Displaying your artwork in a venue can be a great way to reach new audiences, but it also creates practical risks: delivery, installation, damage, theft, insurance, sales, commission, and return of the artwork.

VooGlue helps by giving artists and venues a shared platform record, QR-code identification, artwork records, and hanging-request information. However, the physical display and care of the artwork at the venue is a direct matter between you and the venue.

What VooGlue helps with

Artwork identification and ownership records

VooGlue tools can help support clear artwork identification:

✔ Wall didactic and QR code – the wall label can link viewers to the artwork record.
✔ Stock-management label – a label on the back of the work can help identify the work even if the wall label is moved.
✔ Artwork fingerprint or scan record – where available, scanning can help match the physical artwork to the VooGlue artwork record.

These tools help create useful evidence and records. They do not replace a written agreement, insurance, condition report, valuation, police report, or legal advice if something goes wrong.

Venue hanging request records

When a venue selects artworks through VooGlue and initiates a hanging request, the venue accepts VooGlue’s Hanging Request Terms and Venue Undertaking. Those terms say that the venue is responsible for matters such as care, display, insurance, custody, loss, damage, theft, and return of artworks while they are in the venue’s possession or control.

You should still review the hanging request carefully and decide whether you are comfortable with the venue, the proposed display location, the insurance arrangements, the installation method, and the return process.

Sales and commission records

If a sale or commission is processed through VooGlue, the platform can help record the agreed commission and payment details. Commission is only payable if it has been agreed with you or recorded through the platform for the relevant hanging or sale.

Important: VooGlue is not the venue, insurer, installer, or custodian

VooGlue introduces artists and venues and provides platform tools. VooGlue is not the owner, seller, bailee, custodian, insurer, installer, guarantor, or supervisor of your artwork.

The practical implementation of a hanging is between you and the venue. This includes:

delivery;
installation;
display location;
hanging hardware;
venue security;
insurance;
damage;
theft;
loss;
removal;
return;
venue commission;
venue damage allegedly caused by you or your installer; and
any dispute with the venue.

If a venue steals, loses, damages, refuses to return, or mishandles artwork, your claim is against the venue. If you or your installer damages the venue, the venue’s claim is against you or the installer. VooGlue is not responsible for resolving, funding, enforcing, or insuring those disputes.

 

Before you agree to a hanging

Before delivering or allowing your artwork to be displayed, consider the following.

1. Confirm the venue’s identity

Ask for the venue’s full legal name, trading name, address, contact person, and business registration number if applicable.

2. Confirm insurance

Ask whether the venue has insurance covering artworks in its care, custody, or control. Ask for a certificate of currency or other written proof.

Check whether the insurance covers theft, accidental damage, fire, water damage, destruction, and public liability. Do not assume that a venue’s general business insurance covers your artwork.

3. Agree the artwork value

Record the listed retail price or agreed insurance value of each artwork. This matters if the work is lost, stolen, or damaged beyond repair.

4. Create a condition report

Take clear photos before delivery, including the front, back, frame, edges, signature, labels, hanging hardware, and any existing marks.

Record the date delivered, who received it, and where it was installed.

5. Agree who installs and removes the work

Confirm whether you, the venue, or a contractor will install and remove the work. Make sure the hanging method is safe and suitable for both the artwork and the venue.

6. Confirm sales and commission

Agree whether the venue receives a commission, how much it is, and whether sales go through VooGlue, directly through you, or another agreed method.

Unless you expressly authorise the venue, the venue should not sell, discount, reserve, or accept payment for your artwork.

7. Confirm return arrangements

Agree how much notice either side must give to end the display, who will collect the artwork, and what happens if the venue closes, changes owner, relocates, or becomes unsafe.

8. Use a written Artist–Venue Display Agreement

Even if the venue accepted VooGlue’s hanging terms, a direct written agreement between you and the venue is still the best protection. A short, clear agreement is usually enough.

You can use the template below as a starting point and adapt it for your situation.

Artist–Venue Artwork Display Agreement Template

Date: [insert date]

Parties

Artist: [insert full legal name]
Artist address: [insert address]
Artist email: [insert email]
Artist phone: [insert phone]

Venue legal name: [insert full legal name]
Venue trading name: [insert, if different]
Venue address: [insert display premises]
Venue representative: [insert name and role]
Venue email: [insert email]
Venue phone: [insert phone]

Background

A. The Artist owns or controls the artworks listed in Schedule 1.
B. The Venue wishes to display the artworks at the Venue’s premises.
C. The Artist and Venue agree that this is a direct agreement between them.
D. VooGlue Pty Ltd is not a party to this agreement.

