Would You Loan Out Your Artwork?

Hello my art friend,

Today, I want to delve into a topic that I have found to be incredibly important for artists looking to expand their reach and visibility: loaning out your art to interior designers, local shops, or office spaces. It's a fantastic opportunity to showcase your work and reach a broader audience, but there are some essential things you need to know before diving in.

First, let's talk about why loaning out your art can be such a valuable opportunity.

Interior designers in particular are always on the lookout for unique artwork to enhance their spaces and make their work stand out. By loaning out your art, you not only get your work in front of the homeowner who may fall in love with it and want to buy it, but you’ll likely be getting it in front of a new audience. Loaning out your work also gives you the chance to build relationships with industry professionals and potentially secure future commissions or sales.

Some things you’ll need to consider before loaning out your work:

Make sure you clarify the terms of the arrangement. How long are you loaning them the work? Who is responsible for transportation and installation? If it sells, what is the designer or shop’s commission, and who is handling the transaction? 

If it's someone you don’t know well, you might want to specify exactly how or where your work can be used or displayed during the loan. Also, consider adding a provision for the return of your artwork in its original condition and the use of proper credit and attribution next to the work if it's in a public space or in any promotions or social media posts the work is used in.

Having a written agreement in place can help avoid misunderstandings down the line, but I have also loaned out work with a verbal agreement plenty of times if it’s someone I know.

You will also want to consider if it is a good fit for your goals for your work before agreeing to loan out your work. You need to evaluate the venue where it will be displayed and consider things like the aesthetic of the space, the audience that will see the work through the arrangement, and the level of exposure your artwork will receive. Make sure the venue aligns with your brand and artistic vision.

Finally, many artists want to know if they should charge designers to borrow their work. I personally do not charge designers or shops to borrow my work. But, I do ask that they arrange transportation to and from their location and installation. But that’s just me. If it's someone new that I’m working with I will take a credit card number just in case. 

But ultimately I’m only going to work with people who have a good reputation and whose work I admire.  

So…loaning out your art to designers and shops can be a fantastic opportunity to showcase your work and expand your audience reach. However, it's important to approach these arrangements thoughtfully and carefully to protect your work and ensure a successful collaboration and long-term relationship. By clarifying the terms, understanding the nature of the installation, and maintaining open communication, you can make the most of each opportunity and help grow your artistic career.

Remember, you have the power to shape your artistic journey and make meaningful connections along the way.

Thanks for being here!

All the best,

Jennifer

P.S. If you know any artists who would enjoy this, please forward it to them!