Maritimes Provinces Public Galleries and Artists

Meilleures pratiques en arts visuels

The Maritimes Canada Best Practices project identifies Industry Standards for the Visual Arts, Media and Crafts Sector. These guidelines serve as a model for practical and ethical practices within these sectors. As a result, this project facilitates fair and equitable dealings between creators and presenters across the region.

It is the ultimate aim of this project to develop a uniformity of standards and a common understanding of industry standards in the Maritime Provinces that are in agreement with Best Practices projects currently either established or in development across Canada. In turn, this will facilitate the ability of Maritime-Canadian artists to entertain business both within the Maritimes and across the country.

Public galleries are not-for-profit galleries that receive the major part of their funding from local, provincial, and/or federal government sources and are committed to collecting, conserving, exhibiting, and/or promoting art in the public interest.

Public galleries include national, provincial, regional, and municipal galleries as well as artists’ centres. A small number of privately funded galleries operate like public galleries, with the purpose of exhibiting rather than sales. Best practices should be followed by all public galleries, galleries operating like public galleries and the artists who exhibit therein.

A wide diversity of practice exists in the Maritimes in the relationship between artists and public galleries. Practice related to the structure and timing of exhibitions also varies. Some public galleries purchase and/or sell artwork and some do not.

The relationship between the artist and the gallery is a professional one and a business contract. It should be conducted as such. The relationship will normally be most successful when it is professionally maintained. The standards outlined in this Best Practices document should facilitate such maintenance.

Selling art for revenue moves public galleries into commercial galleries’ realm of practice and should incorporate Best Practices set out in the Commercial Galleries and Artists document. Any existing relationship between the artist and a commercial gallery should be respected by both the public gallery and the artist.

The process of developing an exhibition will involve formal or informal conversations. Either party may initiate the discussion. A studio visit may be involved. When agreement on exhibition is reached in principle, the process continues with both parties negotiating exhibition dates, spaces, equipment, etc. It is important for the artist and the gallery to know the roles, responsibilities and limitations of each party.

Written contracts and agreements should be the end result of negotiations and are necessary to a successful relationship between the artist and the public gallery. However, use of contracts varies in the Maritimes, as does their form. Contracts should be clear and should address all aspects of exhibition, as described in this document.

The Copyright Act of Canada requires protection of the artist’s copyright.

The Exhibition Right in Canada is part of The Copyright Act. It recognizes the artist’s right to be financially compensated for use of his or her work. The payment of exhibition fees to artists for public exhibition of the artist’s work is a legal requirement of public exhibition of artists’ works produced after 1988.

Moral right is also part of The Copyright Act.

Protection of artists’ copyright, exhibition right, and moral right is the responsibility of both the artist and the public gallery.

Duty of care as well as maintenance of institutional policies in the case of loss, damage, or theft is part of a public gallery’s required diligence.

Acquisition of artwork (addition into the gallery’s collection) should be handled professionally. There should not be undue expectations that the artist will provide a discount, unreasonably shoulder the risk of the failure of a proposed purchase to proceed, and/or provide the gallery with automatic right to any purchase of artwork.

Deaccessioning of artwork (removal from the gallery’s collection) should be avoided. If it is necessary, it should be carried out in accordance with the institution’s written policies. These should include right of first refusal by the artist.

This document provides detailed guidelines and expectations for all considerations listed above.

1 BASIS FOR RELATIONSHIP

1.1 The primary purposes of the public gallery are exhibiting, collecting, public programming, education, and conservation of works of art. Though the gallery may also be involved in sales through related retail outlets, and sales to the public of works on temporary exhibition, its primary purpose is not-for-profit.

1.2 The temporary nature of most public gallery exhibitions influences the relationship between gallery and artist, which is likely to be temporary also. As such, it should be governed by negotiated and written agreements.

1.3 All public gallery practices should be subject to Best Practices.

1.4 The public gallery is responsible for respecting the artist’s legal rights including copyright and moral right. (See section 9)

1.5 The payment of exhibition fees is established by Canadian copyright law and should not be circumvented. (See section 4)

1.6 Public galleries are responsible for maintaining an arm’s length relationship with the jury or selection committee, and should not exercise any influence over decisions of the jury.

1.7 Public galleries should notify artists promptly of the jury’s decision on submitted works.

2 CONTRACTS & AGREEMENTS

2.1 Public galleries should offer exhibition contracts to artists whose work they plan to exhibit, purchase, or sell. These contracts should include all terms of the exhibition/purchase/sale.

