How to get YOUR ART exhibited

Some summers ago a little girl with freckles was dragged cryingly out from the Louvre. Many children probably have been. Yet I recon not many who had been there first in line in the morning and it was now closing time and the child so desperately wanted to stay. The young child was of course moi.

Art has been in my blood line since before I was born as inherited the passion mainly from my maternal side as my grandmother and mother had the same gallery. They sold posters as well so I would flip through the catalogs and become familiar with the greatest masters of the western world. To me they were some sort of friends I had not met yet so often admired in museums near and far.

First time I went to https://www.musee-jacquemart-andre.com/ I was also a little girl. My father worked for UNESCO (printing school books in Jamaica) and HeadQuarters was the City of Lights and Arts so he took me there as it is close to the art street of Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré.

Fast forward many years later I was fortunate to be granted via an auction house a beautiful painting by what is considered by many as the greatest Danish painter, namely Hammersh?i. I rank him equally in the top five best ones. Yet He was the most acclaimed also internationally.

In Paris my job as a prestige real estate agent was a few streets up from the JacqueMart-André museum so I would often wander the halls of this grand yet intimate maison that was build as a monumental declaration of the love between two persons and their private collection. After Nélie's death in 1912 she donated the museum and all its contents to the l'Institut de France under the condition it would remain together.

Life can happen as interacting circles like the Olympic rings. We got contacted by the Danish auction House late this winter asking if we would lend our painting to this important exhibition, the first in some 20 years in Paris.

Despite already having others of our paintings exhibited at Danish museums even I, the big dreamer, had never dared to envision our little girl, the painter's sister, to be exhibited in one of my all time favorite museums in Paris, the Capital of Art. The honour of my life. Hence a very proud looking me on the photo above. The Hammersh?i exhibition runs till the 22nd of July 2019.

How to get YOUR piece exhibited

I am going to give some rough guidelines. Feel free to comment. I do not differentiate between modern vs old masters. Nor do I distinguish between sculptures, cars, paintings, haute couture, silver, jewelry, sail boats, etchings, real estate, books etc. As to me art shares universal guidelines. Due to space limits I cannot write as much as I would like to.

First thing: How to collect (simple guidelines)

1. To me ALL Quality Art Evokes an Emotion. Whether it be the sweet romantic notions or the horror of la Guernica or some Goyas. Joy. Disgust. Reflection. Delight. Etc. This has nothing to do with the price tag (at least not in all cases )...
2. Choose with your heart. Sorry I am a romantic. I have turned down pieces that might have been a better investment. Yet on the contrary to stocks bought online I like to have my pieces shown in the house. (The little girl above is in my boudoir normally so for my eyes only therefore pleased she is shown to others now). For me I collect what I like to look at as most pieces in my collection beheld. Some art investors lock it up in storage rooms and may rarely see it. To me this is hard to know.
3. Choose the best within your budget for your taste. Like stocks some art can go up and down in price so why not behold what you like. Some years ago dark mahogany furniture was en vogue, then out of fashion, and I predict within ten years the best pieces will come up again. Action - reaction in the world of art.For instance Art Deco might be valued more at some minimalistic times than the maximalistic Art Nouveau. Yet the best always has a value and a circle of collectors. It only takes two eager collectors at say an auction to get the price up.
4. Choose authenticity. First edition of books, old stamps, tradesman's initials on furniture, the master's touch, the lowest series number in lithographies or sculptures, old silver marks the indications are many....
5. Provenance? Hmmm debatable. To some art collectors it is vital to know where it has been. This can affect the price value of the piece. It can be who collected it, who commissioned it originally, displayed at galleries - museums etc. Yet to me I always believe the quality of the work goes above anything.
6. In doubt get it validated by a an independent expert and - or museum.

How to get YOUR ART exhibited

1. If you buy via an auction house they often keep records (Sotheby's, Christie's, Bonhams etc). These places may get contacted by museums for pieces to borrow for exhibitions - this can be years after you bought even decades - not always fast game. Any fine mediator will contact you discretely first before giving your name out to others.
2. Join an art club. Can be a general one or one within your specific interest. In case they have exhibitions you can suggest they borrow from you.
3. Let the appropriate gallery owners know what you are collecting. Nb. being a nice person might help. Some gather at TEFAF, Monaco Art Fair, Paris Art Fair etc.
4. Contact a magazine in case you have an art collection you like to show. Nb do have security system in your home, CCTV, alarms, dogs, valid insurance, a vault etc. Personally, I have turned down several media exposures including TV programs (in the UK, France and Denmark) and selected few as some go to private for us. I do not mind showing my garden and parts of my home (never my bedroom) - yet I do mind some cameras following my intimate life for the sake of my family. Do be selective. Yes PR can be great yet it can also be a curse. I will any day value my privacy over fame. Flattered when asked and again have chosen a few exposures here and there for the glam and fun of it.
5. Use your linkedIn network: If anyone hears of an established museum then feel free to contact me if they will exhibit Danish Golden Age paintings - era mainly from 1800-1900 - as I have a decent private collection. I also have a few modern Danish pieces including few sculptures and a mirror once belonging at Amalienborg - the Danish Royal castle, photo with the King in front of it. If anyone likes me to inherit their collection of any art do stay connected, please... I promise you it will be cherished in a most loving home. (Dreaming big on this one...)
6. Use people underground. There are few powerful well connected persons in the art world and ultimate prestige real estate that are not shady yet working discretely to connect ultra private buyers and sellers, as some pieces never are to be seen in public and or to be known have been sold (at least at first). This can be done fully legally. So not shady business, not stolen etc. The intermediates - connectors must operate in all discretion. I know a bit about this world. Not what this article is about but you may pm me if more information needed.
7. Become a VIP of a museum. Even at the Louvre you can get special memberships for a relatively low investment (many have corporate memberships too so if you have a business you may even be able to deduct it in your taxes, again different rules in each country and I am NOT a tax advisor nor lawyer). With the VIP membership you may get special invitations to pre-openings. You might get special tours by curators. Special trips you can go on etc. Tip of the day: If I was to move yet again to another country first thing I would do was to select the museum, the opera or Botanic Garden I love and become a VIP. The best investment to getting outings and gaining a social circle. Some may prefer country / fitness clubs yet I like to exercise my brains and my passion.
8. When borrowing the bare minimum you can expect is for the museum to invite you to their grand opening. Often the night before it opens to the general public. There you can mingle and meet some art passionate persons and expand your network. You should also expect to be given the catalog and or tickets to other days in case you cannot participate in the opening. Do not expect the museum to cover your travel costs. Some museums kindly give you annual entry cards or if a masterpiece life long free passes.
9. It is mainly PRO BONO you borrow: It is an honour to exhibit at a museum. Hence you cannot expect to get paid for this.
10. Due to our name on the wall under the painting we have received lovely invitations to be explored. Cannot make them all as live in the UK time being and busy bee. Yet most certainly most grateful for the invitations. Thank you. Yet might meet the kind persons inviting us at some other point.
11. To sum up use your network.

