Frequently Asked Questions
Below you will find a number of frequently asked questions and their answers. Is your question not included? Don’t hesitate to contact us!
Do you have to have a lot of money to participate in The Art Cooperative?
No, although the aim of The Art Cooperative is to support artists in their existence, you can become a member with a deposit of just 10 euros. With your membership you show your commitment to this movement, in particular to 1 artist or to art in general. We are very happy with that!
You can always put in more money later, when you have the financial means to do so. The current participants vary from people who have invested 50 euros once to people who invest an amount of 100, 300 or 2000 euros every year (and everything in between).
How do I become a member/ participant?
You can become an A-member or creative member/artist by contacting us by sending an email to info@kunstcooperatie.nl with your question, motivation, how or through whom you heard about De Kunst Cooperative and any documentation material about your work. We will have a discussion and then submit an application to the board. If there is no objection from the board, you will become an A-member. Are you an artist but not yet sure how you could use The Art Cooperative? Then first become a B member by transferring 10 euros. This way you are already part of our community, you will receive our newsletter and we will invite you to any meetings. You can also apply for and register as a creating (A) member later.
You can become a B member by transferring 10 euros to IBAN
NL57TRIO 0320 8624 02 (SWIFT code: TRIONL2U)
in the name of The Art Cooperative U.A. You can then invest or re-invest money in The Art Cooperative at any time. Don’t forget to mention the name of the artist to whom you are making your contribution available. This money is registered in your name in 1 certificate per 10 euros investment. Many of the current participants make a new contribution every year. So far, contributions vary in size from 50 euros to 2,000 euros per year. You don’t have to re-enter. There are also participants who once expressed their support because they found it valuable. We think so too!
You become a C member when you register as a company. The board will confirm your registration as soon as there are no objections. Then you can complete your participation by investing 100 euros or a multiple thereof. If you are not investing in The Art Cooperative as a whole, please don’t forget to state the name of the artist to whom you are adhering.
Is membership of The Art Cooperative a good way for me as an artist to quickly obtain more money?
No, your participation in The Art Cooperative does not mean that you will automatically receive money. The idea is that, supported by the experiences of others from this community, you contribute and expand your own network. This way you can look for new ways to make your art and make it visible in society while receiving financial support.
As a B-member or C-member, I want to make my contribution available to the entire Art Cooperative, not to 1 specific artist. How is the money spent/distributed?
The money that is invested in the Art Cooperative without specification is partly spent on general costs (accounting, organization of the AGM, etc.) and further divided among the heads of the participating A-members/makers/artists. Naturally, contributions and expenditures are also transparent through the accounts to be kept, the annual figures are shared and can be discussed during the General Members’ Meeting.
Can anyone become a participant in the Art Cooperative?
In principle, anyone who transfers 10 euros to The Art Cooperative becomes a (B) member. Do you want to participate as an artist, or make a contribution as a company? Please register via the contact form and discuss your participation with (1 of) us. Are the wishes/possibilities clear and is there a green light from the board? Then you can become an A or C member by transferring €10 or €100 respectively to IBAN NL57TRIO 0320 8624 02. The Art Cooperative U.A. You will then receive a confirmation and membership number from us. You will get this registration fee back if you ever decide to leave The Art Cooperative.
What is expected if you are a member of The Art Cooperative?
Your membership is the most important thing to us. You can also be involved ‘remotely’. You are invited to participate in the General Members Meeting once a year. In addition, it is possible to contribute ideas. And if you have the time and motivation to do more, you could sign up as a prospective board member. But that is of course optional.
What is the benefit for me as a company when I invest in The Art Cooperative?
You become a co-entrepreneur in the economic activities that take place around one or more artists of your interest. In this way you support the existence of the artists, you are at the source of their creations and you derive value from them.
You are part of a community that recognizes the value of creative art. This social added value could fit well with your vision of the economy and society.
In proportion to the capital you have already invested, you can take a work of art from the cooperative. You can also choose to take works of art from the cooperative for compensation of the cost price. That is your right, after all you invest in the success of this artist’s activities. These works of art may fit into your organization and add value to it.
You invest and spend money that does not have to be taxed.
Do I bear a financial risk when I become a participant in this cooperative organisation?
No, you become a non-liable member as soon as you have made a contribution to The Art Cooperative. The meaning of the abbreviation U.A. is excluded from liability. The Art Cooperative must of course be accountable to the Tax Authorities and keep proper administration. That is why there is a board that divides and carries out the basic tasks of this organization.
Is membership of The Art Cooperative the same as a shareholding?
No, it is not the same, because you have a direct connection with the makers of the creations that are created in the Art Cooperative. This creates a personal bond and a direct relationship with the works of art of which you (just like with share ownership) are indirectly co-owners through your contribution and depending on the amount of your contribution.
