up and speaking out.
How the committee will be formed, I do not know however, the fact that Anne will not be running this show alone is a very positive move. No-one can organize and manage a show of that size all by themselves. And if the committee is a mix of artists from various backgrounds with different areas of expertise, it should provide a level of confidence for those participating and paying money to exhibit.
A Townhall meeting will be held at the Hang Man Gallery in December for those artists who have already signed up for the June show.
If you are one of those artists and have not been informed, email me and I'll pass on the info.
This is a good result from a bad experience.
And like I said before, no-one can control the number of patrons nor can they control if the patrons buy. However, if the exhibitors feel the organizer(s) put effort into promoting the show and it was noticeable to most artists then they cannot complain.
Personally, I still think it will be a challenge considering the economic climate and the fact this is an unknown show. The name will be something different and once I know the name and website, I'll post it here.
Until then.
Leesa
I have been marketing my work directly to the public since before time. The world is a funny place, often the best sales do not come at the show but rather when you do the follow up. Each event has it's good and bad points. Your job as a business person includes, learning as much as possible about the organization, the site and checking out the the event, BEFORE you put your money down. Whinge not, it might come back to bite you.
Admin note: This is an edited version of a post from Nov 11-08. The last para has been removed.
Hi artists,
BEWARE of Riverdale Art Walk, Little Art Show, Hang Man Gallery or any part of the Artists’ Network
I found a big problem with the Little Artshow held by the Hangman Gallery's "middleman gallery and friend". The Little Artshow is also affliated with the Artist Network and Riverdale Artwalk.
Because I didn't want to give my work for free to the Little Art Show they black listed me at the Hangman Gallery where they also solicit money from emerging artists. I didn't know at the time they were all really just one organization sucking art grant funding money out of the system.
Firstly, the all the proceeds from the Little Artshow is supposed to go to the Riverdale Art Walk, RAW.
The Little Artshow makes over 30,000 dollars a year from artists willing to give away their work for free to an organization that is not a charity. It goes to a middleman gallery and that is why they can't not legally give charity tax receipts for the artwork. RAW makes money from the Artist Network, The Hangman and the Little Art Show and Advertising the Riverdale Artwork, so how does giving your art away for free help artists? It doesn't. It devalues artists' work as a whole and if you want to be in the Art Walk you have to pay a good chunk of money, both vendors and galleries.
Secondly, I was also told by gallery owners on Queen St. that they were being intimidated and harassed to pay into RAW.
This is on their website:
"Through the Riverdale Art Walk, the Little Art Show, Hang Man Gallery, as well as other events, we strive to offer artists
affordable opportunities to exhibit, promote and sell their work."
With all this funding from places like The Trillium Foundation, advertising money for the RAW flyer, artist and vendor fees and 30,000 from the Little Art Show someone is making money and it is not the artists.
The Hangman is the only gallery where you find about five people working there. (Probably most are volunteer artists who don't get paid.)
RAW, is a RAW deal for artists. If you give away your work to an organization that isn't a charity, you are devaluing all artists work.
The little Art Show can afford to pay the waiters, the entertainment and the bartenders. With 30,000 they can afford to pay the artists as well. I believe this Organization to be a scam and is using artists for their own pay cheques.
Here's the latest update on Anne Hefter's June Art Show.
The meeting scheduled with the confirmed artists for the show, was cancelled by Anne.
I do not know why.
She had 75 artists confirmed at that time (December) and last word was she now has 95. She is looking for 300.
She has a new website http://www.art-2009.com/ to promote the show.
Her name is not noted anywhere on this site but this is indeed her show.
I find it strange there is no admission price. The Metro Convention Centre events usually charge an admission price but nothing is mentioned.
I will be checking this show out to get feedback from the participating artists and will post what I learn here.
Anyone with additional info can either email me directly or post it on this site.
My email is info@leesamclellan.ca
Cheers
Leesa
Thanks, Leesa for the info. I did take a look at the web site: http://www.art-2009.com/ I always believe the web site is a great clue into how these things are run. This one looks pretty cut rate but functional, I guess. I believe her not mentioning the admission price is that the site at this point is to secure artists, not show-goers.
Interesting news once again on Anne's June show, Art 2009.
She has been promoting this show to be on the same weekend as Luminato.
The average attendee would think that this show is actually part of the Luminato event.
In reality, it's not. It's part of her "sales pitch".
I've recently heard that the Luminato organizers caught wind of this and have had their lawyers hand her a "Cease and Desist" letter.
Anne has now reworded her opening paragraph, removing any mention of Luminato.
Unfortunately, this will not stop her from verbally mentioning it while pitching to unsuspecting artists.
