The Price of Art

The Price of Art
By Heather Parker

This Saturday, Sept 19, ArtCoop hosts its 4th Annual 50% Off Sale from 10am to 6pm. The sale allows visual artists in Bay County a ‘free day” to set up and sell their art to the public at half-off their normal price. ArtCoop does not charge the artists any fees to set up nor charge commissions on sales.

“This is a real benefit for visual artists and for their customers,” says Heather Parker, ArtCoop Creative Director. “Normally, in order for an artist to sell their art, they have to get gallery representation, pay a fee to set up in a festival, or pay a submission fee to display in a show. Some galleries take up to a 50% commission on sales and fees can add up. Those fees and commissions are reflected in the prices of art. The 50% Off Sale at ArtCoop allows artists, for one day, to cut their prices by 50% and pass the savings directly on to the customer.

Mary Ola Miller, matron of local arts and long time owner of the Gallery of Art on Beach Drive, said it like this- if you have your art in a gallery and the gallery takes a 50% commission, the artist shouldn’t take it out of the gallery and sell it the next day for 50% less. Keep the piece the same price and when the artist makes their own sale, the artist collects the commission on the sale. That is the best advice an artist will ever get on how to price their work- it is good for the artist and good for the galleries.

But, once a year, ArtCoop breaks the rules.

ArtCoop has been asked if the half off sale hurts sales throughout the year, and the answer is no, not a bit. The more exposure an artist can get, the better off they are- and this half off sale creates positive exposure. Buyers love to come meet the artists and hear the stories behind the art. It is a positive experience for everyone, even for the local galleries, because it helps the public to understand what goes into the price of a work of art beyond just the cost of supplies.

The price of art this Saturday? Half off.

This is not a scratch and dent sale. Customers will find original art of all styles and sizes, pottery, assemblage art, oil paintings, framed and unframed art, prints, cards, and more. Many artists take special orders for holiday delivery. Over 20 artists will be set up inside and outside at 535 Mercer Avenue, Downtown Panama City, just off 6th between Jenks and Oak. For directions, call 850-760-0608 or on the web at www.artcooppanamacity.com

ArtCoop, is a nonprofit art co-op for visual, literary and performing artists whose mission is to provide artists of all types a place where they can create, teach, and learn.