Hello,

My name is Aaron Delaplane.  I live in New York City where I operate a
company that focuses on collecting and exhibiting contemporary,
independent video art.  My company, Nieuw Amsterdam LLC, is currently
developing a business plan for a venue here in NYC that would operate as
both a video art gallery and a bar.  In order to accomplish this I am
contacting artists and individuals whose compositions I have seen and
admired and that I feel would work well in the space.  The most
sought-after video genres are stationary or time-lapse shots of urban,
industrial, or natural landscapes, as well as abstract, interpretative,
or figurative work.  These categories are preferred because they rely
less on running narratives and original audio elements and thus will be
more adaptable to the bar's dynamic environment.

Video composition that are selected for use will initially be
incorporated into the bar's online business proposal and web-based video
gallery.  This website will provide investors, artists, and other
interested parties with a detailed description of the bar's overall
concept,  including its minimalist, substance-driven aesthetic, its
intelligent use of music, the initial financial investment it will
require to open, and the potential locations here in New York that are
being considered.  The site, which will be up in two months, will allow
visitors to view examples of the video art that the venue will exhibit
and also to read artist-contributed synopsis of their work.

Both the website and the bar will act as free-of-charge promotional
venues for the video art that is accepted and used.  In doing this, the
bar will aim to establish itself as a legitimate, if unconventional,
venue for new and engaging work, in the same class as the better
galleries of Chelsea and the Lower East Side.  Contributing artists will
benefit from having their compositions shown in the energetic,
world-renowned art market that is New York City.  Though artists will
not receive initial payment, or promise of future payment, for
submitting their work for review and possible display, artists will have
the option of making their work available for a third-party sale.  In
the event that such an offer is made and subsequently accepted,
two-thirds of the overall selling price will be paid directly to the
artist.

The protocol for a third-party sale is included in a License Agreement
that artists submitting work for review will need to read, fill out, and
sign before their videos can be used.  The License Agreement, as well as
this brief introduction, have been written with the intention of being
upfront with artists about what Nieuw Amsterdam can offer, what we are
trying to accomplish, and how new artists' work might benefit in the
process.

If you have any questions about the potential use of your videos, we
welcome the opportunity to discuss your work with you via e-mail.  If
you live in the New York area, or will be visiting the city, and would
like to meet in-person, please send an e-mail requesting an appointment.


Sincerely,

Aaron Delaplane
Nieuw Amsterdam LLC
New York City
Aaron@NieuwAmsterdam.net