Membership of the Art Cooperative can be compared with the initiatives for co-ownership/investment in successful (agricultural) initiatives in recent years. ‘Buy a chicken’ and The Vegetable Club are examples of this.
Do you have to like the artworks of the participants in The Art Cooperative to become a member?
It can be enough if you have an affinity with the art form, the person of the artist or the social movement of the Art Cooperative. It may also be that you are very fond of the artist, but that the artwork of your choice has not yet been made, but you would like to support this creator financially in advance.
Suppose I invest 1,000 euros in The Art Cooperative, what happens to the money?
The money you make available to one or more artists makes it possible to create works of art. In any case, the artist(s) with whom you connect will provide an account at the end of each financial year about how the money has been spent. The works of art then appear on the balance sheet. These have actually become (jointly) owned by The Art Cooperative.
What benefits does membership of The Art Cooperative have for me as a supporter?
You are involved with an enterprising artist or a group of artists who regularly keep you informed of their work. It can also be nice to get to know their contacts/network.
It is fiscally attractive to invest your money in this way as a private individual (or company).
You have access to artworks by the artists you support, but you also come into contact with makers who might not normally have crossed your path.
What happens to the money when an artist from The Art Cooperative sells work to external parties?
If the work was made with resources from The Art Cooperative, the money from sales appears on the balance sheet on the side of the cooperative’s capital. If an artist has low frequency sales, it is likely that he/she is also diverting these resources to creating new work and to everyday life.
Does The Art Cooperative have statutes?
Of course. These have been drawn up by a notary and are available at the Chamber of Commerce. You can view the articles of association here (they are written in Dutch) and, if you are a member, you can also receive the articles of association.
What is the difference between The Art Cooperative and a VoordeKunst (crowdfunding) project?
VoordeKunst is a very valuable Crowdfunding initiative through which individual artists always try to finance 1 concrete project. The Art Cooperative aims to shape a more long-term involvement between makers and givers. In this way we hope that an artist and what he or she needs for everyday life remains in the consciousness of the participating private individuals and companies and that their support is a recurring event rather than a one-off action.
Can you leave The Art Cooperative again?/How do you cancel your membership?
You cancel your membership by reporting this in writing to the board. The board will contact you to discuss how you want to deal with the deposit already made. You could donate this amount. You can also decide, in consultation with the board, that you will take a work of art from The Art Cooperative worth the capital in your name.
You will always get the 10 (or in the case of a company 100) euro registration fee back. Read more about the conditions for termination in Article 6 of the Statutes / articles of association.
What is the difference between shareholdership and membership of The Art Cooperative?
Unlike share ownership, you are not just an anonymous shareholder in a for-profit company, but a co-stakeholder and co-entrepreneur. So you have a very concrete connection with the tangible (or audible) works of art that, depending on the amount of your investment, are partly ‘yours’.
What happens to membership in the event of death?
In the event of death, membership in The Art Cooperative can be taken over by a surviving relative who finds it valuable. A way to cancel the contribution can also be considered by allowing the surviving relatives to choose a work of art worth the contribution. (e.g. one chooses something and only pays the amount that remains after deduction of the deposit already made). Finally, it may be an option for a surviving relative to donate the invested value to The Art Cooperative. The connection is then terminated and the material involvement ends.
Can I get my money back from the Art Cooperative?
If you want to cancel (part of) your investment in The Art Cooperative, you cannot make a direct claim to receive your invested capital back in cash. After all, artists have probably already used up the money to create works of art. You can decide in consultation with the board that you would like to see the value materialized again. If possible, (part of your) money can then be refunded, which will reduce your share in the Art Cooperative accordingly. In addition, you can cancel your contribution by taking 1 or (depending on the amount of your contribution) more works of art from The Art Cooperative. This is of course always done in consultation with the board and the artist in question. The only thing you always get back immediately upon cancellation is your registration fee. Read more about your contribution upon cancellation in Article 6, paragraph 2 of the Articles of Association.
Does the money I invest remain my own property?
The money you have invested is registered in your name. That is your contribution/share/investment in The Art Cooperative. However, for the tax authorities, the money has been transferred to the Cooperative company and you will therefore not be assessed for this.
As a member of The Art Cooperative, do I become co-owner of the works of art in the cooperative?
Yes, in fact you do. The money you have invested is your participation or share in this company and you actually have a share in the works of art that have been created or will be created. However, unlike share ownership, you are not an anonymous shareholder in a for-profit company, but a co-entrepreneur with a very concrete relation/ connection to the tangible (or audible) works of art.
Can I save for a work of art by investing money in The Art Cooperative?
Yes, that’s possible. By investing money, you make it available to the artist. So he can already live and work on that money. The money is registered in your name. As soon as you are ready to actually purchase a work of art, you could deduct the investment you have already made from the price stated for the sculpture. This does mean that you reduce your ‘share’ in The Art Cooperative. You can of course always make money available again (over time) by making a new contribution.