1. Artworks

1.1 The artworks covered by this agreement are listed in Schedule 1.

1.2 For each artwork, Schedule 1 should identify:

a. title;
b. medium;
c. dimensions;
d. year;
e. listed retail price or agreed insurance value;
f. QR code or stock-management ID;
g. condition on delivery; and
h. photographs or links to photographs.

2. Display

2.1 The Venue will display the artworks at: [insert premises address].

2.2 The Venue must display the artworks in a safe, secure, clean, and publicly viewable location, unless otherwise agreed with the Artist.

2.3 The Venue must display each artwork with any QR code, label, wall didactic, attribution, or identification material supplied by the Artist or VooGlue.

2.4 The Venue must not remove, obscure, alter, or interfere with any QR code, stock label, signature, certificate, or ownership identifier.

2.5 The Venue must not move the artworks from the agreed display location or remove them from the premises without the Artist’s prior written consent.

3. Installation and removal

3.1 Installation will be carried out by: [Artist / Venue / agreed installer].

3.2 Removal will be carried out by: [Artist / Venue / agreed installer].

3.3 The party carrying out installation or removal must use reasonable care and suitable equipment.

3.4 The Venue must provide safe access to the display area and identify any venue-specific risks, restrictions, or requirements.

3.5 The Artist must ensure that any hanging hardware supplied by the Artist is reasonably suitable for the artwork and the agreed display method.

3.6 Neither party is responsible for pre-existing damage, hidden defects, or unsuitable fixtures supplied by the other party.

4. Ownership, copyright, and moral rights

4.1 The Artist retains ownership of the artworks unless and until an artwork is sold and title passes under the Artist’s sale terms.

4.2 The Artist retains copyright and intellectual property rights in the artworks unless the Artist signs a separate written assignment.

4.3 The Venue must not copy, reproduce, publish, communicate, merchandise, license, alter, adapt, mint, tokenise, or otherwise commercially exploit the artworks without the Artist’s prior written consent.

4.4 The Venue may take reasonable photographs of the displayed artworks for the limited purpose of promoting the display or sale of the artworks, provided that:

a. the Artist is credited;
b. the image is not altered in a misleading or derogatory way;
c. the artwork is not used on merchandise or paid advertising without consent; and
d. the Artist may withdraw this permission by written notice.

4.5 The Venue must not present the artworks in a manner that is prejudicial to the Artist’s honour or reputation.

5. Insurance and risk

5.1 From the time the Venue receives, takes possession of, or controls an artwork until it is safely returned to the Artist or the Artist’s authorised representative, the Venue bears the risk of loss, theft, disappearance, destruction, or damage to that artwork, except to the extent caused by the Artist’s own fraud, wilful misconduct, or negligent act.

5.2 The Venue agrees to maintain insurance for artworks in its care, custody, or control for not less than the listed retail price or agreed insurance value in Schedule 1.

5.3 The Venue’s insurance should cover theft, accidental damage, fire, water damage, destruction, and other usual risks for artworks displayed in a venue.

5.4 The Venue agrees to maintain public liability insurance for the premises.

5.5 The Venue must provide evidence of insurance to the Artist on request.

5.6 If the Venue does not maintain insurance, this does not reduce the Venue’s responsibility for loss, theft, disappearance, destruction, or damage to the artworks while in the Venue’s possession or control.

6. Loss, theft, or damage

6.1 If an artwork is lost, stolen, damaged, destroyed, moved without permission, or affected by an incident, the Venue must immediately:

a. notify the Artist;
b. take reasonable steps to prevent further loss or damage;
c. preserve photographs, CCTV, incident reports, and witness details;
d. notify police where theft or suspected theft is involved;
e. notify its insurer where relevant; and
f. cooperate with the Artist in relation to insurance, recovery, repair, valuation, or legal steps.

6.2 If an artwork is repairable, the Venue must pay the reasonable cost of repair, conservation, transport, and any loss in value, except to the extent caused by the Artist’s own fraud, wilful misconduct, or negligent act.

6.3 If an artwork is lost, stolen, destroyed, or damaged beyond reasonable repair while in the Venue’s possession or control, the Venue must pay the Artist the listed retail price or agreed insurance value in Schedule 1, except to the extent caused by the Artist’s own fraud, wilful misconduct, or negligent act.

