Who says art can’t produce a revenue stream? The Globe and Mail discovers that you can rent emerging Canadian art work instead of taking the risk and buying:

The Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto has a rotating collection of about 500 pieces of original artwork by emerging Canadian contemporary artists that can be rented for a monthly fee. The pieces are consigned from 50 top galleries across the city, plus there are about 100 independent artists who don’t belong to a private gallery.

The price is four per cent of the price of the artwork, starting at $20 per month and going up to about $350 per month. And if you decide at the end of a three-month period to purchase the piece, the AGO will deduct the amount you’ve already paid.

“Instead of making a commitment, or before you’re ready to make that commitment, you can try it out, make sure you love it first and that it fits well with your home,” said Danielle Forest of the AGO’s Art Rental and Sales Gallery. Or you can just rent something for a while, then swap it out for a new piece when you get tired of it.

Perusing the gallery’s rental pieces is a great way to find out what’s happening in the contemporary Canadian art world, says Ms. Forest, and the gallery offers a free consultation with one of 30 or so AGO volunteers.

“These women and men really have their ear to the ground,” she said, “and it can be nice to work with someone who can let you know about some of the key activity that’s happening on [the artist’s] C.V. to show that this is an emerging artist.”

Can’t Afford to Buy Original Art? Rent It. (Globe & Mail)