Partial | Original Canadian artwork to rent, purchase, and collect

About Us Why Rent? FAQs: For Artists FAQs: For Art Collectors

Joining Partial

How do I register? It's easy. Sign up for Partial by clicking on this link, and submit your portfolio or Instagram page for our review. Once accepted, you’ll be sent a confirmation so that you can start creating your artist profile.

Is this directory open to international artists? Yes – though we are focused on Canadian artists, U.S. and internationally-based artists are welcome to join our platform. We’re based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, but we are a curated directory of independent and emerging artists around the world for showcase and to sell their works. Our rentals are currently available to artists and art collectors within the same locale. We welcome your submissions and look forward to sharing your art with a greater audience.

Does it cost anything to be on Partial? If you’re accepted to the directory, you can start adding up to 10 artworks and create your Artist profile as part of our complimentary Essentials plan. If you decide to upgrade to a Pro plan at any point, Pro subscriptions are $120 CAD annually (which isn’t too bad at all) and comes with a number of valuable features. Learn more about Pro subscriptions here.

What is the difference between a Pro plan and a free Essentials plan? There are several perks to a Pro plan, including advanced insights to learn about your art against others, our Pricing Guide, rental plans for new collectors, Trade Access, and insurance protection for your art. The lower transaction fee of 20% on rentals/sales is also a great benefit, especially when it comes to the sale of an art piece – all for less than the price of a tube of paint a month.

I am a sculpture artist. Can I use Partial? Yes. Fine artists across all mediums can take advantage of Partial’s curated directory. Is your practice something very different or specific? Send us a note [support@partial.gallery] if you're not sure.

How can I reset my password? Change your password by logging into your Dashboard > My Account > Settings, or click “Forgot your password” when signing in if you’re locked out.

How do I close my account? You may close your account anytime by sending us an e-mail at support@partial.gallery. One of our team members will confirm the suspension of your account, and you may contact us at anytime to reactivate your account. Note that we cannot offer refunds for any Pro accounts.

Are all clients trusted/verified by Partial? Parital is what connects the artist and the client. It is up to the artist to decide if they would like to continue the transation with the client upon a book request.

Does my address appear for all to see? No. Your address falls under our privacy policy and is in place in order to protect artists and art seekers. The address is for billing purposes only.

How can I close my account? Artists who have Pro memberships and have paid the annual fee may choose to deactivate their Partial account at any time by contacting us. We cannot offer refunds for their annual membership fees.

Does representation from other galleries conflict with Partial? No, representation from other galleries does not conflict with Partial as we are not representatives of aritsts. Artists can have artist representation through another gallery, as well keep their online presence on Partial if they choose. We do not have rules against artists on Partial having representation with other galleries. Artists are responsible for validating that participation on Partial is not in conflict with their representative gallery if they have one.

Customizing My Profile

Billing

Art rentals & sales

When do I get payouts for rentals or sales bookings? Payouts will be sent via e-transfer within 7 business days upon Booking Approval and payment receipt from the client. It will be sent to the e-mail address associated with your account.

What is the cancellation policy for an art rental? For rentals, if your customer wants to return the work within the first month and you choose to accept, notify us at the Artist Help Desk (support@partial.gallery) and they will be charged a $35 CAD + applicable taxes cancellation fee (which includes a $15 CAD processing fee from Partial). The first month's payment is non-refundable. You can arrange a return pick-up or delivery from the client for your art piece.

Are all rentals a minimum of 3 months? All rentals are a minimum of 3 months, while Trade Access rentals range from 1 week for Film/TV to 1 month for Stagings in duration. Rental extensions are not permitted within Partial's platform.

How much commission does Partial earn from an art rental or sale? Transactions for artists on the free Essentials membership is subject to a 35% commission fee, and a 20% commission fee for artists on the Pro membership. Additional fees added on as a price adjustment during a booking conversation (ex. for shipping, installation, special framing, etc.) will be subject to a 3% transactional fee to cover credit card and banking fees.