7. Sales and commission

7.1 The Artist may offer the artworks for sale during the display period.

7.2 Sales will be handled by: [Artist / VooGlue / Venue / other agreed process].

7.3 The Venue is entitled to commission only if agreed in this clause.

7.4 Venue commission: [insert percentage or “none”].

7.5 Unless expressly agreed in writing, the Venue must not:

a. accept payment for an artwork;
b. discount an artwork;
c. reserve an artwork;
d. represent that it owns an artwork;
e. transfer possession to a purchaser; or
f. transfer title in an artwork.

7.6 The Artist is responsible for the Artist’s own tax obligations. The Venue is responsible for the Venue’s own tax obligations.

8. Venue ownership change, closure, or insolvency

8.1 The Venue must notify the Artist promptly if:

a. the Venue business is sold or transferred;
b. the premises are sold, leased to a new operator, closed, renovated, vacated, or relocated;
c. the Venue becomes insolvent or enters administration, receivership, liquidation, bankruptcy, or a similar process;
d. the Venue’s insurance is cancelled or materially changed; or
e. the Venue can no longer safely display or secure the artworks.

8.2 Before any settlement, transfer, closure, relocation, major renovation, or change of control, the Venue must give the Artist a reasonable opportunity to collect the artworks.

8.3 The Venue must not allow the artworks to be treated as assets of the Venue or included in any sale, transfer, security interest, landlord claim, creditor claim, liquidation stocktake, or asset register of the Venue.

9. Term and termination

9.1 This agreement starts on: [insert date].

9.2 The expected display period is: [insert dates].

9.3 Either party may end this agreement by giving [14] days’ written notice by email.

9.4 The Artist may require immediate removal of the artworks if the Artist reasonably considers that:

a. the artworks are at risk;
b. the Venue is uninsured;
c. the Venue has breached this agreement;
d. the Venue is closing or changing control; or
e. the display may harm the Artist’s rights or reputation.

10. Return of artworks

10.1 On termination or expiry of this agreement, the Venue must make the artworks safely available for collection by the Artist or the Artist’s authorised representative.

10.2 The artworks must be returned in the same condition as received, fair wear and tear excepted.

10.3 The Venue must not charge storage, handling, removal, administrative, or release fees unless expressly agreed in writing before the artworks are delivered.

11. Damage to venue property

11.1 The Artist is responsible for damage to the Venue’s property only to the extent caused by the Artist’s fraud, wilful misconduct, or negligent act, or by the fraud, wilful misconduct, or negligent act of the Artist’s installer or contractor.

11.2 The Artist is not responsible for damage caused by the Venue’s instructions, unsuitable walls, unsuitable fixtures, pre-existing defects, hidden defects, or installation methods chosen by the Venue.

12. Disputes

12.1 The Artist and Venue must first attempt to resolve disputes directly and in good faith.

12.2 Either party may take urgent action where necessary to protect an artwork, recover property, preserve evidence, prevent loss, notify police, notify an insurer, or comply with legal obligations.

13. Governing law

13.1 This agreement is governed by the law of: [insert jurisdiction, usually where the venue premises are located].

13.2 The courts or tribunals of that jurisdiction may hear disputes under this agreement, unless the parties agree another dispute process in writing.

14. No liability of VooGlue

14.1 The Artist and Venue acknowledge that VooGlue Pty Ltd is not a party to this agreement.

14.2 VooGlue provides platform tools and records only. VooGlue is not the owner, seller, buyer, bailee, custodian, insurer, installer, carrier, agent, guarantor, supervisor, or representative of either party for the physical display of the artworks.

14.3 All matters concerning delivery, installation, display, care, insurance, security, loss, theft, damage, sale authority, commission, removal, return, venue damage, and disputes about those matters are between the Artist and the Venue.

14.4 To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Artist and Venue release VooGlue from claims arising out of or connected with the implementation of this agreement, except to the extent caused by VooGlue’s own fraud, wilful misconduct, or breach of a non-excludable legal obligation.

14.5 The Artist and Venue must not bring a claim against VooGlue in relation to an Artist–Venue dispute except to the extent the claim arises from VooGlue’s own separate act or omission or cannot lawfully be excluded.

14.6 VooGlue may rely on and enforce this clause to the maximum extent permitted by law.

15. Entire agreement

15.1 This agreement records the agreement between the Artist and Venue about the display of the artworks.

15.2 Any changes must be agreed in writing, including by email.

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Schedule 1 — Artworks

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Signed by the Artist

Name: _______________________________
Signature: ____________________________
Date: _________________________________

Signed for and on behalf of the Venue

Venue representative name: _______________________________
Role/title: ______________________________________________
Signature: ______________________________________________
Date: ___________________________________________________

END OF AGREEMENT