Cheers
Leesa
Reading this blog has been very interesting to me because Anne Hefter called me yesterday to invite me to ARTSHOW-2009 in Toronto. She told me there was only 3-4 booths available for $900 + $200 for the panels + $100 for Electrical services. I told her the last minute invitation was uncouth. She also has to answer a list of questions before I make a deposit. Art-Show 2009 has been on for three years. Has anyone attended in prior years care to comment ? Comments appreciated.
I have dealt with Anne on numerous occasions. Buyer beware. As mentioned above, some of her previous shows were utter disasters. Many, many upset artists, undelivered promises, and rebuffs. She has no business trying to organize an art show of 70 people let alone several hundred. She too, has contacted me on a number of occasions, with the lure of participating in Art 09. I've since declined and would advise anyone else to do the same.
I found it odd to read the comments about the riverdale artist network. It is a local arts organization helping artists. They have monthly meetings that are very informative. Each month a different theme is discussed. From taxes, photoshoping, organizing yourself as a business.... The best one was when there was a panel of five artists with about twenty in attendence and they went over all the outdoor and indoor shows in Ontario discussing which shows were more suitable to each artist. They have group member shows and connections to different business establishments who will allow artists to hang their art. The RAW show is a neighbourhood outdoor art show that is advertised but mainly attracts the locals.As artists our work does not belong in every gallery or big/little show. Choose the shows that are right for you work. Half the battle is getting the public to see your art. Each year I do a piece for the Square Foot Show and the Little art Show. I could easily sell that art for more but feel it is important that I support my arts community in a way that I can.
i've signed up for the art-2009 show and am having some seriously cold feet - mostly from what i've been reading here. oh well, i'll let you know how it goes....
last year was the first time i did the RAW and had a pretty good experience. it was fairly well attended (though it was unbearably hot) and very well organized and run.
TAP was a great show. the calibre of work was the best i've seen, the crowds were there although the friday was a bit quiet. the only major problem involved the addition of the upstairs room, which according to the several artists i spoke to up there, was completely dead. as such, they were unimpressed.
Hi, A quick note regarding the upstairs at the TAP. It wasn't actually so bad. There was a great deal of traffic coming up. At first everyone was in a minor panic. Some more than others. Every time someone that was concerned that "downstairs is crowded" and "upstairs is dead", eventually thos people downstairs made their way up. Not 100% of them, but a lot.
Speaking to some artists downstairs, there was an area that was feeling the pinch from a poorly designed student area that, in effort to maintain flow, directed people in a roundabout in the student area missing the doors through to the final room.
I would agree though that the upstairs is not a great additional space for artists booth and would be better suited for the competition or something else. But it really wasn't so bad.
Great show overall.
art
Good luck to anyone participating in art09 this weekend... from the sounds of it, artists are getting MUCH less than they signed on for.
- No website listing
- No curtains between booths
- Booth changes
This show was a disaster. Anne Hefner should not be allowed to run a show ever again. The number of things that were promised and not delivered for Art '09 are too long to list.
The biggest failing is that she just did not deliver the goods -- there was nobody in attendance at this show.
If you are approached by her in the future heed the warnings on this posting.
I'm interested in hearing more comments regarding the show Art-09. If you read the very beginning of this discussion, I warned people about Anne as a result of participating in her Art at the Castle shows.
I didn't and would not attend the show to see the turnout but would really like to hear comments from those who attended.
Thanks
Anne Hefter is nothing but a rip off artist - stay far away from any show she is organizing!!!!!
Am going to be taking a chance with the Artists Project next spring, as one of a group of eleven printmakers from Open Studio.
We certainly hope the experience will be positive.
It's a shame that in 2009, we experienced a huge recession that affected the art galleries and artists. Hundreds of galleries were forced to close down and thousands of artists hardly sold any of their art that year. Hardly anybody was buying art, people were holding on to their money, nobody knew what was going to happen next.
I advertised in the Globe and Mail, The Star, The Post Magazine, The Toronto Magazine, CBC Radio and loads of community announcements.
Only 1000 people attended the show, not the 7-8,000 that normally attend a Convention Centre Show.
I depended on the attendance to make up for the money I invested in the Show and it didn't come thru because of this recession.
I lost $30,000 at this show. I put my heart into the show and worked day and night on it.
Being a new show, I discounted entrance fees for the Convention Center not the steep entrance fees of $1500 plus normally charged.
Knowing what it cost to put on the show, this guy who charges $1500 is a millionaire. You should be criticizing him. He's making a fortune and alot of the artists who attend and don't even make ends meet after paying his steep fees, should be looking at these fees and questioning why they are so.
It was a lost for all of us that year.
No wonder, women have hard times to try new things, look at how they're bullied.
To have a posting like this after 3 years, shows how hard it is for women today.
I empathize with victims of bullies, I know how you feel.
Anne Hefter
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