We love galleries, but are not one

If you have ever worked with a good gallery, you will know they are worth every penny of the (up to) 50% commission from the work they sell. They seriously make long-term commitments with their artists, cultivating and connecting them to a carefully curated group of collectors who believe in the gallerists' point of view. They have taken a lifetime building trusted relationships to share and grow the artists they work with careers.

I have tremendous respect for what a gallery can be, so when defining what we are, I couldn't call in any good conscience call TLYB a gallery. The closest terminology I could come up with to describe TLYB is a visual arts production house. Production House is used primarily in audio and film media, but the definition resonates.

Wikipedia Production House Explanation:
"A production company, production house, production studio, or production team is a business that provides the physical basis for works in the fields of performing arts, new media art, film, television, radio, comics, interactive arts, video games, websites, music, and video. Production teams consist of technical staff to produce the media. Generally, the term refers to all individuals responsible for the technical aspects of creating a particular product. For example, in a theatrical performance, the production team has not only the running crew but also the theatrical producer, designers, and theatrical direction.
The production company may be directly responsible for fundraising the production or may accomplish this through a parent company, partner, or private investor. It handles budgeting, scheduling, scripting, the supply with talent and resources, the organization of staff, the production itself, post-production, distribution, and marketing."

It sounds like us, right?

We create, promote, and document fleeting moments in Mississippis' visual arts history. I feel we can best serve and play our role in Mississippis' art scene by focusing on building free opportunities for exposure and documentation for our artists. That means we create temporary virtual and physical exhibits with a separate independent publication, documenting Mississippi artists' lives and experiences through the MSA2A podcast, presenting Mississippi with artists to find places to go with TLYB ART MAG, and working with our local community to build programs like #PictureOleBrook. We strive to provide education, entertainment, opportunity, and community to the best of our ability, and that's our promise to you. 

How it all works:

When I started TLYB, it was with the intent of being a studio to create in and a venue to teach (I prefer coach) art. Up until now, the revenue from students has been the primary funding for everything that we do. As we grow in these new directions, we will be shifting to bringing on event sponsors and advertisers to alleviate and balance out the financial side of things. We have chosen to form as an LLC rather than a non-profit so that we can move faster, pivot quickly, and maintain creative freedom.  

This structure also allows us to offer free opportunities for artists with a ZERO COMMISSION take on our end. The majority of the work sold in any exhibit is purchased directly from the artist. We take pride in connecting artists with patrons and hope to supply that bridge for our new friends. 

Thank you for taking the time to read!
Much Love,
Derek