2.2 The above notwithstanding, not all galleries and exhibition venues use standard contracts. Even where a standard exhibition contract exists, the gallery may not have a standard practice of offering it to the artist.

2.3 Such lack should not prevent the negotiation and recording of contract terms. As well, the artist may negotiate terms that are omitted or onerous even if a standard form contract is presented. The artist should also raise any issues that she/he thinks necessary.

2.4 Where no contract is available from or offered by the gallery, either party may record the terms agreed to in writing and provide the other party with a signed copy.

2.5 By accepting the artist’s written terms of agreement, the gallery may be considered to have acknowledged that the terms have been negotiated and agreed to by both parties.

2.6 In addition to Best Practices described in all sections following, considerations for contracts include:

■ Location of exhibition;

■ Selection and installation of artwork;

■ Transportation of artwork;

■ Touring of the exhibition, including transportation, storage, installation, etc.;

■ Presentation requirements (framing, construction, display units, technical equipment, personnel, etc.)

2.7 Other considerations for inclusion in contracts are described in the following sections.

3 EXHIBITION COSTS

3.1 The gallery should cover all costs of the exhibition including promotional costs, opening and other receptions, transportation of work, and exhibition installation. How these costs are arrived at should be negotiated.

3.2 Any costs to the artist should be negotiated by the artist and the gallery in advance and be recorded as part of the contract or written agreement.

3.3 Notwithstanding paragraph 3.1, artists may be asked to cover some costs:

■ Late changes requested by the artist to a catalogue or other publication;

■ Printed invitations which differ from the gallery standard;

■ Artists’ materials including equipment and technology;

■ One-way transportation of artwork.

4 EXHIBITION FEES

4.1 According to Canadian copyright legislation, artists in Canada are entitled to be paid exhibition fees for use of their work by public exhibition spaces, when the exhibition is not for purposes of sale or hire and when the work was produced after June 8, 1988. Many public galleries also pay exhibition fees to artists for work produced before that date. (See also section 9)

4.2 The CARFAC Fee Schedule provides recommended minimum payment schedules for exhibition, reproduction, advertising, commercial and professional fees. Schedules cover all types of public exhibition; audio-visual and print reproduction; exhibition and reproduction fees for commercial and advertising purposes; and fees for artists’ professional presentation and consultation, installation, and preparation. These schedules should be used by artist and gallery as minimum fee expectations. In 2012, a five year fee schedule for exhibition fees was negotiated among CARFAC, RAAV (Regroupement des artistes en arts visuels du Québec), CAMDO (Canadian Art Museum Directors’ Organization), CMA (Canadian Museums Association) and ARCA (Artist-Run Centres and Collectives Conference). This fee schedule applies to all public galleries. The CARFAC Fee Schedule is updated annually with major changes voted on by CARFAC members. Efforts are made to assure that the CARFAC Fee Schedule is a standard recognized by artists and users alike

5 TIMELINES

5.1 Artist and gallery should negotiate and agree to timelines for exhibitions, including:

■ Due date for final list of works to be included in the exhibition;

■ Due date for promotional and catalogue materials;

■ Dates for payment;

■ Exhibition opening and promotion and any other related events;

■ Time available for installation;

■ Length of exhibition;

■ For time-based works, duration of the work, frequency, timing, and public notification of timing.

6 ARTIST OBLIGATIONS

6.1 The artist should deliver the agreed work in good condition to the gallery at the agreed time, with due consideration for packaging and presentation.

6.2 The artist should make sure the gallery has information necessary to correctly install the work.

6.3 The artist should provide the gallery with a full descriptive list of works in the exhibition including titles, date, dimensions, insurance value based on fair market value, condition, and other information as necessary. This list should be checked by the gallery against the works, signed, and a copy returned to the artist.

6.4 The artist should provide accurate biographical information to the gallery.

6.5 Artist and gallery should consult on health/safety implications of the work, if any.

7 PROMOTION

7.1 Prior to the exhibition, the artist and gallery should agree on the extent and nature of promotional activity to be taken by the gallery; the extent of the artist’s input to and participation in such promotion, such as images for promotional purposes, and whether the artist will receive copies of the gallery’s promotion and documentation materials.

8 DOCUMENTATION

8.1 The gallery should produce and keep a visual record of the installed exhibition. The artist may contribute to this process.

