EN 
NB_NO 
SV Article from Drammens Tidende
Andreas Nordengen (37) was inspired by Airbnb, and started a website that means the artists are left with more after each sale.
Andreas Nordengen sits on the sofa at Berger with his laptop firmly planted on his lap. As the roommate points out, there has been quite a lot of screen time in recent weeks. But it has paid off. Nine days after he quietly launched the website "Egenart" for the sale of art, 35 artists have registered, and 36 artworks have been posted.
Andreas Nordengen is a trained graphic designer, and works full-time as a digital marketer and web designer. In addition, he is one of Berger's many artists. The idea to start a website where artists can sell their own works came like lightning from the blue a month ago.
- I was inspired by sites like Airbnb, where landlords and tenants communicate directly and agree sales without the owner of the website being involved. Then I thought that the same set-up can be used to ensure that the artists are left with more of the cake after a sale.
As an artist, Andreas has seen for himself what the earnings look like after a sale at a gallery.
- Galleries take 20-50% percentages of sales, in addition you get tax deductions. Then the artists are not left with much. This has stopped me from contacting galleries myself, so I thought that it can't just apply to me.
Art market: Potential customers can search and find the artist on the map at Egenart, and then contact the artist directly. The website was designed by Andreas Nordengen himself.
Does not make money
Although Andreas also advertises his own artworks on the website, he earns nothing from it.
The artists pay a small fee to advertise their artwork on the site. The money goes directly to marketing the website, to generate even more sales. Egenart does not take any commission or percentage of a sale.
- Everything must go back to the artists themselves, explains Andreas. His job will be to keep the website visible and increase the network.
- You work for free... What do you get in return?
- It's fun to have created something, then, says Andreas with a broad grin.
- I can promote my own works, and get the opportunity to make a difference. It's time for the artists to get more of the pie.
Competitor
- Are galleries outdated?
- We live in a digital world where things should be more easily accessible. Then art cannot stand idly by and watch developments pass by. I think it's time for the galleries to have a competitor.
Andreas lives in Berger with his partner Tine Gajda and their two children. As two full-time working parents, there is not much time for gallery viewing.
- There are not enough hours in the day to wander from gallery to gallery. With Egenart, people can sit on the sofa with a glass of red wine and look at art, Tine describes.
Andreas calls the work with the website "disengagement", and clarifies that he has no plans to quit his day job.
- What is your goal with the website? ask the undersigned.
Andreas exhales deeply, before laughing at his own reaction.
- It has gone too quickly for me to have time to set a goal. I don't think I want to put one either. Then, in a way, the end result has been set, and I don't want it to end.
After a short pause for thought, Andreas nevertheless finds a kind of wish for the future.
- Now Egenart's slogan is "Norway's new art market". I would like to be able to write "Norway's largest art market".
