Artists in the United Kingdom are turning vacant storefronts into what are being called “pop-up galleries.” The name aptly describes art spaces that show up out of nowhere and then, just as suddenly, disappear after an exhibit closes or the store is rented out.
This is starting to happen in Canada as well. In most cases, the store owner is happy to provide you with an empty store front at no charge. He or she may want to take a commission or percentage if a painting sells, but not always. Quite often, it simply adds to the marketability of the property, so the owner is happy to "decorate" it at no cost. The rest of the downtown merchants are happy as well, as the temporary "art gallery" helps to a attract more visitors to the area.
You will have to provide your own easels or display rack. It also looks better if you hang some light colored drapes or even a plain colored sheet behind the art work, and to separate it from the empty store behind, which often is somewhat neglected and not very attractive.
Be prepared to move your stuff out at short notice should the landlord rent the space to someone else.
Finally, make sure that you provide contact information and prices on the artwork that are large enough to be easily visible to the window shopper, as they will generally not be able to go inside the store to get a closer look.
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