For Curators
Curate auctions and galleries. Earn commission on every sale. Build passive income through resale royalties. Offer advisory services. This is curation as a career.
We Split It Down the Middle
When an artwork sells for $3,000, here's exactly where the money goes.
Artist Receives
$2,250
75% of hammer price
You Earn
$375
50% of the 25% commission (starting tier)
Platform Keeps
$375
50% of the 25% commission
A 10-lot show averaging $3,000 per work
$3,750 earned
At starting tier — up to $4,500 at Senior tier
Auctions and Galleries
Two ways to curate. One commission structure.
Curated Auctions
- Design themed auctions around a concept, movement, or medium
- Time-limited events that create collector urgency
- Competitive bidding can push prices above reserve
- Commission on every sale
Gallery Exhibitions
- Build persistent exhibitions that live on the platform
- Browse-and-buy format, longer collector engagement
- Ideal for deeper curatorial narratives
- Same commission structure as auctions
Both formats earn you the same commission. Choose based on your curatorial vision, not your wallet.
Three Revenue Streams
Curating on aha! builds compounding income from multiple sources.
Sale Commissions
12.5%–15%
Earn 12.5%–15% of hammer price on every primary sale — auctions and galleries alike. Rate increases as you advance through tiers.
Resale Royalties
5% forever
Every time a work you originally placed resells through aha!, you earn 5% automatically. This compounds as your placed works appreciate.
Advisory Services
80/20 split
Your expertise has value beyond the auction room. Offer advisory and collection-building services through aha! — you keep 80%, we facilitate the connection and handle payments.
Learn more about Advisory ServicesAvailable Services
- Collection building for private investors
- Estate advisory and valuation
- Corporate art programs
- Portfolio review and assessment
- Exhibition consulting
- Acquisition due diligence
Grow With Us
Your commission share increases as you build your track record. Each step rewards sustained commitment.
New
50%
of 25% SC
+5%
+5%
Established
55%
of 25% SC
+3%
+3%
Partner
58%
of 25% SC
+2%
+2%
Senior
60%
of 25% SC
The biggest jump (5%) comes first, rewarding curators who commit early.
New
12.5%
of hammer price
Established
13.75%
of hammer price
Partner
14.5%
of hammer price
Senior
15%
of hammer price
Earn on Every Resale, Forever
Every work you place earns you 5% on every future resale through aha! — automatically, in perpetuity. This legacy commission is flat across all tiers.
Year 1
$600
3 resales at avg $4,000
5% of $12,000 volume
Year 3
$2,400
8 resales at avg $6,000
5% of $48,000 volume
Year 5
$6,750
15 resales at avg $9,000
5% of $135,000 volume
Cumulative resale royalties over 5 years: $9,750
Based on moderate resale activity. Your royalty rate (5%) never changes regardless of tier.
Your catalog is your pension.
Institutional Connections
Your aha! profile becomes your professional portfolio. Institutions come to you.
Art Schools & Institutions
aha! partners with art schools and cultural institutions to create pathways for emerging talent. Your curatorial practice connects directly to the institutional art world.
Residency Network
Recommend artists for residencies and fellowships through our partner network. Your nominations carry weight — they come backed by exhibition history and sales data.
Institutional Referrals
When foundations or museums need curatorial consulting, aha! curators are the first call. Your track record on the platform is your credential.
Open Calls & Opportunities
Exhibition opportunities and open calls flow through the network. Active curators get first access to partnership opportunities as they arise.
Your Name on the Record
Curation is an act of judgment. On aha!, that judgment is documented permanently.
Every provenance certificate carries your name alongside the artist's — a permanent record of the work you selected and championed.
Your curatorial selections become permanent art historical record. The works you place today build your legacy for decades.
Exhibition history, curatorial essays, and placement data build your visible track record — accessible to collectors, institutions, and the press.
Galleries forget who curated the show. aha! never does.
Why Curators Choose aha!
A platform designed to reward your expertise and amplify your voice.
Your Curatorial Vision
Create themed auctions and gallery exhibitions that reflect your unique perspective. No committee approvals — your taste, your artists, your vision.
