a stupid question about legitmate things

[kuwaizair.livejournal.com]

I am asking if this community has a 'sister community' where artists can ensure weird emails they get are from legtimate sources.

once myself and some others got emails for some fantasy website or magazeen saying they would like our art in it. This is the purpose of this topic, for seeing if some of these things are real and honest and not having any malintent.

I just got an email from omma@omma.us, with the topic message being "Include your art in the Art Book "International Contemporary Masters 200", so is this some kind of con or some thing safe? here is some copypasted content. Is this just an advertising?
-----------------------

"a global art book edited and published by Omma Center of Contemporary Art. www.omma.us

Artists should apply by sending at least 5 JPG images by email or their website address.
If the artist is selected, will be notified within 5 working days.
Place and availability in the book are subject to quality. All submissions are subject to acceptance."

the selection

Submit free for selection. Our art committee will review all submissions and make decisions on acceptance.

After notification of acceptance an inclusion fee is required.



INCLUSION FEE

The participation fee in $ USD might change according to daily rates. Please visit http://www.xe.com/ucc/ to convert currency

The page of each artist will contain the image of an artwork, a short biography, the website URL and contact information of the artist.



A. For one page 350.00 Euros or US $ 467.00

B. For two pages the cost is 550.00 Euros or $ 735.00 USD.

C. For four pages the cost is 900 Euros or $ 1,200.00 USD

D. For five pages 1,100 Euros or $1,470.00 USD



The artists will receive one free copy of the catalogue."

If they want to buy extra catalogues, they will get a 20% discount, unless

Comments

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

A legitimate publisher pays the artist money in order to use their art

If they're asking YOU to pay THEM, then it's not a "real" art book, it's just a money making scheme like poetry.com or any of the other vanity press.

[lastres0rt.livejournal.com]

Yup. It's like those "Who's Who" books for schoolage kids.

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah! I have one of those things! My mom thought it was awesome that I qualified for it, so she bought it. *laughs* So I have a massive volume in which my name, gpa, and a tiny paragraph about my accomplishments appears in 10pt font. I'm so special!

[theblackdragon.livejournal.com]

oh my god, i thought i was the only one with parents stupid enough to buy into that crap. i cringed every time it was mentioned, lol.

[beetlecat.livejournal.com]

Or the poetry ones where everyone gets their poetry included but they have to buy the book to see it. The publisher gets both content and customers with minimal effort, so no wonder they do it.

These 'pay for submittion' things are not always scams, but I would certainly never accept one that randomly trolls for artists. Good ones have people flocking to give stuff to them and don't need to solicit.

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

Ah. I'm not familiar with Aether d'animeaux, I'm a costumer not an illustrator.

But this doesn't appear to be an advertising sort of thing, unless the translation is very poor. It calls itself an "art book."

Do such illustration annuals send out unsolicited advertisements like this?

[gothwings.livejournal.com]

I'm one of the few artists to be accepted for Aether d'Animaux and the creator behind it has been nothing but professional. Many 'big name' artists of high quality work such as Heather Bruton, Rog Minotaur and Ultraviolet are all on board with this project.

It's a shame that so many seem to be naysaying it since it's positive media for a much maligned subculture.

[gothwings.livejournal.com]

a misunderstanding on my part there then :)