Why is Partial's transaction fee so low (or so high, depending on who you ask)? Since we started Partial, our goal was to create a platform that entrepreneurial artists could use themselves. As such, the traditional model of a 50/50 split between a "gallery" and "artist" no longer applies. Partial is not a dedicated agent, but our team works to promote the platform and its group of artists as a whole. We believe that our transaction fees are a fair balance between expectations of the fine art market, and the "service fee" model of other non-fine art marketplaces. In addition to this fee allowing our small, lean team to continue building Partial, it also covers credit card and other bank fees related to your transactions, as well as our 1% contribution to an arts organization.

What happens at the end of a rental period? Within 1-2 weeks prior to the rental expiry date, Partial will send the client an e-mail reminder, as well as a reminder on the expiry date, and a 3rd and final notice within 3 days of the rental expiration date. At the conclusion of any rental period for individual or Trade Access rentals, the client has the opportunity to pay the difference owing (value of the work less rental fees paid before applicable taxes), and can opt for a Buyout within your booking conversation. Alternatively, the client may decide to arrange to return the work through a delivery or pickup directly with the Artist. A grace period of up to 14 days is allowed for the client to respond to Partial and/or the artist. After 30 Days, should the client have not responded after multiple attempts of contact, the work will be considered sold and the client card will be charged the balance owing.

Will I be paid if my artwork is damaged during an art rental on Partial? In the occasion of artwork being damaged during a rental, Partial retains the original commission fees paid for the rental term. Artists will be reimbursed for the cost of repairing the artwork, or in the case repairs being impossible, the balance for the remaining value of the artwork up to a total value of $10,000 CAD, less Partial Inc.’s commission. Art sales are not covered by insurance and are the property and responsiblity of the purchaser of the artwork upon delivery.

How do rental payments work? A client who chooses to rent will pay the full 3-month installment up front. Once payment is received, the artist will receive an e-transfer within 7 business days.

What are the "service fees" mentioned in the 'terms of conditions'? Service fees are included in the transaction – or "commission" – fee of 20-35% as part of the artist memberships.

My Artwork

What is your policy regarding photographs, editioned prints, and digitally-created artwork? Fine art photography, printmaking editions, and digitally-created art editions should be produced in limited numbers (we recommend editions of no more than 25 per edition). Works should be numbered, signed by the artist, and produced professionally on durable, quality paper. An example of this would be acid-free archival paper or a quality paper with no OBAs.

How do artists price their work? This is a great question, and one that we get asked a lot. As such, members of our Pro plan have access to our Pricing Guide that shows real life data across thousands of comparable art pieces and their value in our data bank. While not a definitive rulebook, it may be taken into consideration alongside a myraid of other factors when pricing your work, including: number of years of experience, your exhibition history, formal training, your practice, etc.

How are rental fees calculated? Suggested rental fees for 3-month rentals and Trade Access rentals are calculated based on industry standards and the value of the artist's artwork (purchasing price). These are recommended guidelines only, and we encourage artists to adjust the fee based on what they deem to be appropriate. The minimum rental fee per month is $25 CAD.

Is there a minimum rental fee per artwork? Yes, the minimum rental fee per month for an art piece is $25 CAD per month.

How does insurance protection work? Artists who join Partial's Pro artist subscriptions are automatically covered by Partial Inc’s. Protection plan for any artwork rentals. Partial Inc.’s insurance policy covers artwork up to a maximum value of $10,000 CAD which will be assessed on an individual basis.

How do I report damage to my rented art piece? Should damage occur to your rented art piece (either reported by the client or by you, the Artist), Partial will take over communications to resolve the case with the Client directly to seek compensation for damage or for the full value of the work less paid fees and Partial's commission.

What’s the purpose of the ‘Archived’ feature? This feature allows the Artist to hide specific art pieces from being displayed or visible on your profile page for any period of time rather than deleting them outright. You may choose to make them Live to the public again at any time.

How can I edit my art work image and details? Access your uploaded artwork catalogue and details through your Dashboard > My Artworks. You may edit this information at any time.

