What is a Certificate of Authenticity?

The certificate of authenticity (COA) is an important document to accompany any sale of artwork. It provides evidence that the work has been made by you.

It’s especially important for works that cannot be signed directly by the artist e.g. sculpture or film as it helps to determine fakes and forgery.

The COA can be signed by the representing gallery or the printmaker who collaborated with the artist on the work.

When do I provide a Certificate of Authenticity

Collectors will often request a COA when buying an artwork that is unsigned or easily reproducible, e.g. photograph or 3D printed sculpture.

It also enhances and completes the experience for a buyer. Having the information signature provided by the artist connects the collector to the artist and their studio.

It also ensures the ongoing narrative and legacy of the work. It determines how the work enters the market and that the work is always represented and documented as the artist intended.

The first time the work is sold is known as the primary market.

If the work is re-sold it enters the secondary market and this document becomes vital as the work changes hands over time. This document helps determine provenance.

When collectors purchase a work on the secondary market, from a dealer, auction house or gallery they will ask for the COA and a fact sheet that details the work’s past owners, gallery, biennial or museum exhibitions the work has featured in and any press or catalogue listings.

It also helps collectors, curators, writers, press, represent the work consistently, as the information will always be referenced as a true record (so triple check your title,date, medium, size, photo credit for spelling and capitalization!)

If the work is sold via a gallery, they will have their own branded template with contact details on, which enables the collector to trace the artist if they ever want to or if they intend to sell the work.

It helps provide an interesting story for historians for years to come as they can trace the ownership.

What should a Certificate of Authenticity look like?

The document can be a super simple, elegantly clear A4 document, with nicely laid out text and image/s.

Or you could decide to extend the conceptual and aesthetic nature of your work in the choice of paper, font, envelope that represents your style of work.

They key thing is that it is an original document, that will be able to be kept for the lifetime of the work, as it accompanies the work.

You may choose to use a bespoke ink stamp, emboss the paper or apply some foiling - a particular, idiosyncratic make that makes it hard for anyone but you to reproduce.

Your unique system could be a particular colour ink, paper, envelop or packaging, or a small hand drawing or mark that reflects and connects the COA to the work.

Try to be consistent with your COA style for as long as possible, but don't worry too much about the aesthetic, as the most important factor is the information on the artwork and your unique, printed signature.

What do I include in a Certificate of Authenticity?

You should include the following information:

• Title of Work
• Year of Completion
• Dimensions
• Medium
• Image/s
• Location of completion
• Database code
• Special instructions (maintenance, hanging, care)
• Statement of authenticity by the artist - short, one to two sentences declaring the authenticity of your work and that it is copyrighted by you
• Signature
• Date
• Artist / gallery stamp (if you have one)
• Additional Information (optional) – provide summary notes on the work, concept, materials, anything that helps the owner better understand or relate to the work (this can be anecdotal, handwritten, in quote form or written like you might see in a catalogue or on a label in a gallery). This is a delight for most collectors and historians, particularly if it reflects the artist’s vision, personality, line of enquiry or sensibility.

The following links connect to trusted organisations or initiatives that regularly provide or post prospects, ranging from opportunities to promote or sell your work, arts jobs, open calls, exhibitions, competitions, prizes, awards, calls for proposals and grants.

Artists Support Pledge
A project that uses the social media platform Instagram (which is a popular platform for artists to post images and share their work) to allow artists and makers to post their images using #artistsupportpledge giving details of their works and price (no more than £200 or equivelent). If people are interested in buying, they message (DM) the artist. Anyone can buy the work and artists don’t need permission to join.
https://artistsupportpledge.com/

Art Quest
High-quality, artist-selected opportunities, updated weekly.
https://www.artquest.org.uk/opportunities/

Hyperallergic
a list of opportunities that artists and creatives can apply for this month
https://hyperallergic.com/540657/opportunities-april-2020/

Hype
Project management for curators and artists
https://www.curatorspace.com/opportunities

I send you this
Art opportunities
http://www.isendyouthis.com/opportunities.aspx

ArtsHub
Opportunities for artists
https://www.artshub.co.uk/callouts/list/-/call-for-artists/

Art Licks
Opportunities for artists
http://artlicks.com/opportunities

Artists opportunities
Keep up to date with awards, prizes, bursaries and exhibiting opportunities
https://artopps.co.uk/opportunities/

