The Association of Art Galleries Serbia (AUGS) is a non-governmental and non-profit professional society founded as a result of a common need for a united agency that would act on development and improvement of the professional gallery practice, regulation of the art market as well as affirmation of all branches of visual culture and art. AUGS started as a practical necessity from the lack of clear guidelines for a professional relationship between gallery and artists, collectors or other galleries and cultural institutions, as well as the basic operational standards such as registering a gallery for VAT, making international money transfers, export documentation, sourcing technical staff, insurance and legal issues.

The key incentive was to gather and federate Serbian galleries dealing in contemporary and modern art in an Association made by and for gallerists, which would enable us to highlight the uniqueness of the Serbian art scene and to share it with the rest of the world. This idea was heralded at the Symposium of gallerists held in 2017. and supported by a number of professionals who recognised the need for partnership, learning and for self-regulating standards and codes of practice, and were willing to create an ecosystem of positive change, modernisation and standardisation. Inspired by the Serbian Film Association (founded in 2009) but also many gallery associations throughout Europe, we wish to lobby for a similar strategy for promotion, distribution and support of the visual arts.

AUGS was formally founded in April 2018.

Our aims, stated in our Founding Statute are:

1. The Association aims to contribute to the development and improvement of professional gallery practice in Serbia, and support the members of the AUGS in the country and abroad.
2. The Association represents the art galleries of Serbia and protects their interests in the spheres related to the promotion of culture, cultural heritage and creativity.
3. The Association provides connectivity of Serbian galleries at the local, regional, national and international level in order to develop their business, represent their needs and identify and utilise the available national and international resources.
4. The Association initiates and actively participates in lobbying for modernisation and standardisation of the laws that concern the gallery sector, and establishes the ethical and legal codes of practice for the art market in Serbia.
5. The Association advocates for the professional and ethical determination of provenance and originality of works of art, according to the rules of procedure.
6. The Association protects the integrity of the artwork through the work of this association and the individual work of its member galleries.

In addition to the aims stated in our Founding Statute, we further aim to enhance visibility and transparency of the contemporary art market in Serbia, to work in partnership with the relevant institutions and departments of culture, to create a professional and collegial affiliation with the Federation of European Galleries Association (FEAGA), and to work in adherence to IFAR and other professional international standards.

ETHICAL CODE OF PRACTICE

Updated on 27. June 2022.

The need for changes in ethical business within the gallery system, as well as the need for the galleries themselves to be the instigators and carriers of the ethical professional practices, sits at the core of the establishment of the Association of art galleries Serbia.

As a non-profit association of private members founded with the common goal of supporting professional gallery practice, AUGS supports all art world professionals, thus signaling the need for a tidal change regarding the laws and licenses pertinent to our practice. The need for ethical business and mutual respect that is not just about profit but about solidarity, collegiality and joint development. Paying attention to business ethics, AUGS stands for the integrity, transparency and reliability of professional gallery practice.

The common Ethical Code of Practice for the gallery owners was discussed at the formative Session of AUGS in 2017. The revised version of the Code has been updated in 2022. The creation of this Code reflects the intention to self-regulate and to coordinate our professional practices and relationships.

Joining the Association of Art Galleries of Serbia implies acceptance of our Code of Ethics for Art Galleries, which prescribes and advises the rights, obligations and practices of art galleries and other actors in the art market. The Code is based on recognized professional practices in the world and in our country, respecting all interested parties, and is based on the up to date legislation, court practice and regulations of the Republic of Serbia.

Although AUGS does not perform legal arbitration in relations between gallerists and other actors, it may be called upon to play an advisory or mediating role. Our Code is available to all gallerists with the idea of ​​providing a basis for correct administrative, legal and fiscal operations.