Using an online site to connect with 'real world dealers and Galleries'

PROJEKT30.com

Projeckt 30 is a rather interesting site that seeks to connect online artists(fine artists&photographers)with 'bricks and morter' galleries the world over through online exhibitions voted on by the general public and an in-house jury. 30 artists are then picked and their information sent to galleries worldwide in the hope that the Artists will get representation from one of them. This is, im sure what most artists hope to acheive at some point in their career.

PRO'S

Projekt 30 has found something of a niche in the market as I dont know of another site doing this at present(sending actual work to galleries from an online source). Projekt 30 will provide an online web site for you to upload your work to(for a fee). If you choose the membership option then it is free to enter the exhibition competitions. Juried exhibitions are held every month. For any sales made through Projekt30 you keep all the profit, they take no commision, this is also true for any gallery that chooses to represent you. As the public also votes their is a chance for many artists to make their mark even if their art isnt the usual kind of work that art critics like.

CON's

To begin with a small criticism: It's not easy to navigate back to the homepage from some other parts of the site. Obviously this site will charge you for this service: $55 for 3 months, $95 for 6 months, or $160 for a year, which is a tad expensive, but then again it may pay off in the long run if you are picked up by a gallery. You cannot submit the same piece of work to another exhibition, there is a limit of 10 works that can be submitted to each exhibition/competition. a three month membership will in effect only give you 3 exhibition/competition chances and it's unclear exactly 'who' the in-house jury were and will be, frankly for all we know they could be the website owners mates from down the pub. Also, for perhaps obvious reasons, we have no idea what galleries they send out the final selected 30 artists to, also how many galleries? Also projekt30 says there will be no advertising or links back to their site if you host an online gallery on their site, it's true there are no advertisements but, in fact, there is a link back to their home page which is rather surprising as they dont seem to be able to put a link back to their home page anywhere else on their own pages!

SUMMARY

I like the idea of this site, but there seems to be too many unawswered questions as the to the 'bricks$morter' galleries involved and the 'in-house' jury. Also the fact that they lie about not having any back links on your own(hosted by them)web gallery doesnt bode well. All in all, good idea but needs to present more information and be accurate with its statements.