Kings Collage London
Collaborations and artist residencies across the university
https://www.kcl.ac.uk/cultural/artists-in-residence

HypeMall Galleries
Mall Galleries is pleased to offer a range of valuable artist opportunities
https://www.mallgalleries.org.uk/call-for-entries/artist-opportunities

British Council
Current and upcoming international opportunities for artists, creatives, professionals, and organisations
https://www.britishcouncil.org/arts/opportunities

HypeMoMa
Our pick of the biggest and best UK Art Competitions 2021 with dates, deadlines, prizes and entry fees…
https://www.moma.co.uk/uk-art-competitions/

Gasworks
Our Residency Programme was established in 1994 to provide non UK-based artists with the opportunity to live and work in London for a period of up to 3 months.
https://www.gasworks.org.uk/opportunities/

Parker Harris
Artists opportunities
https://www.parkerharris.co.uk/artists/artist-opportunities/

The Albany
Opportunities for artists including commissions, facilitator and mentoring roles, callouts
https://www.thealbany.org.uk/our-work/artists/artist-opportunities/

Space Studios
Covid-19: Resources & Opportunities for Artists
https://spacestudios.org.uk/news/covid-19-resources-opportunities-for-artists/

The Big Artist Opportunities List
Assembled and maintained by Everest Pipkin
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1KWIzznlFNs_rQCEzW5ub6ehwaLcwR80xbuOokXwRa_Y/htmlview?fbclid=IwAR3P8lDsOpM_zKaq-MdCYK-b8Mg1lnTKmeHRG56htFHagDl8TjXemBo6M90&usp=gmail_thread#gid=0

Royal Opera House
Find out about how you can get involved with the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme
https://www.roh.org.uk/about/jette-parker-young-artists-programme/opportunities

Axis
Art Opportunities
https://www.axisweb.org/art-opportunities/?gclid=CjwKCAjw_LL2BRAkEiwAv2Y3ScOby6mpT5bv0NL-qYSrNsrUBLhQhUAUcWbDAL-Pc57cFd3pJ9RZJxoC5fIQAvD_BwE

Slade School of Fine Art
Artist Residency Programmes
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/slade/know/3875

The following links connect to trusted organisations that host national and international residencies for artists and creatives.

Delfina Foundation
Delfina Foundation provides opportunities for artists, curators and writers to develop their practice, explore connections, and build collaborations with colleagues, communities and institutions.
https://www.delfinafoundation.com/open-calls/about-residency-programme/

Gasworks
Established in 1994, Gasworks is a non-profit contemporary visual art organisation working at the intersection between UK and international practices and debates.
https://www.gasworks.org.uk/residencies/

Grizedale Arts
Grizedale Arts is an arts organisation based at the historic site of Lawson Park farm, high above the Coniston valley in the English Lake District.
https://www.grizedale.org/opportunities/

Wysing Arts Centre
Wysing Arts Centre, located on the edge of the village of Bourn in south Cambridgeshire, has been at the vanguard of providing ways to support artists to make new work and reach new audiences for over thirty years.
http://www.wysingartscentre.org/opportunities/residencies

Cove Park
Cove Park is an international artists residency centre located on an outstanding rural site on Scotland's west coast.
https://covepark.org/

Resarts
We are the worldwide professional body for arts residencies, ensuring sustainability and development of the field through enabling connection and facilitating professional development for our member organisations.
https://resartis.org/open-calls/

Fully Funded Residencies
Fully Funded Residencies is an online platform for research and knowledge-sharing that gathers, archives and shares fully funded residencies, awards, grants and mobility funds.
https://fullyfunded-residencies.weebly.com/

Speak Art
Founded in 2016, SpeakArt has promoted funded artist residency programs and fellowships. With our free resources, we help art professionals to have a quick and easy access to paid opportunities worldwide.
http://speakart.info/

Art Connect
ArtConnect is the leading destination to find emerging contemporary artists from around the world.
https://www.artconnect.com/opportunities?opportunity_type=residency

Artwork Archive
Some of the best and most interesting resources and opportunities for artists
https://www.artworkarchive.com/blog/see-the-world-for-free-ish-with-these-7-artist-residencies

Culture and Creativity
Residencies, grants and other opportunities
https://www.culturepartnership.eu/en/article/apply-now

Format
The Best Art Residencies for Photographers
https://www.format.com/magazine/resources/photography/photography-art-residency-programs

