ARTSMART

That gallery in Italy has just contacted you about doing an exhibition. Congrats! But before you ship 20 pieces of artwork out, be sure to create a consignment agreement.

Don't get me wrong, a consignment agreement isn't a bullet proof vest, but it will ensure that that gallery understands that you are a professional and you are armed with a legal document if you should ever have to procure a lawyer.

By sending a consignment agreement before you ship any work, you're telling your future gallery/business partner that you have agreed to consign this work for a certain amount of time, for a certain price, that you will split discounts with them or not and in return they must insure the work, pay for shipping and customs, return the unsold work in good condition, pay you in a timely fashion and probably most importantly they must tell you who bought the work and where the work is going to live.

This agreement not only protects you in case something bad happens, it gives you control over your inventory and it tells the gallery that you are a serious artist and business person.