Online Exhibitions - Questions and Answers
The following information is provided for Victoria FCA members who are preparing artwork for FCA Exhibitions.
What is this new online exhibition?
The FCA has introduced the launch of FederationGallery.com, an online gallery available to the Victoria Chapter. This new online gallery is “geared specifically towards art buyers”. It supplements our physical exhibition by presenting your artwork to a worldwide audience from a respected venue -- the FederationGallery.com website. The website features an on-line sales component, so that potential buyers can purchase paintings online
Who manages the FederationGallery.com website?
FCA's Fine Art Consultant in Vancouver.
What will a Victoria Chapter online show look like?
Go to 2019 Victoria Chapter Fall Exhibition to see the Victoria Fall show. (Note, the online sales feature for this show is presently turned off).
What are the benefits of having my artwork displayed on FederationGallery.com?
Having FCA shows presented online will support the twice-yearly physical gallery exhibitions by extending the visibility and period of time potential buyers will have to purchase your paintings. Importantly, it supplements the online presence of the Victoria Chapter by providing shareable content for promotion of shows and artists.
Do the online gallery and the walk-in gallery exhibit artwork at the same time? How long is it up for sales of artwork?
The online gallery begins when the walk-in gallery exhibition ends. It continues for three weeks. After three weeks, the online sales feature is turned off, and paintings are marked as "Not Available" or "Sold". They remain on the website indefinitely as an archive of the show. Should a client wish to buy a piece that is archived and not already sold, you will be contacted by the Fine Art Consultant.
About Online Sales
How do online sales of FederationGallery.com work?
The online gallery’s proprietary software is built to make art sales as easy as possible. Your buyer can purchase your artwork directly from the website, knowing their transaction is safe and secure. They will be emailed their receipt immediately and the artwork will be shipped to them. Victoria Chapter’s online inventory will be expertly tracked in real time, providing you with email notification when your art is sold, and preventing anyone from buying the same artwork twice.
Will my artwork still appear in the online gallery if it gets sold in the walk-in exhibition?
Yes, but to avoid selling the painting twice, the Fine Art Consultant (sales@artists.ca) will mark the painting as sold, making it unavailable for sale a second time.
How will I know when a buyer wants to purchase my painting from the online gallery during exhibition dates?
The Fine Art Consultant will contact the artist to check on availability. A 35% commission will apply to sales that come through FederationGallery.com
How long must by artwork be available for sale in FederationGallery.com?
During the three weeks the online exhibition is functioning, artwork must remain available for sale. That means it may not be exhibited in another show or gallery.
How will I know when a buyer has purchased my art?
You will be emailed immediately, or contacted by FCA's Fine Art Consultant to confirm availability of the artwork and arrange shipping. Please note, for privacy reasons, FederationGallery will provide general information only, and cannot share personal contact information of buyers to chapters or artists.
How long will my artwork remain available for viewing on FederationGallery.com?
The artwork will be available for viewing online indefinitely as an archive and representative of that particular exhibition. After the online exhibition ends, the artwork is not available for purchase on FederationGallery.com. However interested buyers who see and wish to purchase your unsold art will be directed to you.
About FCA Commissions
What is the commission fee for artwork sold in FCA exhibitions?
There is a commission fee of 35% for artwork selected for both gallery and online exhibitions:
Is there a minimum commission fee?
Yes. 17.5% OR $50, whichever is greater. Artists are advised to set a minimum price of $300.
What happens if a buyer approaches me directly AFTER the exhibitions are complete, but still online at FederationGallery.com?
If the client found the artist and their artwork through a Federation platform - exhibition, website, social media for example, we would also expect the artist to honour the sale through the Federation at the same commission rate. If the sale happened independently of FCA and the artist has earned the sale individually, they may negotiate their own price with the client.
Can I sell an artwork privately during an exhibition?
No. Private sales are not permitted during the show. Your artwork must be available for sale through the FCA for the duration of your physical and online exhibitions.
Who should I contact to let them know I've sold a piece privately?
If a client purchases displayed artwork after the exhibitions have ended, contact the FCA's Fine Art Consultant at sales@artists.ca. This will allow them to list your painting as "Sold" on the website.
If my artwork does not sell during the posted exhibition times, can I consign my paintings to another gallery?
Yes, but please contact the FCA's Fine Art Consultant at sales@artists.ca so that the painting can be marked as Unavailable for Sale". The painting will remain on the site, but the online sales feature will be disabled.
Shipping
How is shipping of artwork handled through FederationGallery?
When a painting is sold through FederationGallery, the FCA's Fine Art Consultant in Vancouver will notify you so that shipping can be arranged. You will ship or deliver your painting to Vancouver and FederationGallery will then package and ship the artwork to the buyer. An exception to this rule is if the buyer is local (i.e., in Victoria or nearby). In this case, the FederationGallery will give you contact information so that you may ship or deliver the painting yourself.
Who is responsible for shipping costs from Vancouver FCA offices to the buyer?
The buyer is responsible for shipping costs, not the artist or FCA. This is made clear on the website before the purchase of the artwork, and the client must agree to the terms and conditions before purchase.
Who is responsible for the cost of delivery of the artwork to Vancouver FCA.
Artists are responsible for delivery costs of artwork to Vancouver FCA.
