What is B-Side Empire?

B-Side Empire is a small business started by two student individuals, to support and promote student artists in the areas of: film, music, performance, photography, graphic design, illustration, sculpture, fine art, and creative writing. This is done by showcasing student art online and by running and promoting events, from gigs to exhibitions to poetry slams. In the long run we hope to connect student artists all over the nation (and eventually on a global scale) to people in the creative industries and to other students to collaborate on projects and discuss their art.

Who is behind B-Side Empire?

The minds behind B-Side Empire are Jennytha Raj and Verity Scott, two final-year Film students at the University of Warwick. To read more about us, click here.

Who can contribute to B-Side Empire?

Any university student from any course can contribute and submit art to B-Side Empire and request our student services. We also accept art work from recent graduates (within two years of graduating), but our student services are limited.

Why contribute to B-Side Empire?

B-Side Empire aims to promote and support student artists to our fullest potential, with the goal to get these talented emerging artists the audience and recognition they deserve. By submitting work to the website (and after being approved of submission) you are amongst a select number of students chosen to showcase your talent to the world-audience that the internet provides. Being a website solely for university students and recent graduates, your work will be shown amongst other talented student artists and viewed by people intending to see student art work specifically. B-Side Empire isn’t Flickr or DeviantArt made for the millions of artists ranging from amateur to expert, but selects the best of the best and displays the work in a way to highlight not only the work but also the artist. A portfolio that can be used as many times as you wish. We aim to get your work recognized and appreciated by people in the creative industries who are specifically looking for fresh talent to provide career opportunities, projects, and future collaborations to take your work and your artistic talents a step further. Through this, we intend to make B-Side Empire a recognized name allowing the creative industries to use our website and services as a means to find young, fresh talent. We also hope to fuel individual talents by getting students together to form collaborations and submit to projects to win prizes, in hopes that students will never stop nor cease to push their artistic skill.

We hope to break the preconception that ‘there is no hope in getting into the art/media industry’ by becoming THE agency that does bridge the gap between university education and future careers.

How can I submit to B-Side Empire?

Submitting to B-Side Empire is a simple process and all submission details can be found by clicking here.

To sum it up: read the submission guidelines > fill out a submission form > email us your work (NO LINKS TO EXTERNAL WEBSITES, PLEASE! Just send us exactly what pieces you want us to showcase by email).

Alternatively: read the submission guidelines > fill out a submission form > register to our site > request, by sending us an email, to become a site contributor or add a note to your ‘about me’ on the submission form > upload your page and create your profile yourself by taking part in our BETA do-it-yourself log-in system (you will need to show us a sample of your work before we approve of your new administration rights).

Does B-Side Empire pay its contributors?

Unfortunately, B-Side Empire are unable to pay its contributors. We function solely as a means to get student talent recognized and appreciated with our best needs for the student. However, there are small ways that contributors can receive money which is through selling their art work on our website, ’signing with us’ (not currently in action, but coming soon), and by running events through us. In the future we are also hoping to let people in the creative industries hire students for projects through us, which will allow students to earn money for their work. Please read our Student Services section for more information.

What happens after I submit?

After you submit your art work and your submission form, B-Side Empire will contact you as soon as possible with our decision. Note, that there is a selection process that occurs. Please keep in mind that we are both students ourselves and still have to battle work deadlines and whatnot, so we will try to get back to as soon as we can.

How can you help me showcase my art?

We can help you to showcase your art by:

1. Putting it on the website

2. Through running events (exhibitions, gigs, etc.)

3. Getting you in touch with people in the creative industries

4. Finding you creative opportunities, based on your portfolio

For more detailed information, please click here to read our Student Services section.

Does B-Side Empire charge for its services?

B-Side Empire does not charge for its services. Submission to the website is completely free and functions as our primary means of showcasing student art. It is also the heart of the business, and the principle means of exhibition. There are charges if you want us to run an event for you (standard for marketing or publicity materials, location hire, equipment hire).

What happens when I graduate?

When you graduate you will still remain showcased on the website, unless you wish to be removed. Your profile page will receive a “graduate” stamp and you will only be showcased on the website for two years after graduation. We will then contact you.

What if my art work doesn’t fit into any of the categories?

No fret! Art is a very difficult thing to place in categories, so we’ll come up with whatever you think works best for your art. Even if it doesn’t seem to be along the same lines as the categories already on our website. You can also be tagged within multiple categories.

I’m not an artist but I want to run an event for student artists, how can you help?

You don’t have to be an artist or a contributor to get involved with B-Side Empire. We’re always looking for people to manage artists, marketing, and events at different universities. Send us an email with your CV and coverletter and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. This works through commission pay only, but is great hands-on work experience for people looking to get into the PR, events management industry.

What is B-Side Empire TV?

B-Side Empire is a online video channel on Vimeo hosting student video art, interviews, gig footage, exhibition footage, event footage, and any other video footage. There is also a homepage sidebar slot to give your work even more publicity. If you’ve got an interview with a student artist or any other student art related video you wish to be showcased, send it in to submissions@turntothebside.com If the file is too big, hosts like Dropbox, MediaFire and MegaUpload are good places to host and send your work to us. Don’t forget to read the submission guidelines.

What happens after I have registered with B-Side Empire?

Once you have registered with B-Side Empire you automatically become a subscriber to the website. This allows the user to receive the monthly newsletter and comment on forums and art work with ease. You will also be given a profile page so link to your name, where you can put information about yourself. Especially if you click, ‘remember me’!…then you won’t have to log-in every time you visit then site. In the future there will be more accessibility for subscribers.

