I was able to connect with two artists (James Steele and Annie Johnson) and engaged in some great conversation about their art and experiences. I was able to share with them information about FRC², and in the near future both artists agreed to present to our group. It was a great way to network and get the word out about FRC² to the local art scene. By the way, James Steele knows our very own Dale Rosenbach!
James Cole (President and Gallery Director) sent me some information about their gallery, and a great program for emerging artists who want to pursue an artist career. I wanted to pass this along to the group, and I hope that this might inspire some of you to pursue your dreams and be mentored in the process:
Art on Mountain Gallery has been in the Fort Collins community for over 40 years, although only in the last few has it been located at 102 W. Mountain Ave. and known as Art On Mountain. Until September 1, 2009, Art On Mountain was a part of the Artists Association of Northern Colorado. Due to an IRS ruling, the gallery exited the AANC on that date and became a for-profit, artist owned LLC.
Art On Mountain prides itself as one of, if not the only, fine art gallery remaining in Fort Collins. Our member owners offer oils, acrylics, watercolors and pastels in the classic arts, photography and digital art in the photographic arena, plus fine jewelry, sculpture, pottery, woodwork, prints and greeting cards.
As an artist owned gallery, frequently known as a “co-op” form of organization in the world of galleries, the member/owners run and staff the gallery themselves. A Board of Directors is elected from the membership every two years to handle most of the business of the gallery, thus allowing the artists to focus on displaying and selling their art.
To become a member of Art On Mountain, an artist must be juried into the gallery. The jury consists of selected members of the gallery who judge the quality of the prospective artists work on a multi-point format, and also comment on how the prospective work fits in the gallery. An artist signs a year long contract with the gallery each April.
The Emerging Artist program at AOM is designed for those artists who have little experience in the art market and/or little to no experience with a gallery. The intent of the program is to provide a stepping stone into regular gallery membership. An Emerging Artist must be juried in just like a regular member and is expected to staff the gallery like any other member.
The program lasts three months. During this time, the Emerging Artist is assigned a mentor whose job it is to help the artist get set up the first time they display their work in the gallery and then to guide and advise the new artist relative to working with galleries, marketing, pricing, etc. The mentor’s job does not include helping the artist with artistic techniques or skills.
At the end of three months, the EA and the Gallery each decide whether or not the artist will transition into regular membership (virtually all EAs do so) or leave the gallery.
At this time, the EA program costs $150 for the three months. There are no additional wall or space rental fees. Upon transitioning to regular membership, the EA begins paying monthly rental fees and pays a on-time $100 deposit. The normal new member fee (another $100) is waived for the EA. The only restrictions as to availability of the program is whether or not there is a space available in the gallery and whether or not there is space available in the artist’s medium.
Submitted by:
James Cole
Director, Art On Mountain
Digital Artist
I have added this gallery to our "Cool Organizations" link.
James has offered to talk with our group about the gallery and the Emerging Artist program in the near future, as well!
I want to thank James Cole for this valuable information!
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