Is it worth participating in Agora Gallery Chelsea International Fine Art Competition?

<p>I have recieved mail to participate in Chelsea International Fine Art Competition 2011. Pl tell Is it worth participating in Agora Gallery Chelsea International Fine Art Competition 2011?<br>

Has anybody already tried any experience of that gallery? They want 35/$ for participation and 5 picture can be entered.<br>

for 2010 following money has been given as prize"<br>

Monetary prizes were awarded to the following artists:<br /><br />$500 to Sebastian Rudko, $300 to Leslie Tucker and $200 to Gregory Grim"<br>

http://www.agora-gallery.com/competition/results2010.aspx<br>

On the other hand they say<br>

"<em><strong>Awards Valued at $38,000</strong></em><br /><em><strong>Awards with a total value of $38,000 will be distributed to selected artists. The awards are chosen to help artists advance their careers and to maximize their exposure to collectors and the New York art scene. They include participation in the renowned Chelsea International Fine Art Competition Exhibition in the heart of Chelsea, New York, review by an art critic, cash prizes and exclusive internet promotion."</strong></em><br />http://www.agora-gallery.com/competition/default.aspx<br>

Pl tell your opinions/experience with this or similar competitions.</p>

 

IMO (In My Opinion)

I don't think this is competition and/or a contest... But more of money maker for the organizers.

I mean think about how much money they stand to make from it...

 

Another thought I have is.. Do you sell them the rights of the photos entered? By sell I mean fork over the entry fee...

 

By this I mean, do "they" get the unlimited use of your photos?

 

 

If 90% of the entry money was going back into the prizes and awards I might feel different.

 

Note this my opinion only.. I feel these contests are scams. But then I am a skeptic by nature.

 

In the end you need to do what is best for you.

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<p>IMO (In My Opinion) I don't think this is competition and/or a contest... But more of money maker for the organizers. I mean think about how much money they stand to make from it...</p>

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<p>Every contest/competition has some financial value to whoever puts it on. There is no reason to go out and lose money on it. Judges have to be paid, time has to be spent. This one is very inexpensive at $7/image assuming you submit five. So why do you think this is an issue?</p>

 

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<p>Another thought I have is.. Do you sell them the rights of the photos entered?</p>

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<p>It takes about two minutes to read through the link provided and see that that isn't done.</p>

 

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<p>I feel these contests are scams. </p>

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<p>Have you read the guidelines? It doesn't sound like it.<br>

</p>

Jeff,

 

I clearly said I was skeptic by nature...

I provided my opinion... and that is all... Nothing more and nothing less..

 

Have a good day!

<p>Opinion in the absence of fact isn't very useful to someone looking for an informed answer. The information was all there, it's above board, it's not a scam, and it looks good. </p>

Wouldn't it have been better to just say..

 

"it's above board, it's not a scam, and it looks good"

 

again its only YOUR opinion..

 

again have a good day.. moving on

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<p>again its only YOUR opinion..</p>

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<p><br />There's a difference between an informed opinion and an ignorant opinion.</p>

<p>Agree with everything Lupo said. Certainly appears legit. Tough to figure out where they come up with the $38,000 figure. You will need to read through all of their information (laid out in 'user-friendly' terms in the FAQ) and decide if this is a good fit for you.</p>

<p>They're New York BBB accredited - about as legit as it gets. Search 'Agora Gallery' <a href="http://newyork.bbb.org/Find-Business-Reviews/#middle-result">here.</a> I also checked out the web gallery <a href="http://www.art-mine.com/aboutus.aspx">(art-mine.com)</a>, and exposure there might sell some images and/or help your CV. The contest isn't exclusively photography, however, although there is a photography category - it's multiple media (photography, sculpture, painting, drawing, digital, etc.). All entries for all media are submitted as jpg photographs, but the actual physical artwork would be shown at the exhibition if you're selected for that. For $35 to send in a few jpgs, why not? BTW, thanks for posting...I thought the online photo gallery was worth a bookmark.</p>

<p>You might ask <a href="../photodb/user?user_id=1783144">this guy</a>, since I believe he won prize(s) last year. </p>

<p>Thanks to everybody for detailed opinions, but one thing is clear= no body has experienced with these people. Let me try.</p>

<p>Thanks <a href="../photodb/user?user_id=112337">Les Berkley</a> , for giving link of joseagallego.com. I emailed him<br>

"<strong>Dear Jose</strong><br>

<strong>I read that you won award from Agora gallery Competition.</strong><br>

<strong>Pl tell our experience."</strong><br>

and he replied-"<em>thanks for your kind email</em><br /><em>yes, <strong>I won the 2009 competition of mastars cup</strong>, and my experience has been good gallery.</em><br /><em>They are very professional and good partners, but are a bit expensive for someone who does not live in new york"</em><br>

After this I emailed again " <em>Dear Jose,Thanks for mail. </em>

<em>Can you send small files of pics you submitted to Agora and the pics which won?</em>

<em>Which award you won, pl? Was it in photography?</em>

<em>You said it is expensive for people who donot live in NY, Pl explain why?</em>"

He never replied.

This is just for info of all others members .

Jose's website is <strong>worth visiting</strong>, all his galleries, Stunning pics.

 

I asked Agora gallery many questions but only few were answered.

No answer to following:

 

<em>1. I want to see the photos which has already won in your competition. </em>

<em>Ur reply to my question shows a link where I can see photos which are being sold or exhibited. But, there is no distinction to make out which photos have won in your competition. Kindly send me link again for the photos which have won year wise. <br />2. Even the second link does not tell about winning photographs but somehow it is better than 1st. Pl show something specific of winning photographers/s</em>

<em>3. "Total amount 1000/ will be given to winning artists" , this is written on ur site,. Pl tell-if this 1000/ will be given to all type winning artists or photographers?</em>"

The gallery States 38000/$ to be given in awards but again they say 1000/ will be given to three . Where the rest 37000/$ will given I could not find. I donot put any bad remarks on them, I could not understand.

<strong>Jose had not replied also.</strong>

So, to me it is not clear, I am not participating. I may /may not send them my portfolio later for review.

 

Please visit <a href="http://www.art-mine.com/for-sale/photography" target="_blank">http://www.art-mine.com/for-sale/photography</a> to see which types of photos have been exhibited at Agora Gallery.

Visit <a href="http://www.agora-gallery.com/catalog/competition_exhibition_8_17_2010.aspx" target="_blank">http://www.agora-gallery.com/catalog/competition_exhibition_8_17_2010.aspx</a> to see competition 2010 exhibition catalog. <br />

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<p>It's worth entering. the $38,000. in prizes equal (1)a review of your work, museum exposure (2) $1000. split three ways (3) exposure in museum/art magazine (4) a year exposure on an art website. The entry fee is a pittance compared to exposure and sales opportunities. you keep rights to your work. even if someone buys your art, they cannot use it as anything else.</p>

<p>I know this is an old thread, but I thought it would be worth mentioning that this is the gallery that did THIS: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/06/four-year-old-aelita-andr_n_872137.html<br>

An opening for a 4 year old child? Sorry, that looks like a pay-per-play vanity gallery to me. One of my classmates was selected for their current group exhibition (we're graduate photo students in NYC), and the word around campus was that this likely wouldn't mean much to his career beyond one forgettable line on his resume.</p>

<p>I just clicked the link you gave and read that she sold many pieces at the gallery - in fact I recall reading somewhere that she sold almost $200,000 worth of her art in that show alone! I agree that it's a little odd that they had an exhibition for such a young girl but if they sold so much of her art maybe they know what they are doing...</p>

Ya it’s a bs scam. Nothing to argue here.