Blast Theory
We are very pleased to once again invite applications for artist residencies at our studio in Wellington Road, Portslade, Brighton.
https://www.blasttheory.co.uk/apply-for-a-residency/

TransArtists
Residencies for musicians
https://www.transartists.org/article/residencies-musicians

Sound and Music
Our vision is to create a world where new music and sound prospers, transforming lives, challenging expectations and celebrating the work of its creators.
http://www.soundandmusic.org/resources/artists-toolkit/making-work/residencies

Soundfly
North America’s Most Beautiful Arts and Music Residencies
https://flypaper.soundfly.com/discover/north-americas-most-beautiful-arts-and-music-residencies/

Pioneer Works
The Music Residency is a one-month program that provides artists with exclusive use of professional equipment in an isolated recording studio
https://pioneerworks.org/music/residency/

The following links to established organisations provide funding opportunities for artists and creatives - if you have suggestions and recommendations please email admin@artistmentor.co.uk

Arts Council
We are the national development agency for creativity and culture
https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/funding/funding-finder

Covid-19: Support for individuals
https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/covid-19/covid-19-support-individuals-government-and-other-sources#section-1

Arts Council of Wales
One of the ways that we support the arts is through the funding that we give to individuals and organisations.
https://arts.wales/funding

Jerwood Arts
Jerwood Arts is the leading independent funder dedicated to supporting outstanding UK artists, curators and producers to develop and thrive
https://jerwoodarts.org/our-funding/

The Arts Newspaper
Information about grants and loans around the world to help you get through the Covid-19 crisis
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/feature/are-you-a-freelance-worker-or-a-small-company-in-the-arts-here-s-a-global-list-of-financial-aid-available-to-you-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic

Gasworks
UK Artist Grant Writing Support
https://www.gasworks.org.uk/events/uk-artist-grant-writing-support-2020-04-14/

UK Research and Innovation
We offer funding and support across all academic disciplines and industrial areas including the arts and humanities.
https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/

The following arts organisations provide an incredible wealth of information and resources for artists and creatives - if you have suggestions and recommendations please email admin@artistmentor.co.uk

Art Quest
Advice, information and opportunities for visual artists
https://www.artquest.org.uk/

Axis
An independent charity, we are committed to providing a platform to support [artists] and profile what they do
https://www.axisweb.org

Naomi Korn
Copyright, data protection and licensing experts. Rights managed. Simply.
https://www.naomikorn.com

The following arts magazines (digital & hard copy versions) will provide insights and inspiration, enabling you to keep up to date with current creative outputs, trends, networks from around the world. We will keep adding other art forms, do please do send in suggestions admin@artistmentor.co.uk

Frieze
https://frieze.com/
Frieze is a media and events company that comprises three publications, frieze magazine, Frieze Masters Magazine and Frieze Week; and four international art fairs, Frieze London, Frieze LA, Frieze New York and Frieze Masters; regular talks and summits, led by frieze editors; and frieze.com - the definitive resource for contemporary art and culture.

Flash Art
https://flash---art.com/
Flash Art is a contemporary art magazine that is produced seasonally (four times a year) in English and Italian editions.

gal-dem
https://gal-dem.com/
gal-dem is a new media publication, committed to telling the stories of people of colour from marginalised genders.

The Gentlewoman
https://thegentlewoman.co.uk/
The Gentlewoman celebrates modern women of style and purpose.

Magculture
https://magculture.com/
magCulture is an online resource, a magazine shop, events producer and editorial consultancy.

ArtReview
https://artreview.com/
Founded in 1949, ArtReview is one of the world’s leading international contemporary art magazines, dedicated to expanding contemporary art’s audience and reach, and tracing the ways it interacts with culture in general.

Aesthetica
https://aestheticamagazine.com/
Aesthetica Magazine is a worldwide destination for art and culture. In-depth features foreground today’s most innovative practitioners across art, design, photography, architecture, music and film.

Art in America
https://www.artnews.com/c/art-in-america/
Art in America is an illustrated monthly, international magazine concentrating on the contemporary art world in the United States, including profiles of artists and genres, updates about art movements, show reviews and event schedules.

The Art Newspaper
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/
The Art Newspaper is an online and print publication that covers the international art world.

Art Forum
https://www.artforum.com/
An American, quarterly produced art publication that offers articles on a variety of different areas of art and culture; including books, performances, film, music and more.

