We have an art scene but only a few galleries that work with local artists.

We had two benefactors willing to invest in a local scene, one closed shop and left. They both didn't notice that directors managing commissions and side work undermines the stated mission of a non profit, to provide benefit to the wider community. The managers were providing benefit to their own choices and to themselves. Both projects had to get rid of the initial managers and hire real directors at real salaries, hopefully with conflict of interest agreements.

Other local consultants dealing art premiered and promoted by this gallery, without any compensation to the gallery, has made it impossible to make any business progress and such distortion to price structure has made it a mistake to invest in local artists .

Typically the consultant approaches artists and says, hey don't tell the gallery but I want to come to your studio and pick out some art, I will sell it to a collector and pay you directly.

The hungry vulnerable artist is often easily sold on this idea and doesn't realize the side dealing is not only stealing from a gallery but sabotaging their own career.

Consultants don't provide any kind of price structure, they often actually work specifically in the dark in order to undercut the artist and overcharge the buyer.

When the gallery finds out the gallery can't support the artist - so the gallery and the artist are ultimately undermined by consultants acting as private dealers.

Honorable consultants contract with art galleries and dealers to sell art and good contracts are where all parties are aware of the terms of the transaction.