Returns, Art Storage, and Archiving

Final Project Artwork

The previous suggestions may apply to the final project artwork, but there are some differences. Process-based work is often done by individuals, whereas the final project is often a collaboration. How do you divide the art among participants? Often the end piece is large and hard to store.

Consider these possibilities:

1. A permanent exhibition place. This is ideal for visual art. Can the created work be displayed somewhere long term? Can it be installed in the community? If this is your goal, you need to plan for it far in advance. A permanent installation of art, whether indoors or outdoors, is a large commitment by both the people creating the work and those displaying the work. Work out important details like:  
   • Installation dates
   • Who will install the piece
   • Getting exact measurements of the space and what the space is used for
   • Who will take responsibility for fixing the art if it becomes damaged
   • Exhibition length (whether for a set time like one year, or forever)
2. If the work that was created is not tangible, like a play or piece of music, consider sending a copy of the text or a recording of the music to all of the participants.
3. If the work that was created is not tangible, like a play or piece of music, consider sending a copy of the text or a recording of the music to all of the participants.
4. If the work can be broken up – for example, a diorama – each participant could get a piece.
5. Storage. Use your own or a friend’s or rent a space to store the art.
6. Can anything on the finished piece be reused? Consider taking the piece apart and donating the usable pieces to an arts centre or school.
7. Throw it away. This is a hard decision. Remember, often the beauty of making art together is the process, and not the final product. Having to store and move a large sculpture several times can start to devalue the work or even become a burden.