Editioning / Selling Video Work
It is perfectly normal for video works to be editioned, either 3 or 5 seems the norm. It is good practice to keep an artists proof as well. You should state which edition you are selling – some artists have a sliding scale so that the first edition is cheaper and the price goes up as less editions become available.
The number of editions is different to the number of copies, so it would be normal to give the person buying an edition a copy of the work plus an archive copy that they keep in case they encounter technical problems but don’t normally use for showing.
You should also hand over a certificate of authenticity – this can simply be something that is signed by you the artist, that says that it is what it is and it is one of an edition of 3, 5 or whatever.
When selling the video installation you don’t necessarily sell the projectors with it, it is perfectly normal not to. If you are selling to a museum they will have projectors and wont want to buy in more just for your piece. If however there is something very special or specific about the projectors that is essential to the piece then it might be done. Tony Ousler often sells projectors with his work because he uses tiny little projectors.
You should provide detailed instructions for set up and take down of the installation, include if there are any special technical requirements for its presentation, if there are any requirements of the size, shape, lighting of space, volume of sound, etc. As you know this is as much of the work as the videos so proper instructions need to be given. It would not be unheard of for an artist to say that either they or a person nominated by them should be present for the installation of an artwork whenever it is shown, many museums are happy to this. It can be seen as a breach of copyright for anyone to represent your work in a manner that it was not intended to be shown. This is a very grey area however.
Re: exhibition rights. I’m not exactly sure I know what you mean but as far as I am aware if you buy someone’s artwork you can exhibit it where and when you want so long as it is displayed correctly.
The price is difficult to state as it really depends on your market value as artists as much as it does on the work itself. You would probably be best off talking to someone who knows you and your work well. Things like the number of editions or the inclusion or not of equipment will obviously come into it. It is probably best to price the work itself and then quote for the inclusion of equipment as extras.
Re Draft contracts – Solicitor Linda Scales has prepared a text on Contracts for our website. Linda explains the legalities of contracts and how they work. She also provides sample contracts for use when undertaking a commission, exhibiting with a gallery or reproducing an artwork.