My artwork is currently unavailable or has been sold through another avenue. What should I do about that? We want you to be in control of your inventory, and it helps to be flexible as different opportunities arise. Partial is here as a tool for you, and you can mark your artwork as 'Unavailable' anytime through your Dashboard. Choose to continue displaying the work as part of your catalogue for people to view (but not be able to rent or purchase), archive the work, or delete it from your profile altogether.

What should if I do if an art piece has been purchased by a client, but is actually Unavailable? You will be able to accept or decline a booking when it comes in. A declined booking results in a refund issued back to the Client. Should an artwork approval be initiated in error, the Artist or the client may e-mail us at customercare@partial.gallery for a refund.

Are reproductions allowed on Partial? No – reproductions of original artwork of any kind are not permitted on Partial. For information regarding editions, please see above.

Shipping & Delivery

How do you calculate the shipping amount? Suggested delivery fees can range between $0 (some Artists opt to not charge delivery at all as part of their service) – $100 depending on the delivery distance and size of the work. You may consider what it costs you to deliver and potentially pick-up the artwork – gas, transit, etc. – and factor that into your delivery price.

Do prices on the site include shipping fee? No, prices do not include the shipping fee. This will be added on by the Artist once a request has come in and can be customized on a case-by-case basis within the "Price Adjustment" field of your booking convesation with a client. You may also add fees here for agreed-upon framing or installation services.

How can I create a discount for an art piece for a client? Within the "Price Adjustment" field, add a subtraction symbol before the amount deducted. For example, to give a discount of $50, type in "-50" to create the discount. The discount will be applied and total including taxes recalculated.

How soon is it expected from the artist to deliver a piece? Quick service is good service. As soon as a booking comes in, please reach out to start coordinating a delivery or pick-up. Aim to deliver or have arranged pick-up of the work within 5 business days.

What percentage of the shipping cost is retained by Partial? Partial retains 4% of the shipping cost to cover credit card and transaction fees.

Who is responsible for delivery? While uploading your artwork, we recommend offering both delivery and pick-up options. If you offer delivery, you should be responsible for delivering to the client and you may set your delivery fee online. Clients may also choose to pick-up directly from you. Should any assistance be required during the coordination process, you may contact us here 24/7 at support@partial.gallery.

Can I deliver my artwork outside of my local area? Yes, it is up to you to decide how far you’d like to deliver to.

Can I deliver my artwork via courier services? Yes, and you may choose to factor this price into your delivery prices (although note that Partial’s artwork protection plan will be void for the duration of the delivery).

What happens if I receive an international request? Should you receive an international request to purchase (not rent) of your artwork, calculate how much it will cost you to ship to them, and quote them a price for shipping. Partial retains 3% of delivery fees for processing fees. If you are based in the Greater Toronto Area and prefer to arrange professional shipping, please contact Millennial Art Services.

When packaging my items for delivery, is there a certain protocol or packaging of the artwork that is expected? The expectation is that the artwork arrives safely and in-tact to the client’s home, and upon return if applicable. Most artwork is picked up by the client or delivered by the Artist, and bubblewrap and a bit of care is usually sufficient. There are great resources online for how to package artwork. Please take whatever measures are required to ensure your artwork stays safe, for everyone’s sake!

How can I deliver safely during Covid-19? Delivery precautions during COVID-19: During your artwork delivery, please continue to practice social distancing and wear a protective face mask at all times. This includes avoiding common greetings (such as a handshake) and keeping a distance of at least 2 arms lengths away from one another. When possible, arrange for the artwork to be placed at the front door, ring the doorbell or call, and wait for retrieval. Ensure that there is someone waiting with the piece - do not leave the work unattended until it is picked up. Santize properly accordingly to official guidelines.

If the client is returning a rented painting, who pays for return delivery? This can be addresed on a case-by-case basis. The artwork can either be returned by the client to the artist, or be arranged for pickup by the artist. Whether this comes with a fee to cover costs of pickup or be done free-of-charge may be at the discretion of the artist.

Can’t find your answer here? Contact us anytime at customercare@partial.gallery.

Gift cards for the art-lovers on your list – order by Dec. 22.