Pop-up Galleries

THE MECHANICS OF DOING THIS
Pop-up Galleries
Back in 2009, when quite a few businesses around the world went under, leaving a glut of available retail spaces, the New York Times did a long article about the pop-up galleries that were multiplying in London at the time. Very inexpensive rents or even no rent at all were being offered to artists, curators, and budding dealers alike who would transform the empty spaces into temporary galleries, only to then disappear or relocate somewhere else (hence the name"pop-up"). The gist of the article was that pop-up galleries were a win for those on both the art and the real estate ends of such deals. Indeed, Simon Tarrant, one of the artist-turned-pop-up-dealers interviewed, noted that while it was a "dream come true" for artists without galleries:

IT he arrangement also offers obvious benefits to a landlord concerned about high upkeep costs or their alternative, dereliction. In an agreement typical of many being struck, Mr. Tarrant said he would pay for all utilities and return the property in the same or better condition than when the collective moved in.
In addition, he has agreed to hand over 15 percent of the proceeds from any artwork sold, and, although he is not required to, has plastered, and painted the walls. And in its new role as a gallery, the building has been attracting a constant flow of visitors, two of whom, Mr. Tarrant said, had already expressed interest in renting the space.3