Brussels virtual art gallery opens after €15k crowdfund

A Brussels non-profit association has raised €15,000 to open an online art gallery to put young artists in contact with potential buyers who might not feel comfortable setting foot in a gallery.

Allegrarte is a new platform for contemporary art that aims to facilitate access to quality artworks at affordable prices. A team of three established curators will select the artists - and users on the website will have access to pictures of each available work, detailed descriptions, prices and technical specifications.

The project has been backed by 60 people on crowd-funding site KisskissBankbank and will will reinvest any profits to support artists through the organisation of exhibitions, studio visits and events.

Co-founder Dominique Fostier said a virtual gallery had several advantages: "First of all there’s a lot freedom for the curator since the virtual gallery is not limited to one kind of client. Second, many people don’t feel comfortable entering a gallery - they feel like it’s a club of which they are not a member or they might just not have the time.

"Third, there’s complete transparency since every client receives the same information. Fourth, there’s a great advantage logistically to not be tied to a specific location. And finally, there are no long-term contracts - the relationship can be ended from either side at very short notice. For those collectors who want to physically see the work before committing themselves, we have a system in place to do just that."

To launch the site, there will be an actual physical exhibition of the works of 20 of the artists from 27 October-3 December in a mansion at Avenue Louise 292 (opening event on 26 October 18.00-21.00).

“One fundamental problem for young artists is that many galleries and agents, understandably, prefer to represent artists with a track record and many emerging artists don’t feel comfortable doing their own promotion and would rather just produce art," Fostier adds. "We expect that our approach will facilitate the joining of young talents with potential buyers."