If you intended to become a contributor when you registered then you should send us an email with a request. As a contributor you will be able to write posts yourself and edit your posts. To become a contributor you must show us a sample of your work and be approved before you are granted the new administration rights.

As soon as you have registered on the website you will be sent an email with a password that can be changed when you log-in and go to your ‘Dashboard’.

What happens if I want to change  my administration rights?

You can go from subscriber to contributor or contributor to subscriber at any point. Just send us an email! info@turntothebside.com

What if I want to unregister from B-Side Empire?

If at any point you wish to un-register, send us an email at info@turntothebside.com

What is the writing team?

The writing team will receive contributor rights to the website. They are a team of writers who frequently post to the website, writing articles on: artists, artist reviews, conducting interviews, or just letting their creative writing juices flow through any other piece of writing (film reviews, poetry, short stories, opinion etc.). At times (but not often) you may be approached by B-Side Empire to write an article/conduct an interview on an artist on the site.

How do I get involved in the writing team?

To become part of the team, just fill out a submission form and send us a sample piece of writing (that you can choose whether or not you wish for it to be showcased).

How can I get involved with B-Side Empire?

There are many ways to get involved with B-Side Empire:

1. As a site contributor.

2. As part of our marketing team and volunteering.

3. Joining our team of writers.

4. Becoming a Student Rep.

Read the Student Services page for full details.

What is the role of the student representative?

The role of the Student Rep is to manage the artists, marketing, and events in his/her university. Making sure that the B-Side Empire name is known throughout campus, and events are run for students to showcase their art to the student body. But don’t get scared, there will be more than one student rep per university or you will be given extra help if there is only one rep at the time. This works through commissions. However, this role is great hands-on experience for anyone looking to get into PR, marketing, or event/artist management. Email info@turntothebside.com to get involved or read the Student Services page for more information. We will request a CV and cover letter for this role.

How do I get publicity if I sponsor B-Side Empire?

By sponsoring B-Side Empire as a business, by donating a prize, sponsoring events, or donating equipment, you will receive free ad-space on the site for a month and mentions throughout the website. Your logo will be on all marketing materials and merchandise related to that event and any student artwork sponsored. Requests will be acknowledged and appropriate publicity methods will be put forth depending upon the type of sponsorship.

What is the donate button?

B-Side Empire is run by two students, and thus, the money we currently put towards the business is our own (from our very little funds haha). Any money donated using the Paypal system will be very much appreciated and will go towards B-Side Empire only – to better our services for students and in promoting their art.

What does the ‘G’ symbol mean?

If you see this image on someones profile page, it means that the artist has graduated from university and is a recent graduate.

I want to advertise on B-Side Empire, what happens next?

Advertising on B-Side Empire is simple, and all information and details can be found by clicking here. Advertising is on a price-per-month system.

How do I offer a prize for the competitions?

We look for artistic items or equipment that will help students in their artwork – whether cameras, paint brush sets, software, etc. All you have to do is send us an email to get in touch and find out more information, then mail us the product for us to give away to those talented students!

Shop

How can I sell my art in the shop?

Our shop runs through Big Cartel – a very well known online shopping provider. Items are sold and bought through Paypal with official invoices and payment services. Merchandise, CDS, DVDS, art prints, postcards, calenders, art books, and much more can be sold through our website. At the moment, it is up to students to deliver or mail the product(s) to us, before it is hosted online, so that we can efficiently and immediately send the product to the client. The products will be stored safely and securely. If items are damaged in our care, we will refund the student (but this does not include mailing damages – an invoice will be sent to the student upon receipt). We do not refund the student for their mailing costs to us. The student can request their products back, but mailing costs will be charged to them.

When the work is sold online, 90% of the profits will be given to the student artist. This does not include delivery and packaging costs. The artist can request the prices at which the items are sold.

The artist can also request B-Side Empire to reproduce material for him/her after sending the design (for example, cards, diaries, totes, t-shirts, CDs). Individual deals and requests between the artist and B-Side Empire will be made here, and the above monetary exchanges do not apply.

For requests and further information please email shop@turntothebside.com

Can I order by telephone?

Unfortunately, we currently do not take telephone orders.

What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept the following forms of payment: Paypal, Maestro, Visa, MasterCard, American Express

How do I know you have received my order?

We will send a confirmation email for each order, listing items bought and total cost.

Am I ordering from a secured payment website?

BigCartel is a well known and used third-party online store. http://www.bigcartel.com/ for more information

How long does it take to dispatch my order?

Your order will usually be dispatched between 3-4 days. Express delivery options will be available in the future.

Can goods be returned?

Goods can be returned within 7 days of reception. Delivery and packaging charges are in the responsibility of the customer.

What if my goods arrived damaged?

We are not responsible for delivery care, though we guarantee that all goods are mailed from us are cared for and at top quality. As we are the middlepersons between customer and artist, we cannot do anything about the quality of the product received from the artist but make sure they deliver their work at the best quality and care. The items produced by ourselves we guarantee, will be handled with care.

What if I don’t receive my goods?

We use a secure delivery service that requires a signature upon reception and a tracking service. In the case of an item being lost, we unfortunately do not hold responsibility upon the deliverers fault. If you wish to receive your parcel via a cheaper delivery service, please email us at info@turntothebside.com

I live abroad, can I still buy items from the shop?

At the moment we do not deliver items abroad, but check back soon for updates.

Can’t find what you’re looking for? Send us an email at info@turntothebside.com with your question. It’s very likely someone else wants to ask the same thing, so don’t be scared!

Last updated: 06/02/10