ISC Members Outside N America

[Merlion]

Are there ISC members here from outside N America? I would like to know your opinion, experience and insight about joining ISC, the pros and cons, the benefits to you, the inconvenience, etc.

And are the Sculpture magazines being sent to you by air, or surface?

I am not an ISC member.

[Blake]

Merlion
I am not in N America and support the ISC as I would not want to be without my firends here. I find that the information I get on this site is worth the price. I enjoy the magazine and will advertise in it at the appropriate time as I think that it is good value and it reaches a very select market. I was very isolated until I found this site and now have made some new friends, what are they worth?
Blake

[anne (bxl)]

Merlion, I have been an Isc member till ISCEurope has been created last year, but I am disappointed about ISCEurope which is nothing but words and promises.
I miss the magazine that I received by air mail at a time I was almost the only non north american member (that's what the magazine responsible told me).
I intent to be member again soon as such quality magazine on what is my life core is very unique although too much US oriented.

[Merlion]

Thanks Blake and Anne for sharing your ISC experience.

Do you mean the ten issues of Sculpture magazines are sent to you by surface mail ? Would this make some of the Call for Artist and other time-sensitive announcements a bit late, or too late?

We used to have an ISC staff who dropped by from time to time. Perhaps she could also comment about this.

[Merlion]

I notice a very old thread (http://www.sculpture.net/community/showthread.php?t=382) talking about late 'international' delivery of the Sculpture magazine of ISC. At that time, late 2003, Sarah Schiffer the ISC membership coordinator, wrote:

The ISC has looked into this problem. Beginning with the March 2004 issue of Sculpture Magazine (due to be mailed February, 15th 2004) we will be implementing a new international distribution method.

Magazines should be arriving faster to our International Members.

Other than Anne and Blake, both from Europe, we also have ISC member Araich from Australia. Are these magazines currently being sent to you all by air or sea delivery? In case this is not obvious to you, normally how long is the delay?

[Merlion]

Huh, where are you! Looking for Anne, Araich and Blake, and others.

If you prefer it, you can send me PMs.

[Julianna]

Merlion, ISC members also have access to the online listing of calls etc, which are generally a better place to go. I persoanlly find that many of the listings in the magazine are on very short notice, even for some of us in North America.

[Blake]

Merlion
I am sorry not to have responded in a more timely manner. I have been traveling and I don't always have access to the internet during my travels.
I will admit that the magazine is somewhat late arriving to me, I usually check the Call for artists online and so I am not worried when the magazine arrives as much as I would be worried about not receiving it. I find it a very interesting read.
Regards
Blake

[Merlion]

Two weeks ago I bought the latest July/August 2007 issue of the ISC 'Sculpture' Magazine from the local Borders Bookshop. It costs S$19.30 (about US$12.80). This is by air freight, well within July, or no delay in reading it.

This means, if I were to continue buying the ten issues of 'Sculpture' a year locally, it would cost me about $128.

I am checking the ISC website now. If I were to subcribe for the magazines from ISC, it would cost me $75 at International Rate.

If I were to join ISC as Basic member, I would have to pay $120.

But I can join as Senior member, being 65+. :( I pay $85.

Note that the magazine delivery for the last three options are by sea snail mail.

I am afraid, from what I can see now, it is better off for me to buy the Sculpture magazines from my local bookshop.

[Merlion]

I notice from the ISC site that members are supposed to receive the newsletter Insider in addition to the magazine.

Ok. But I cannot find sample issues from the site of what this newsletter is like, especially if it is about N American interests only.

[Merlion]

In answer to my question above, I got this reply below (slightly edited) from a forum member. I re-post it here as it may be of interest to other sculptors outside N America.

INSIDER section of the Sculpture magazine is only the call to artists called Opportunity that is accessible by members only. Using a password on the web and a few pages in the magazine. Most of those call to artists are available on the web as posted by respective callers. Not much of a benefit if the magazine arrives late or not arrive at all.

The last page of the Insider is called On Record where they list commissioned pieces by members who give themselves a pat on the shoulder by posting their accomplishments.

[LaurenH]

I am afraid, from what I can see now, it is better off for me to buy the Sculpture magazines from my local bookshop.

Hi Merlion,

If you could tell me a little more about your situation, I'd like to try to help! Is your frustration with the cost of the subscription, or with the time it takes to ship the magazine overseas?

[Merlion]

Lauren: You were referring to my analysis in post #9. It is the slow delivery that is the problem.

Please note also my comments and excerpts in post #5 above, and my suggestion about sample issues or pages of 'Insider' in post #10.

Comment from Araich is also welcome as I understand he is an ISC member from Australia.

[Merlion]

This is an update to my posting about buying the ISC magazine Sculpture from local bookshops. I've just bought the Dec 2007 issue while I was at the Borders bookshop yesterday. The price is still Sing $19.30, currently US$13.40.

See my post #9 above when I bought the July/August issue at the same local price, but at that time it was equivalent to US$12.8. There is a depreciation of 5% since then.

Edit: I've just discovered something while reading this Dec issue. At the tearout sheet, it says

'Subscribe to Sculpture. $55 US/Canada/Mexico. $75 International (outside US/Canada/Mexico) includes airmail.'

So if I subscribe to the magazine at US$75, this is mailed to me by airmail ! This is contrary to what I mentioned in post #9 above. Has there been a change, or was I wrong at that time?

