Artist are always asked for donations as if what they create is free.
Master landscape painter, Shannon Ray who has been involved with the Arts Alliance of Yamhill County sponsored annual Art Harvest Studio Tour for many years recently offered some advice on her Facebook Page to fellow artists about donation requests . She was kind enough to let us blog what she has to say.
The spring season of fund raising is upon us! I, like many artists and creative types love to support many worthy causes - it's great to be 'popular' for our work, and to be able to give of our heart for things we support. However -
This will be my future response for donation requests, and I give permission for all of my artist friends, and their artists friends, to edit, copy and paste, this reply for artwork donations: Let's educate!
Hello,
Thank you for your contact, and remembering my work for your fund raising event.
While I support many causes with my time, dollars and artwork, I have decided to take a 'teach-able' stand for all artists (and other creative small businesspeople) that are so very, very often asked to give of their efforts for worthy events. We are professionals in our fields. Does the dentist, attorney, tax accountant, or Doctor get asked for "donations"? We have our own cost of doing business and overhead - not counting a living wage.
We small business creative types eagerly support each others' work - and many of us are in a position to support other work with our own dollars. I think this might be overlooked. We are the best client base you could ask for at an auction of any sort - for whatever cause!
So my answer, to help this idea catch on, is in three parts.
I will donate to your event IF:
1). You offer me free tickets to your event. I can almost guarantee I will buy something of another artists' work.
2). You allow me to put a minimum bid on my work. You get better work that way - like maybe exciting well priced originals instead of over sized business card freebies.
3). You notify me of who bought my work and for how much - not so I can pester them, but to track my valuable art work and provide future provenance.
Thanks again - I hope you have a very successful event.
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