The FCA has introduced the launch of FederationGallery.com, an online gallery available to the Victoria Chapter. This new online gallery is “geared specifically towards art buyers”. It supplements our physical exhibition by presenting your artwork to a worldwide audience from a respected venue -- the FederationGallery.com website. The website features an on-line sales component, so that potential buyers can purchase paintings online
Who manages the FederationGallery.com website?
FCA's Fine Art Consultant in Vancouver.
What will a Victoria Chapter online show look like?
Go to 2019 Victoria Chapter Fall Exhibition to see the Victoria Fall show. (Note, the online sales feature for this show is presently turned off).
What are the benefits of having my artwork displayed on FederationGallery.com?
Having FCA shows presented online will support the twice-yearly physical gallery exhibitions by extending the visibility and period of time potential buyers will have to purchase your paintings. Importantly, it supplements the online presence of the Victoria Chapter by providing shareable content for promotion of shows and artists.
Do the online gallery and the walk-in gallery exhibit artwork at the same time? How long is it up for sales of artwork?
The online gallery begins when the walk-in gallery exhibition ends. It continues for three weeks. After three weeks, the online sales feature is turned off, and paintings are marked as "Not Available" or "Sold". They remain on the website indefinitely as an archive of the show. Should a client wish to buy a piece that is archived and not already sold, you will be contacted by the Fine Art Consultant.
About Online Sales
How do online sales of FederationGallery.com work?
The online gallery’s proprietary software is built to make art sales as easy as possible. Your buyer can purchase your artwork directly from the website, knowing their transaction is safe and secure. They will be emailed their receipt immediately and the artwork will be shipped to them. Victoria Chapter’s online inventory will be expertly tracked in real time, providing you with email notification when your art is sold, and preventing anyone from buying the same artwork twice.
Will my artwork still appear in the online gallery if it gets sold in the walk-in exhibition?
Yes, but to avoid selling the painting twice, the Fine Art Consultant (sales@artists.ca) will mark the painting as sold, making it unavailable for sale a second time.
How will I know when a buyer wants to purchase my painting from the online gallery during exhibition dates?
The Fine Art Consultant will contact the artist to check on availability. A 35% commission will apply to sales that come through FederationGallery.com
How long must by artwork be available for sale in FederationGallery.com?
During the three weeks the online exhibition is functioning, artwork must remain available for sale. That means it may not be exhibited in another show or gallery.
How will I know when a buyer has purchased my art?
You will be emailed immediately, or contacted by FCA's Fine Art Consultant to confirm availability of the artwork and arrange shipping. Please note, for privacy reasons, FederationGallery will provide general information only, and cannot share personal contact information of buyers to chapters or artists.
How long will my artwork remain available for viewing on FederationGallery.com?
The artwork will be available for viewing online indefinitely as an archive and representative of that particular exhibition. After the online exhibition ends, the artwork is not available for purchase on FederationGallery.com. However interested buyers who see and wish to purchase your unsold art will be directed to you.
About FCA Commissions
What is the commission fee for artwork sold in FCA exhibitions?
There is a commission fee of 35% for artwork selected for both gallery and online exhibitions:
- Artists retain 65% of their sale;
- 17.5% to the Victoria Chapter for gallery-related costs and exhibition advertising/promotions;
- 17.5% to the Federation in Vancouver for administration and processing fees.
Is there a minimum commission fee?
Yes. 17.5% OR $50, whichever is greater. Artists are advised to set a minimum price of $300.
What happens if a buyer approaches me directly AFTER the exhibitions are complete, but still online at FederationGallery.com?
If the client found the artist and their artwork through a Federation platform - exhibition, website, social media for example, we would also expect the artist to honour the sale through the Federation at the same commission rate. If the sale happened independently of FCA and the artist has earned the sale individually, they may negotiate their own price with the client.
Can I sell an artwork privately during an exhibition?
No. Private sales are not permitted during the show. Your artwork must be available for sale through the FCA for the duration of your physical and online exhibitions.
Who should I contact to let them know I've sold a piece privately?
If a client purchases displayed artwork after the exhibitions have ended, contact the FCA's Fine Art Consultant at sales@artists.ca. This will allow them to list your painting as "Sold" on the website.
If my artwork does not sell during the posted exhibition times, can I consign my paintings to another gallery?
Yes, but please contact the FCA's Fine Art Consultant at sales@artists.ca so that the painting can be marked as Unavailable for Sale". The painting will remain on the site, but the online sales feature will be disabled.
Shipping
How is shipping of artwork handled through FederationGallery?
When a painting is sold through FederationGallery, the FCA's Fine Art Consultant in Vancouver will notify you so that shipping can be arranged. You will ship or deliver your painting to Vancouver and FederationGallery will then package and ship the artwork to the buyer. An exception to this rule is if the buyer is local (i.e., in Victoria or nearby). In this case, the FederationGallery will give you contact information so that you may ship or deliver the painting yourself.
Who is responsible for shipping costs from Vancouver FCA offices to the buyer?
The buyer is responsible for shipping costs, not the artist or FCA. This is made clear on the website before the purchase of the artwork, and the client must agree to the terms and conditions before purchase.
Who is responsible for the cost of delivery of the artwork to Vancouver FCA.
Artists are responsible for delivery costs of artwork to Vancouver FCA.
