Art Police Newsletter Subject : Non-profit Organizations / Cooperative Groups Both the member who forwarded the email message and the art group(s) involved will stay anonymous, yet members of the group(s), granting programs, sponsors, city officials as well as the media will receive the newsletter of justice. This message is merely to educate. Membership Sign up fee plus volunteer time? From my understanding the membership fee for this art organization (we'll call this Group 1) is $50 if a member is to do 40 hrs of volunteer time within the year from which the membership application was filled out. Granted the members did have the choice to pay $200 to join the group and have no volunteer time. That does seem rather high for a membership for an art organization that receives grants, rents out studio space, has artist workshops, takes a gallery commission, and charges for gallery space. The building they rent is very low in cost and the services provided are inadequate. In a city just south of the location there is an art group (Group 2) that charges $20 for an adult membership, $30 for a family membership and $10 for children with no volunteer time. Group 2 is much cheaper, has a larger facility, and has all the same services with the absence of studio space. This studio space in Group 1 seems to be occupied by the same people anyways. I don't see how a member would miss out on it unless they were the tenant. There are many art organizations out there. None of which I found were this ludicrous with there membership requirements and fees. Volunteer Time It was brought to my attention by the member of Group 1 that they would love to volunteer and fill in the hours but “the gallery has it's day time hours and I'm only available in the evenings” The member sounded quite upset that Group 1 never contacts them about the ‘things' that they said they could volunteer for and when the member asks to volunteer for those ‘things' there is nothing available. The member feels that Group 1 is very unorganized. This member now has to pay $5 per hour not volunteered and has lost the ability to exhibit there art at member shows. Volunteers paying money to an organization for not volunteering? “I payed this group money out of my pocket and I feel I've got nothing” Yes, the membership and requirements were discussed, but it was also discussed that the member would have the opportunity to fulfill these hours. It was also discussed that the members would all have equal chance for exhibition. It is also said that there is available studio space for artists to rent. You would think that there would be some sort of rotation to eliminate favouritism, and to allow equal opportunity to every artist who is part of Group 1. The fee for joining is higher than most organizations, with less staff, less benefits and with the necessity to volunteer. Membership FEE for exhibiting Members pay FEE of $25 to show in an annual members group exhibition. This isn't right. Annual members exhibitions should be free with the membership. Also, why does the member say there were previous exhibitions that were only $15 and open to all members including the ones who did not fulfill the volunteer time. There are tonnes of galleries in the city east of Group 1 that charge the same fee but there is no membership fee and no volunteering. Group 2 doesn't charge the member anything to show in an annual group exhibition. Most cooperative groups do charge for regular exhibitions, but annual shows are usually part of the membership as gift for joining. What are the benefits of joining this group? I have also heard that Group 1 had charged a fee for there members to show in a Town Hall. I also know of a group of artists that exhibited in the same Town Hall for free. Why did these members of Group 1 have to pay to be in a building that was not charging. I know of many artists who do not pay to exhibit. Restaurants, cafe's, libraries, city buildings are all venue's and are free to exhibit in most cases. It is free to exhibit in private galleries, they charge 40-50% commission if the artwork sells and this gives them incentive to sell the work . Vanity galleries charge fees from $500 - $2000 for 1 month exhibitions with no membership fee and some will advertise the artist in art magazines, provide post cards, or submit the exhibition in art and cultural guides. Cooperative galleries and groups have charged as little as $30 for a solo exhibition for about 25 ft of wall space. Cooperative galleries typically have member artists pay $200 - $1000 depending on location and will supply the artist with name tags, food, drinks and advertizing for the member artist. in Group 1 Non - Members of this group pay just a slightly higher fee to exhibit there artwork in the gallery space. They do not have to ‘volunteer' and they do not have to pay a fee of $200 or a $50 membership fee. “I haven't really shown my work in the gallery other than in the group exhibitions. I wanted to have a show with friends but have no opportunity. There is no reason for becoming a member again. I just don't want other artists to fall into this nonsense” Many artists are desperate to exhibit artwork. They believe a group like this is the answer. If a group is to charge such fee's it would be in there best interest to keep there members happy. Proper signage on the outside of the building should be a definite, the member artists should be properly represented in the exhibition if they are to pay nominal fee's. Member annual group show's should be given as a gift of appreciation for all the volunteer time, membership, and return membership. There are better venues out there for Group 1's members. Your Friend, The Art Police If you feel mistreated in the art world and would like to let people know please feel free to contact the art police.