9 COPYRIGHT

9.1 In Canada, copyright in the artist’s work belongs to the artist, unless the artist has agreed in writing to sell, license, or waive copyright. This includes reproduction by the gallery, even for the purpose of selling the artist’s work. The gallery should obtain written licenses from the artist for all uses of the artist’s copyrights.

9.2 According to Canadian copyright legislation, artists in Canada are entitled to be paid exhibition fees for use of their work by public exhibition spaces, when the exhibition is not for purposes of sale or hire and when the work was produced after June 8, 1988. Practice dictates that artists are also paid exhibition fees for work produced before that date. (See also section 4)

9.3 The gallery should protect the artist’s legal rights, including copyrights, in activities relating to art work consigned to, sold through, or promoted by the gallery, and should take reasonable steps to ensure that others do also.

9.4 The artist’s copyright may be managed by the artist or the artist’s agent, or by a copyright collective to which the artist has assigned copyright for that purpose. If an agency other than the artist manages the artist’s copyright, the gallery may need to obtain a license to exhibit the work. Where another agency manages the artist’s copyright, it is the artist’s responsibility to inform the gallery in a timely manner of the requirement for obtaining appropriate licenses for exhibition and reproduction.

9.5 The gallery is required to obtain an appropriate license from the copyright holder in order to reproduce images. If the gallery decides to reproduce images once the license has been obtained, the artist should be informed.

9.6 The artist’s moral right is inherent in his/her copyright and must be respected by the gallery. Moral right may not be sold or licensed, though the artist may choose not to exercise it.

9.7 The gallery should not influence the artist to sell or waive his/her copyright.

10 DUTY OF CARE

10.1 The gallery has responsibility for the artist’s work while it is in the gallery’s care.

10.2 The gallery should exercise all reasonable diligence when handling, storing, displaying, and packing the work.

10.3 The gallery is responsible for maintaining suitable insurance. Types of and coverage by insurance provided should be described to the artist or owner of the work in writing, as should the process that will be followed where work is damaged while in the gallery’s care.

10.4 The gallery is responsible for incoming and outgoing condition reports.

10.5 If the gallery fails to provide insurance, the artist or owner of the work should be informed in writing.

10.6 The gallery is also responsible for security, fire prevention, and environmental conditions including display and lighting.

10.7 If access to the work as described in section 2 requires technical equipment, personnel, or any special conditions, it is the gallery’s responsibility to make sure these are available. If problems occur, the gallery is responsible to notify the artist and deal with these promptly.

10.8 Where the work is ephemeral (e.g. temporary in nature or self-destructing), responsibility for retention or disposal of the elements of the work should be agreed by the artist and the gallery prior to the exhibition.

11 ACQUISITION OF ARTISTS’ WORK

11.1 Where a public gallery collects artists’ work as part of its mandate, the gallery should have formal acquisitions policies in place. These should include mandate, process, authority, and conditions of purchase, as well those terms in the following sections.

11.2 Acquisitions policies should not include pro forma acquisition of the artist’s copyright.

11.3 Acquisitions policies should also consider the process for deaccessioning of artists’ work. (See also section 12)

11.4 Acquisitions policies should endeavour to keep time frames for the acquisitions process to a reasonable minimum, e.g. so that the artist does not run undue risk of an eventual non-sale.

11.5 It is the gallery’s responsibility to keep the artist and/or his/her commercial dealer (as applicable) informed regarding progress during the process of acquisition.

12 DEACCESSIONING

12.1 Deaccessioning of work in a public collection by a living artist should be avoided.

12.2 Where deaccessioning is deemed to be unavoidable, the artist should be informed of the decision and the gallery’s policy.

12.3 The artist should be offered right of first refusal in the event of deaccessioning of the artist’s work by a public institution.

13 SALES OF ARTWORK BY PUBLIC GALLERIES

13.1 Where the primary mandate of a public gallery is the exhibition and collection of artists’ work, the gallery should not collect a commission on sales of artwork in temporary exhibitions.

13.2 Where a public gallery operates a retail sales outlet in addition to its exhibition and collecting functions, see Best Practices for Maritime Provinces Commercial Galleries and Artists.

13.3 Any existing relationship between the artist and a commercial gallery should be respected by both the artist and the public gallery.

14 DISPUTE

14.1 In case of any dispute over breaches of contract, mediation should be sought before legal action is commenced.

For more information, see References section.