ARTnews
https://www.artnews.com/
Founded in 1902, ARTnews is the oldest and most widely circulated art magazine in the world.

Juxtapoz
https://www.juxtapoz.com/
Art & Culture Magazine

Raw Vision
https://rawvision.com/
Raw Vision was first published in 1989 with the express purpose of bringing the phenomena of Outsider Art to a wider public and remains the world's only international journal of the art of the 'unknown geniuses' who are the creators of Outsider Art.

1 Granary
https://1granary.com/
1 Granary is a global support network created by Central Saint Martins students, that connects, promotes and educates fashion graduates from universities around the world.

Hyperallergic
https://hyperallergic.com/
Hyperallergic is a leading voice in contemporary perspectives on art, culture, and more.

KALEIDOSCOPE
http://kaleidoscope.media/
Released twice a year, KALEIDOSCOPE is a meeting place for a global community of creative minds, drawn by an audacious art direction and ever-surprising contributions from visionary artists, writers and image-makers.

The White Pube
https://www.thewhitepube.co.uk/
The White Pube is the collaborative identity of Gabrielle de la Puente and Zarina Muhammad under which we write about art, video games and food.

The following links to informative and entertaining podcasts span a range of cultural outputs. If you have recommendations please email admin@artistmentor.co.uk

Art Monthly is updating it's calendar listings with an excellent selection of venues that are focusing on digital programming during the Covid-19 pandemic.

21st Century Creative Hosted by poet and creative coach Mark McGuinness, The 21st Century Creative podcast helps you succeed as a creative professional amid the demands, distractions, and opportunities of the 21st century.

Artificial Intelligence: AI Podcast Artificial Intelligence podcast (AI podcast) is a series of conversations about technology, science, and the human condition hosted by Lex Fridman.

Philosophy for our times The world's leading thinkers on today's biggest ideas

Mindscape Sean Carroll hosts conversations with the world's most interesting thinkers. Science, society, philosophy, culture, arts, and ideas.

The Infinite Monkey Cage Witty, irreverent look at the world through scientists' eyes. With Brian Cox and Robin Ince.

Making Sense Neuroscientist, philosopher and best-selling author Sam Harris explores questions about the mind, society and current events.

Down to a Sunless Sea: memories of my dad is a moving, creative response to his fathers’ dementia, by storyteller Dave Pickering.

Bow Down: Women in Art History, Jennifer Higgie's excellent series about significant women artists from the past.

Presented by art historian and curator, Katy Hessel, The Great Women Artists Podcast interviews artists on their career, and curators, writers, or general art lovers, on the women artists who mean the most to them.

Recording Artists by the Getty provides some new insights on renowned women artists by Curator Helen Molesworth.

The Art Newspaper reports on international art & this weekly podcast, hosted by Ben Luke, is a chance to hear experts talk in depth about new developments or trends.

London's working art centre, Somerset House, publishes a range of new content by interdisciplinary creatives regularly on it's Blog including podcasts, interviews, new work.

Song Exploder is a podcast where musicians take apart their songs, and piece by piece, tell the story of how they were made. Each episode is produced and edited by host and creator Hrishikesh Hirway in Los Angeles.

Art UK is a charity & online home for every public art collection in the UK & the website represents a collaboration between over 3,200 British institutions.

Bad @ Sports focuses on the lives and work of artists, critics, curators, and dealers from artist Kerry James-Marshall to New York Times chief art critic Holland Kotter.

Actor Russell Tovey and gallerist Robert Diament host Talk Art, a podcast dedicated to the world of art featuring exclusive interviews with leading artists, curators, gallerists, actors, writers and musicians.

The Wysing Podcast series shares discussion, research and new work in audio and video formats.

99% Invisible is a weekly exploration of the process and power of design and architecture, from award winning producer Roman Mars.

Music-only themed radio streams, made from NTS resident and guest shows.

Fashion Revolution Podcast explores the hidden stories behind the clothing we wear. Through interviews and investigations, Fashion Revolution explores the intersection of sustainability, ethics and transparency in the fashion industry.

The Business of Fashion is a weekly audio episode presenting thoughtful editorial stories and fashion-oriented perspectives in a fresh way.

Creative Conversations with Suzy Menkes, Editor Vogue International at Condé Nast, conducts in-depth interviews with the fashion industry’s most influential designers, thinkers and executives.