Can't Sell Art Works: Does this make sense? Our local painting group has an Art Sale every year. During the past year, the town gave the group some money for supplies and to pay...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Does this make sense? Our local painting group has an Art Sale every year. During the past year, the town gave the group some money for supplies and to pay instructors to come to the group. Because the town gave the group money, it says that they cannot sell artwork produced by skills learned at the expense of the town. Does that mean they can never sell their artwork - anywhere?

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Warped/flawed logic.....

agillot

Sign my name on the art work , then you can sell it .

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

Food for thought for the town council:
Art sales to pay the city back - and keep good will - win/win
Prove the art skills were learned at the expense of the town - lawyers - legal expenses - law suits - loss of good working relationship with city - lose/lose

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Over-thinking can be just as bad as under-thinking.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Longshadow wrote:

Over-thinking...

Never been my problem.

cdayton

Simple solution. Don’t accept town money, self fund, sell all you want.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

cdayton wrote:

Simple solution. Don’t accept town money, self fund, sell all you want.

That's what I'd do, but they have been paying local art people to come in a run classes, and that would hurt them financially. Of course, there isn't a lot of money involved here. Maybe $1,000 for the year. The senior citizens group receives nothing.

Barbonbrown

jerryc41 wrote:

That's what I'd do, but they have been paying local art people to come in a run classes, and that would hurt them financially. Of course, there isn't a lot of money involved here. Maybe $1,000 for the year. The senior citizens group receives nothing.

How do they propose to enforce it?

And just what do they say gives them the right to enforce such a restriction on the freedom of these artists? Was there a contract with such a condition when local artists accepted the instruction? If so for what consideration? Were they informed of it beforehand?

Is there no "restraint of trade" legislation in the US?

I can just about see them making a restriction on sales of work produced in the classes stick, perhaps, or even with materials supplied by the council, again perhaps, but a wider restriction, never.

PhotoMono123 Loc: Houston, Texas

Were there stipulations in writing and was there a signed agreement when you received their "gift"? If yes, then you are bound. If no, then put up your For Sale signs.

The art group I belong to has formed a guild, and we have become very active within our community. We are now a 501(c)(3) organization and often receive small grants which help our organization. But we never have had anyone try to hinder us with some spurious, post-gift, restrictions.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

There was no contract, and this ruling really doesn't make sense to me. The town supplied some money that was used for supplies and instruction, so the artists can't sell what they produced?

kvanhook Loc: Oriental, NC

I've seen a lot of things at my age, but never thought I would hear about "Art Police".

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

kvanhook wrote:

I've seen a lot of things at my age, but never thought I would hear about "Art Police".

Yeah. I'd like to see them tell the town that they don't want the money.

Stephan G

jerryc41 wrote:

There was no contract, and this ruling really doesn't make sense to me. The town supplied some money that was used for supplies and instruction, so the artists can't sell what they produced?

The First Amendment will stomp their little fire out.

cahale Loc: San Angelo, TX

jerryc41 wrote:

Does this make sense? Our local painting group has an Art Sale every year. During the past year, the town gave the group some money for supplies and to pay instructors to come to the group. Because the town gave the group money, it says that they cannot sell artwork produced by skills learned at the expense of the town. Does that mean they can never sell their artwork - anywhere?

If there is pre-agreement not to sell anything produced during and at the training session(s), then the participants may not sell those. Anything they produce later at their own expense is theirs to do with as they please.