Learn More About Membership

What is a cooperative?

• As a co-op, all the operations of the gallery are handled by the members, from marketing to sales to exhibition. There is a pride of ownership and participation that comes from this model.
  
  
• Alberta Street Gallery operations are financed through commissions on art sales and modest monthly dues from the members. Dues are determined by the number of shifts a member works each month. New members start at four shifts. The commission rate for a new member starts at 70/30 artist/gallery. After one month, members are eligible to join one of the many committees that handle the various jobs necessary to the function of the gallery, at which point the commission is 75/25.
  
  
• Major decisions for the gallery are handled by a board that’s elected by the general membership. Board members also handle day-to-day aspects of operations including financial and facilities management.
  
  
• We do not order wholesale and we do not represent non-members except during select community shows that we host in Lavaun’s Community Gallery.
  
  
• Alberta Street Gallery is a private organization, not subject to the laws of public accommodation.

How to Apply

• When there is an opening for a new member, our jury committee will send out an open call for the needed category of artist or medium with an online application. Several artists will be selected from this pool of applicants to present their work to the ASG jury committee in person. Join our mailing list to be alerted about open calls.
  
  
• The jury committee members will vote on whether to accept an artist’s application for membership based on whether the art presented falls within our criteria, meets the gallery’s artistic standards, and whether it and the artist would be a good fit for the cooperatives’ current needs. We strive to have a diverse selection of mediums and styles and our needs change with every open call, so if you aren’t accepted one time, please try again because you could be the perfect fit another time. Applicants will be contacted within 48 hours. If accepted, you will be informed of when and how to install your work.
  
  

Criteria

• Artists should be at a professional level and currently actively engaged in sales and exhibition of their work across multiple venues (i.e., online store, Esty, Saturday market, festivals, other galleries, or exhibitions). 
  
  
• Artists must live in the greater Portland/ Vancouver area. The reason for this is that we need members who reside close enough to the gallery to be able to work their committed schedule.
  
  
• All work presented in the gallery must be entirely the work of the artist. Materials must be significantly altered or enhanced resulting in an original piece that is unique to the artist. Involvement of the artist must dominate any components that are produced commercially or by someone other than the applying artist.
  
  
• Artists should have a large enough body of work that they can fill a 5-7ft. wide space and be able to replace sold pieces in a timely manner.
  
  
• All work must demonstrate quality of craftsmanship which includes safety, durability, and life expectancy of each item.
  
  
• Displays used to showcase your work must be approved by the Gallery Manager.
  
  
• All 2-D art must be matted, mounted, or framed. Canvas must be museum mounted (no staples or unfinished edges). All framed art must be wire-hung.
  
  
• All prints and note cards must be in plastic sleeves. Contact information about the artist must be included on the back of your reproduced work. Prints and reproductions that have no additional handwork must not take up more than 70% of your space.
  
  
• Fiber art does not need to be wire-mounted but does need to be clean in presentation with a viable means of hanging.
  
  
• All jewelry must be designed and assembled by the artist. Purchased chains and findings are acceptable but must not be the dominate feature. Commercially cast parts are allowed if the original waxes/forms are made by the artist. Metals used must be noted.
  
  
• Ceramics must be designed and formed by the artists. Mass-produced molds or forms are not acceptable. Commercial components are acceptable but must not be the dominate feature.
  
  
• Glass artists must significantly manipulate the glass themselves. Glass must be securely affixed to its hanging device or additional components. All raw edges must be finished to protect the customer.
  
  
• All photographic images must be taken and manipulated solely by the artist.  All images must be rendered by use of a camera, not a compilation or manipulation of photos from another source. The artist must demonstrate their artistic involvement in the development of their images.
  
  
• Woodworkers must significantly manipulate the wood themselves. Commercial components are acceptable but must not be the dominate feature.
  
  
• Computer assisted art cannot use pre-existing or unoriginal images (i.e., clip art, vector art, etc.) unless they have been significantly altered by the artist. All artists using CNC equipment in their handcrafts must submit original artwork / designs with application. The artist must own the CNC equipment or be the primary operator of the machine.

Exposure

• As a member you will be included on our website with a link to your website and your work will be promoted on Facebook and Instagram. We use the showcase windows for Group and Featured Artist shows throughout the year.
  
  
• November-December-January are traditionally group shows. February through October are Featured Artist months.
  
  
• Once a year, members may apply to mount a show in one of the two windows. We also have opportunities to curate or participate in monthly shows in our annex gallery space known as Lavaun’s Community Gallery. ASG promotes these shows via a newsletter sent to the gallery’s email lists, printed posters and social media posts. All shows open on the last Thursday of each month when Alberta Street businesses hold the “Last Thursday” arts event.