​About Online Exhibitions

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Online Exhibitions - Questions and Answers

The following information is provided for Victoria FCA members who are preparing artwork for FCA Exhibitions.
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What is an online exhibition?

• The FCA offers FederationGallery.com, an online gallery available to the Victoria Chapter. 
• This 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 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 to potential buyers 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 the Artwork up for sale?

• The online gallery and walk-in gallery begin and end at the same time. They run for a two-week period.
• After two weeks, the online sales feature is turned off, and paintings are marked as "Not Available" or "Sold".
• Work remains 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.
• A sales receipt will be emailed to the purchaser, and the artwork will be shipped to them.
• Victoria Chapter’s online inventory will be expertly tracked in real time
• We provide you with an email notification when your art is sold, 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 it will.
• Once Sold, the Fine Art Consultant (sales@artists.ca) will mark the painting as sold.

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

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How long must my artwork be available for sale in FederationGallery.com?

• During the  two weeks the online exhibition is functioning, artwork must remain available for sale. 
• ​The artwork may not be exhibited in another show during this time.

How will I know when a buyer has purchased my art?

• You will be emailed immediately, or contacted by FCA's Fine Art Consultant.
• The FCA's Fine Art Consultant will confirm availability of the artwork and arrange shipping.
• Please note, for privacy reasons, FederationGallery will provide general information only.
• The  Federation Gallery 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?

• 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. 

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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.  
• You will ship or deliver your painting to the FederationGallery in Vancouver.
• The Federation Gallery will then package and ship the artwork to the buyer. 
• An exception to this rule is if the buyer is local (ie: 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.
• 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.