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Emma Price

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Hi, I entered a painting for an open exhibition to be held in our local library.  It’s been accepted, but they’ve told me I need to have public liability insurance. Is this usual? (I’ve never entered a physical art exhibition before, only online ones.). It seems, if I have to buy insurance as well as pay for framing and 30% commission if they happen to sell it, that it’s not going to be worth the bother!
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, NAPA

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You can get PLI through the SAA as part of their membership package - I'm not a member, and so don't have it, and wasn't asked for it last time I showed in a pubic library, but maybe the rules have changed.  I know that you have to have PLI if you book a school hall for a meeting, or want a stall at a public event.  I can only suggest Googling it - or speaking to a friendly lawyer or maybe council official - common sense would suggest that the venue itself needs public liability insurance, rather than individuals exhibiting in it - but common sense and the law don't always have much in common. 

Alan Bickley

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I’ve never encountered this before, it’s usually up to the event organisers/gallery/public building/council people etc to take out PLI… In fact it’s mandatory - something not adding up her!

Edited
by Alan Bickley

Emma Price

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Thank you Alan and Robert.  The email they sent me says they  "cannot take responsibility for any damage or loss to the work and creatives must have their own Public liability insurance."  All seems over the top and certainly wasn’t made clear on the advertising poster or I wouldn’t have bothered entering.  Never mind.

Ellen Mooney

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Try….. a-n.co.uk  When I was doing art trails I insured through them, they’re very reasonable.

Emma Price

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Thanks Ellen, but as a hobbyist, for a single painting in a one-off show in this not-very-well-off area it wouldn’t be worth it; I’m not likely to sell it at a price that would recover my costs.  Interesting site though; it seems the art world is engineered to enrich everyone involved except the artists! Do entries for shows like TALP require PLI?

Alan Bickley

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No they don’t Emma! That’s because Patchings is a business dealing with the public, it’s mandatory that they take out PLI..

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by Alan Bickley

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Tony Auffret

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Emma, are you sure they haven't got their wires crossed and are just saying they won't be liable to any damage done to your artwork?

Emma Price

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Emma, are you sure they haven't got their wires crossed and are just saying they won't be liable to any damage done to your artwork?
Tony Auffret on 10/06/2023 13:31:57
Hi Tony, no they want me to send a copy of my PLI even though I’ve already told them I don’t have any!  I think someone there does have their wires crossed though 😂

Emma Price

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Thanks Alan, that’s reassuring to know for anything I enter in future.

Alan Bickley

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I’ve been entering painting competitions for decades, and far and wide venues throughout the U.K.  Never ever need asked to provide proof that I have PLI - it’s ludicrous quite frankly!

Edited
by Alan Bickley

Emma Price

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I’ve replied to them (diplomatically!)  Will see if I get a response.
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