Bartc
Well-known member
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CAFE every week turns up a group of Canadian based calls for artists. These have zero fee to enter, but following the links it appears to me that they only charge a fee (not given) for "selected works", meaning you pay to publish.
These supposed magazines or online galleries are all from Canadian sources, either in Toronto or Vancouver that I've noticed. Same format, but a dozen different interesting sounding names. The extent of them and the obvious similarities tipped me off.
While I am not a detective, these appear to me to be essentially a version of what's called the "vanity press" in the trade. Publications that sound so prestigious that you think to be honored to be asked. Then there's a fee for publication, which I suspect will be hefty, and lord only knows if anyone ever sees these publications or if they have any actual distribution. With online stuff these days it's much easier to claim a "distribution" of size than even those throwaway free ad print papers you get at the supermarkets.
Now it's legit to charge to display in some galleries, a common practice. And though I hate it personally, many legit calls for submissions do charge a fee for reviewing the works. So while that might not be to my taste, that's not what I'm concerned about here. It's the potential for bait and switch for the unwary that concerns me.
Years ago I used to get those solicitations (as did anyone remotely in the public eye) from "Who's Who." Found out the real score early and didn't bother with them. Now to see these soliciting artists and being listed on what I thought was a legit art call site is irksome.
Remember, I'm not making definitive statements about any of the parties, just stating the doubts raised in my mind. Anybody have any inside info on these?
These supposed magazines or online galleries are all from Canadian sources, either in Toronto or Vancouver that I've noticed. Same format, but a dozen different interesting sounding names. The extent of them and the obvious similarities tipped me off.
While I am not a detective, these appear to me to be essentially a version of what's called the "vanity press" in the trade. Publications that sound so prestigious that you think to be honored to be asked. Then there's a fee for publication, which I suspect will be hefty, and lord only knows if anyone ever sees these publications or if they have any actual distribution. With online stuff these days it's much easier to claim a "distribution" of size than even those throwaway free ad print papers you get at the supermarkets.
Now it's legit to charge to display in some galleries, a common practice. And though I hate it personally, many legit calls for submissions do charge a fee for reviewing the works. So while that might not be to my taste, that's not what I'm concerned about here. It's the potential for bait and switch for the unwary that concerns me.
Years ago I used to get those solicitations (as did anyone remotely in the public eye) from "Who's Who." Found out the real score early and didn't bother with them. Now to see these soliciting artists and being listed on what I thought was a legit art call site is irksome.
Remember, I'm not making definitive statements about any of the parties, just stating the doubts raised in my mind. Anybody have any inside info on these?
