Members of Le Cercle de l'Art, left to right: Charlotte Barrault, Sophie-Felix Joachim, Clémence Vazard, Margaux Desombre © Julia Genet

Le Cercle de l'Art (The Art Circle) is an artist-led community that allows its participating artists to receive a monthly income through selling their art. As they approach the launch of their second season, Artsper had the chance to chat with them about their project. Join us as we discuss Le Cercle de l'Art community, being women in the arts, and the importance of social media for emerging artists.

1. Hello Le Cercle de l'Art! Can you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about the story of your community?

Hello Artsper! Le Cercle de l'Art is a community of women artists in the French contemporary art scene who help each other to earn a monthly income for a year by selling their work, supported by a specifically developed methodology.

The project dates back to 2020 and we are approaching the launch of the second season!

2. What is the purpose of Le Cercle de l'Art?

The purpose of Le Cercle is to give artists the chance to receive a monthly salary to make their artistic practice more secure.

3. What are the criteria for joining the community?

The calls for applications are annual and consist of answering a small number of questions. There is no CV, portfolio or artist statement required. By answering these questions, we can make sure that the artist is willing to share with other artists. Then, we make sure that the candidate has the capability to sell their work and already has some past experience in doing so, so that the experience is not too difficult regarding the "commercial" aspects. Finally, the third criterion is based on the maturity of the artistic practice.

Members of Le Cercle de l'Art during a project with Enamoura in Saignon, March 2022, on the left: Margaux Desombre, on the right: Magalie Pouillard © @lecercledelart on Instagram

4. Le Cercle de l'Art is a community of female artists. Is it hard to be a woman and an artist in France?

It is hard to answer this question because every case and experience is different. However, it is because a very large majority of candidates (more than 70%) were women artists during the first season that Le Cercle became a project for women artists.

5. While the internet and social networks are saturated with information, the visibility of new artists is sometimes compromised. Is this an obstacle for Le Cercle? How do you manage to offer visibility to artists in the community?

It is an obstacle. Le Cercle's artists use social media to share their work, making them a rather fundamental tool for the project. Social media is not only a means to share their portfolio, but also allows the artists to introduce collectors to other artists... It's pretty beneficial.

Members of Le Cercle de l'Art during a project with Enamoura in Saignon, March 2022, on the left: Claire Debras, Magalie Pouillard, Janique Bourget, Margaux Desombre, Margaux Derhy, Marie Berthouloux, on the right: Margaux Derhy © @lecercledelart on Instagram

6. Le Cercle's distinctive feature is the principle of monthly payments to artists. How does this process work, and how did you come up with the idea? Do you think this system should be generalized and democratized in the art world?

The artists prepare a portfolio of about fifteen works over a period of four months, which they then propose to collectors over a month. The cumulated sale of the works, paid over 12 months, gives the artist a monthly income for a year. The average monthly salary so far in the first season was about 1000 euros for each participating artist.

7. After a first season with 50 participants, you will now launch season 2. Can you tell us about a project you are working on, in the short or long term? What future do you envision for Le Cercle de l'Art?

Yes, the call for applications for season 2 is open from October 15th to 30th, 2022. Le Cercle's main ambition is to bring artists and collectors closer together, but also artists among themselves. That's why we are now setting up several projects in partnership with exhibition venues, residencies and other partners; to offer even more projects to artists and allow them to meet and create links that, we hope, go beyond Le Cercle...