Kindly note many art collectors and associates within this world are private persons so at any exhibition never publish photos of the crowd around you unless you have their permission, preferably in writing. Common manners.

What to do practically for an exhibition

Let us pretend you have established the contact to exhibit at a museum.

Now you need a lender's agreement. Any decent museum will provide you with one.

There should be a space to write further conditions if needed and agreed upon.

The museum should offer to pay the costs and insurance form the moment it leaves your property (home, gallery, storage etc) till it has been returned. Some collectors might like to only use their own insurance and removal company. Some may even send persons with the art for security till it is in safe hands at the other end.

Always check the borrower's insurance policy and your own. Perhaps get your lawyer or such to read it through. Fortunately, I have my lawyer inhouse.

VERY IMPORTANT: Each country is different. Do check if special rules apply. Some artefacts are not allowed to leave the country as they are considered national treasures. Most owners will know this already. If you have a true masterpiece you did not acquire recently and or in doubt then it is worth figuring out if the rule applies to you. Some countries may agree to you lending it to a museum abroad yet not to sell it - swap or such outside your own country's boundaries. FACT CHECK. As it can be illegal. ...I am willing to be guilliontinated for the sake of art though. That would be a glorious death.

Some pieces of art you may have to pay a royalty to the maker or the family and-or foundation if exhibited. Can be that if it is in the catalog, made postcards - other items of. Normally those pieces are cleared in advance by the museum. Yet you should check up on this yourself in the country you buy in and or the country the piece is form. Say if you have an Italian piece of Art, you live in New York and exhibit in Tokyo you need to figure out the rules in the three countries involved.

You might even be eligable to get commision if say your work is used for a postcard this is RARE hence do not count on that. If you are to receive commision check the tax rules as well.

A museum will normally prefer to have the piece in place at least a month before the exhibition also to photograph for catalog, website, press release etc. Nor can you expect to have it returned the same day the exhibition closes yet in general a week or two after (or otherwise agreed to) you can expect it to be packed and shipped. It should remain under the museum's insurance till it is safely back unless you have agreed it is under your insurance.

To me any fine museum will only touch your work wearing gloves. You can have that rule written in your contract as you do not want greasy hands all over your piece of art - this can be both for the removal and for the museum persons. When I dealt with antique silver at the most acclaimed Danish silver House Georg Jensen my small department only touched the silver with gloves, also our own pieces. It is the only correct thing to offer when handling the piece yet shows respect both for you as the owner yet also importantly for the Art itself.

Some exhibitions travel between countries so you need to look into if it is a one of exhibition like most or a tour. Both for royalty, commission, tax (those there rarely) and importantly again insurance purpose.

Another bonus for me with this painting was it was not framed so we contacted ArnoldWiggins.com in London who hosts the Royal Warrant of Appointment translated helps the Court - the Queen of England with frames. As Scandinavian art mainly is discrete with the advice granted at Wiggins and options I selected an understated frame in many gris tones that match the setting and the girl's sepia hair. To be in the famous framer's universe was another magical moment in life as so many grand pieces there. As a frame is important too to fully appreciate a painting.

You may also need to restore a piece of art before being exhibited.

It does not have to be terribly complicated to buy and exhibit art yet make sure you are insured and follow the guidelines.

Some like to have their art exhibited as it can increase the value, read section about provenance. To me, the little freckled art loving girl, it was simply the greatest pride and honour of my life to see my name on the wall and in the catalog - to see the artist's little sister who is normally for my pleasure only to be admired by the public in the Capital I so do love since I was a child. To know my grandparents would have taken pride in this. To connect l'Art - Denmark - la France. So it was circles interchanging. I remain in utter most gratitude for this.

Art to me holds the highest value of human capacity - together with Humanity.

I hope to see your beloved piece exhibited some time soon.

Keep me posted if this was helpful or not, please.

I remain yours most art lovingly and cordially,

Marie Dahl Kell

Kindly note as stated I am not a tax advisor nor a lawyer. This article is a mere reflection of my love and passion for art of all kinds. I hope it can be proved helpful to you and or a contact of yours. Each museum and exhibition are different. Hence get qualified people to look through any contract - lending agreement. This article only reflects my point-of-view which may differ to yours.