Around 8 months ago I initiated the concept of Expo-Arts, as a response to the changing art market sales environment and also as a mission to better support and represent mid-career artists. The onslaught of the internet and online marketing, has had a dramatic effect on the traditional gallery structure. Essentially, the way I see the matters, the traditional gallery structure will continue to ex
ist (i.e. an art gallery that represents a select group of artists), although only a very small global percentage of artists are fortunate enough to secure representation (myself included). Most others just market their work themselves and sell directly. Many artists are of course not full-time professionals, so depend on alternative employment to secure their living. Expo-Arts is focused on full-time professional artists, who have established national recognition, but whom would benefit from global exposure, thus developing the artist’s career, growing their global recognition and increasing the value of their works in the process, therefore benefiting both the artists and the foundation. Expo-Arts has been conceived as a non-profit organization, with independent incorporations in the U.S., the U.K., Singapore and Taiwan, all of which are currently in progress. Collectively, the group is to be known as "The Expo-Arts Global Foundation", although each company will be individually administered, as is required by law. The structure of Expo-Arts has been modeled on that of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., with a U.S. incorporated 501(c)3 being the main vehicle, plus additional incorporations in numerous other countries. The primary reason for incorporating in multiple jurisdictions is to enable each respective company the ability to accept tax-deductible donations from both private individuals and corporations. In all cases, the individuals and corporations can only benefit from the tax incentive, where the non-profit entity is incorporated in that country. As such, multiple incorporations are required, and the four countries chosen each have a prominent interest and established market in the arts, and also the potential to secure both private and corporate support. Once the group is successfully operating, it is a consideration to undertake additional incorporations, to attract additional funding from the likes of France, Switzerland and Hong Kong, all of which have non-profit corporate structure legislation. Expo-Arts globally is seeking at the outset to represent a maximum of fifty mid-career artists. These artists may be working in any media (excluding performance art and installation art) and would be sourced from multiple countries. Expo-Arts will seek a nominal donation from all of the artists they represent, which would be payable annually (by nominal, a figure of around US$1000 for example). Where qualified, this donation would be tax deductible. Expo-Arts' objective is to develop the international exposure of their represented artists, providing both group and solo exhibitions internationally, via a network of both collaborative gallery agreements and the rental of prime exhibition space. In addition, Expo-Arts is intending to open its own physical gallery space in Taipei, which will be used as a hub for access to the rapidly growing East Asian art scene (notably Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore). Expo-Arts will also subscribe to artnet.com (http://www.artnet.com/), which will also provide our artists with the prestige of an individual listing, otherwise not attainable except via selective gallery representation. Expo-Arts' own website is currently under construction and will be built around a social networking platform, within which the artists, gallery owners, collectors and other fine art professionals will be able to interact within a closed frame-work. The site will not be used for advertising or selling artworks, but instead as a unique closed platform, serving as a global meeting place within which to conduct our business activities and collaborations.
