For Artists: Join Art Drop
Everything you need to know about Melbourne’s artist-first vending initiative.
We're excited to invite you to be part of something special – a creative vending project* designed to put artists first, offering you a low-barrier way to earn revenue while bringing your work to new audiences across Melbourne.
*Inspired by the success of Good Things Vending in Chicago, we're creating artist-designed vending machines that stock small, original works from local creators. Their model generates thousands of sales per year with strong word-of-mouth presence – proof that small-scale, artist-made goods can make a cultural impact in large cities!
What we’re looking for
YOUR WORK
Small-scale, original, vendable pieces, e.g.
cards & prints | pins & stickers | card packs & poetry scrolls | small ceramics | wearable art
…anything that speaks to your creative practice and can be beautifully packaged for vending.
OUR COMMUNITY
This project is a love letter to Melbourne's brilliant art-making community. We're looking for local artists who want to reach new audiences and be part of a supportive creative collective.
How it works
THE PROCESS
SUBMIT → Tell us about yourself and your work through our simple submission form
SAMPLE → If your work is a good fit, we’ll request a fully-packaged sample so we can test-vend your piece
STOCK → If it's a go, we'll request your initial inventory
SELL → We handle the vending, you focus on creating!
THE MODEL
REVENUE SPLIT 60% to you, 40% to operational costs*
CONSIGNMENT BASIS You maintain ownership until sale
INITIAL COMMITMENT 10-20 pieces to start (enough to fill a machine row)
SELLING PRICE $20 flat rate to start - we're keeping it simple while we learn what works best for our audience and locations. Once we've got our feet under us, we'll expand to offer more pricing options.
PAYMENT Via PayPal or bank transfer when your row sells out.
TIMELINE & EXPECTATIONS
SUBMISSION RESPONSE We aim to get back to you within 2-3 weeks of receiving your submission. If we're interested, we'll request a sample for test-vending.
SAMPLE TO STOCKING Once we receive and test your sample, expect another 1-2 weeks for feedback. If it's a go, we'll request your initial inventory.
GOING LIVE We'll email you with photos when your work is stocked, share the excitement on social media, and tag you so you can celebrate with us! We encourage cross-promotion and collaborative posts.
MACHINE ROTATION Items typically stay in machines for 2-3 months. If your row sells out before then, we'll reach out about restocking. If items don't sell within this timeframe, we'll return them to you and pay you for whatever did sell.
*Our 40% covers: machine maintenance, venue fees, restocking visits, payment processing, insurance, and ongoing curation that builds sustainable support for the artist community.
PRO TIP
Think of your package as a tiny gallery exhibition - it should protect your work, present it beautifully, and tell people who you are, all while being perfectly sized for a vending machine slot.
Packaging specifications
LARGE SLOTS
About 12cm W x 14cm H x 4cm D
Think a bag of chips
SMALL SLOTS
About 6cm W x 11.5cm H x 4cm D
Think a bag of M&Ms
PACKAGING ESSENTIALS
STIFF BACKING
Use cardboard, sturdy cardstock or chipboard so your item sits properly in the machine coils and doesn’t risk jamming.
PROPER WEIGHT
Items need to drop cleanly when purchased. If you have a lightweight item, consider adding a 20 cent coin, marble, or something else to add weight.
CLEAR VISIBILITY
Package your work so customers can see what they’re buying through the glass.
ARTIST IDENTIFICATION
Include your details so people can find more of your work. We'll also create a QR code linking to your bio on our website, so customers can easily discover more about you and your practice.
SMOOTH SIDES
Avoid loose parts, dangly bits or rough edges that could snag in the machine.
DROP PROTECTION
Your item will take a 1.5 metre tumble when someone buys it, so you’ll want to ensure your packaging protects fragile pieces from impact.
PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATION
Your packaging is part of the artwork - make it reflect the quality and style of your artistic practice.
PRO TIP
Think of your package as a tiny gallery exhibition - it should protect your work, present it beautifully, and tell people who you are, all while being perfectly sized for a vending machine slot.
What we provide
PRIME PLACEMENT
We're securing locations in high-traffic spaces around Melbourne - places where art-curious people already gather and where we hope your work will find its ideal audience.
CLEAR COMMUNICATION
You'll know exactly where and when your art gets stocked, with photos and location details sent to you before we go live.
PACKAGING GUIDANCE
We'll help you optimise your packaging for successful vending, offering specific suggestions to make your work shine in the machines.
ONGOING SUPPORT
We're here to answer questions, troubleshoot any issues, and work with you on restocking successful pieces.
SOCIAL MEDIA PROMOTION
We'll showcase your work when it goes live, tag you in posts, and encourage cross-promotion to reach new audiences.
Let's make this happen
✴︎
Let's make this happen ✴︎
Ready to join us?
Complete our artist submission form. Include images of your work, links to your social media or website and tell us what you’d love to vend.
✴︎
Questions?
We’re here to support you at every step. Reach out at [email].
FAQs
-
Currently, we're focusing on Melbourne-based artists as this project is our love letter to the local creative community. Register your interest to hear about any future expansions!
-
You do! Within our price range, you decide what your work is worth. If we think a piece might sell better at a different price point, we'll discuss options with you.
-
Yes, we can adjust prices between restocking cycles.
-
We visit machines on a regular basis and restock as items sell out.
-
We'll return unsold items after 2-3 months, along with payment for items that did sell.
-
We take photos of any damaged items and work with you on replacements.