Access to Collectors
Tap into aha!'s network of serious collectors who trust curator-led shows and are ready to buy.
Build Your Reputation
Your curator profile showcases your exhibitions, sales history, and curatorial perspective. Grow your following.
We Handle Logistics
aha! manages payments, shipping, insurance, and collector relations. You focus on curation.
How We Compare
Most platforms treat curation as volunteer work. aha! treats it as a profession.
| Per-Show Pay | Ongoing Royalties | Resale Participation | Consulting Income | Catalog Works for You | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Gallery | Flat fee $500–$2,000 | None | None | None | No |
| Freelance / Institutional | $1,000–$5,000 per exhibition | None | None | Informal, no platform | No |
| Other Online Platforms | Curators don't exist as an economic role on Saatchi, Artsy, or Singulart | ||||
| aha! | $3,750–$4,500* | 5% on every resale, forever | Full secondary market access | 80% of advisory fees† | Yes — royalties compound |
* Based on 10-lot show at $3,000 avg. † Coming soon
Traditional Gallery
- Per-show pay
- $500–$2,000
- Ongoing royalties
- None
- Resale participation
- None
- Consulting income
- None
- Catalog works for you
- No
Freelance / Institutional
- Per-show pay
- $1,000–$5,000
- Ongoing royalties
- None
- Resale participation
- None
- Consulting income
- Informal
- Catalog works for you
- No
Other Online Platforms
Curators don't exist as an economic role on Saatchi, Artsy, or Singulart
aha!
- Per-show pay
- $3,750–$4,500*
- Ongoing royalties
- 5% forever
- Resale participation
- Full access
- Consulting income
- 80% of advisory fees†
- Catalog works for you
- Yes
* 10-lot show at $3,000 avg. † Coming soon
Other platforms list art. We build curatorial careers.
How It Works
From application to your first sale — here's your journey on aha!
Step 1
Apply to Join
Submit your curator application with your curatorial statement, portfolio, and professional background. We review every application personally.
- Share your curatorial philosophy
- Link to past exhibitions or projects
- Highlight your artist network
- No minimum experience required
Step 2
Get Approved
Our team reviews applications within 5–7 business days. We look for passion, perspective, and a genuine eye for emerging talent.
- We value diverse perspectives
- No institutional affiliation required
- Independent curators welcome
- Clear communication throughout
Step 3
Create Your First Show
Launch a curated auction around a concept, medium, or movement — or build a gallery exhibition for deeper, longer-form engagement. Both formats are available from day one.
- Auctions: time-limited events with competitive bidding
- Galleries: persistent exhibitions, browse-and-buy
- Write curatorial essays for either format
- Set timeline, reserves, and pricing
Step 4
Curate & Launch
Work with your selected artists to gather works, photography, and documentation. Launch your auction or gallery and reach our collector base.
- aha! handles logistics and payments
- Professional photography support
- Marketing to our collector base
- Real-time monitoring for auctions
Step 5
Earn Commission
When works sell — whether at auction or in your gallery — you earn commission on every sale. Plus, you earn a legacy commission on future resales of works you originally placed.
- 12.5%–15% commission on primary sales
- 5% legacy fee on all future resales
- Same commission structure for auctions and galleries
- Payments within 7–14 days
Curator Tiers
Platform Access Levels
Grow your curation practice with increasing capabilities. Your commission rate is a separate system — see Grow With Us above.
New Curator
Free- 2 auctions/year · 10 lots each
- 3 galleries/year · 15 artworks each
- 5 artists per show
Established Curator
Free- 6 auctions/year · 20 lots each
- 12 galleries/year · 30 artworks each
- 10 artists per show
Partner Curator
- Unlimited auctions · 40 lots each
- Unlimited galleries · 100 artworks each
- 15 artists per show
All curators start as New. Get Verified by completing your first successful auction or gallery exhibition.
Start curating. Start earning. Start building.
Champion the artists you believe in. Build a career on your eye.
Apply to CurateAre you an artist? Learn more →