About
Becoming a Member

Membership is open to firms established in Hong Kong engaged in the sale of all forms of visual arts and is restricted to those invited and vetted by the Board of Directors.

In order to qualify for membership, a gallery will need an established reputation for professionalism among its peers, must make a contribution to the richness of the art community in Hong Kong by offering works of high aesthetic quality and presenting worthwhile exhibitions, and must be willing to proactively contribute to the associations goals.

Member Benefits
  • 01
    Credibility and prestige conferred by membership of HKAGA and international exposure and promotion through the association network
  • 02
    Increased local and international exposure through the association’s local and international network
  • 03
    Listings the Association’s website and other media, including gallery descriptions and direct links for collectors to find you.
  • 04
    Invitation to members and collectors to events that advance knowledge and appreciation of art, including the industry and collector Speaker Programmes Series (events may be exclusive to members or open to other participants; members will enjoy free access or discounted fee)
  • 05
    Opportunities to actively learn about art market developments and best practices
  • 06
    Access to a network of peers who are experienced professionals in the art market
  • 07
    Preferential terms/pricing from joint negotiations with service providers
Eligibility Criteria
Applications will be evaluated for recommendation by the Membership Committee as established by the Membership Secretary and with the approval from the Board. The recommendation of the Board will be final. The evaluation will be based on the following criteria:
  • Integrity of business practice and ethical behaviour
  • Scholarship and expertise in given field of expertise
  • Exhibition history, quality of past and current programmes, artist stable and publications produced
  • Minimum of two years trading as an art gallery and have a permanent exhibition space in Hong Kong
Membership Types
  • Founding Member
  • Member (Full voting right)
  • Associated Member (Galleries with fewer than 2 years in operation will enjoy all benefits from the association but no voting rights until they become full Members)
Nomination Process
  • Founding members of the Association can nominate new galleries for consideration by writing a letter to the Board. The gallery will need to submit an application that will be evaluated by the Membership Committee based on the eligibility criteria listed above. For further information please send an email to membership@hk-aga.org. 
Code of Practice

One of the key objectives of the Hong Kong Art Gallery Association is to help further best practices among its members. As such we expect that the Association’s members will conduct themselves with the highest standards of connoisseurship, scholarship and ethical practices and uphold the prestige and credibility conferred by the Association.

Upon becoming members to the Association member’s pledge

  • that they are professional and responsible gallerists and assume complete responsibility for the authenticity of the works they sell
  • that they are experienced and knowledgeable in the types of art they offer for sale so that purchasers may buy from HKAGA members with confidence and good faith
  • to conduct their business professionally, fairly, with integrity and with the courtesy and respect due to clients, artists, staff, colleagues and the general public

When dealing with clients, members will

  • accurately describe all artworks and provide, upon selling an artwork, a written invoice and/or certificate of authenticity containing its detailed description
  • reassure the client, through this documentation, that the Member has conducted, to the best of their ability, the necessary due diligence to ensure that the work is the authentic work of the artist and that clear and unencumbered title is passed to the buyer

When dealing with artists, members will

  • act professionally and respect the agreed terms of representation
  • act responsibly in handling, packing, shipping and storage of the artist’s artworks

In order to support market integrity in Hong Kong, members will

  • give fair and impartial judgement when providing an opinion relating to competitors or their art work, and deal with their fellow members and other participants in the art market in such honourable manner with which they themselves would like to be dealt
  • never knowingly buy, sell or exhibit stolen works of art, and cooperate, according to local laws, with authorities in their efforts to identify, locate and recover stolen works
  • not participate in transactions which, to the best of their knowledge, can result in money-laundering operations
  • abide by fair practices and truth in advertising