But if I join ISC as senior member at US$85, is the magazine mailed to me by airmail ?

[LaurenH]

Well, the issue is a confusing one because international shipping is handled by the magazine's printer, not by the ISC directly. The printing company works out what they believe to be the most efficient routes. Most likely, our international subscriptions are air mailed to a central distribution point overseas, and they're transfered to regular land routes from there.

[Merlion]

Lauren, can you check if what you said is true, the magazine is sent out to International members first by air freight and next by local delivery. The speed of delivery is important for international members outside N America.

If the above is true, I'll join as member.

[LaurenH]

Yes -- the printer uses a remailer, so the magazines are air mailed to a distribution point in Europe and are transferred to local mail systerms from there. I can't say for sure how the process will affect your delivery time because of the differences in each country's postal service, unfrotunately. My best advice would be to give the membership a try, and if you're not satisfied with how quickly your magazine is arriving I can always issue a refund for the remainder of your membership costs. It's definitely helpful for us to have feedback from international members and subscribers, as well!

[Merlion]

Lauren, thanks for your enquiry and your reply.

If the distribution center is only in Europe, I'm not close to Europe. As can be seen above right, I'm from Singapore, SE Asia.

Anyway, I'll join to give it a try, and see how it goes. Perhaps the remailer makes use of other distribution centers.

[Merlion]

Lauren, I'll give feedback here, not a complaint, my slightly troublesome experience trying to subscrbe to ISC as international member.

The Sculpture magazine I purchased has tear-out cards for this purpose. But this is not convenient for me as I have to pay by credit card (not by local check or cheque). This means I have to put the card with the credit card number in an envelope and send by air. I have to do this at a post office as I don't know what is the postal rate.

I tried to look at the ISC website to subscribe and pay online. I can't find the webpage for this. Maybe this is not available. What I found is a form for me to print out, fill out and fax. The fax no. is there. But there is no country code.

Another interesting point, not a problem for me, is that I am over 65 and I am joining as senior international member. What I find interesting is that there is no space there to indicate my year of birth. Perhaps this is the US culture not to ask people for their age.

[obseq]

Here you go, Merlion--
The online registration form found under "SUBSCRIBE" and "JOIN" on the sculpture.org main page:

https://www.infofirstsecure.com/sculpture/isc_reg.asp

[Merlion]

Thanks Obseq. I've just sent by airmail. But we can still discuss this, for the interest of others potential international members, and perhaps as feedback to ISC.

I did notice this ISC online form. It didn't mention how to pay. I next click on the 'Continue' icon at the bottom and was not allowed to access, perhaps as I didn't fill in the form. So I didn't use this form.

Perhaps online payment by credit card is available if I were successful in accessing the 'Continue' next page. I wouldn't know.

[obseq]

No problem, Merlion. This is the form I use to renew my membership.
If you submit your contact information, and click "next" there is a credit card option available.

[Merlion]

I think you did not catch my point. Never mind. I've already mentioned what I wrote is for the purpose of feedback to ISC only, not a complaint.

[Julianna]

There do seem to be some issues with the online payment by credit card. I tried three or four times, and checked and double-checked the information I was entering to make sure it was correct, but the information wouldn't validate with my credit card company. I ended up faxing the renewal form instead.

[obseq]

I think you did not catch my point. Never mind. I've already mentioned what I wrote is for the purpose of feedback to ISC only, not a complaint.

Perhaps online payment by credit card is available if I were successful in accessing the 'Continue' next page. I wouldn't know.


1) You expressed the fact that you were not certain if you could pay by credit card
on the following registration page.

2) I merely confirmed that you are able to do so in my reply.

Good luck with the registration!

[LaurenH]

Hi all,

Thanks for the feedback. Yes, I can see how the online payment form can be confusing, since it doesn't specify upfront that you'll be paying by credit card. I'll see what I can do about the wording on those pages in the future.

To answer the other questions, I believe the US country code is just +1. You might have to dial an exit code from your specific country, as well... but someone might be able to correct me on this. I know if I'm calling Singapore I have to dial the US exit code and the Singapore country code, then the local number. I imagine this varies.

More generally, if anyone ever has a question about registration, you can always e-mail me (lauren@sculpture.org) or Courtney, who deals with the membership renewals on a daily basis (membership@sculpture.org). I might not always know what the difficulty is (Julianna, that's the first time I've heard of your specific problem, sorry!), but we have many ways of registering and we'll work something out for you. You can even call us and give your credit card information over the phone so you can have instant verification.

[Merlion]

Thanks for your comments Lauren.

I don't know if it is all right to reveal this. Currently how many percent of the total ISC membership are international ?

[LaurenH]

According to my database, I currently have about 12% of members and 18% of subscribers with international addresses.

[Merlion]

Thanks Lauren. At 12% and 18%, I suppose the ISC does realise there is a huge growth potential for membership and magazine subscription outside US, Canada and Mexico. For such artists, the considerations and some areas of interest are different, and have to be understood and taken into account.

These considerations are easier to cater for the magazine than for the membership, but perhaps this is the area of concern of a different ISC department.

I scanned the current issue of the magazine, and notice it does have some advertisers from other countries, but not many. It is always a chicken and egg issue. Which comes first.

[racine]

other than this excellent site i find little interest in art mags other than the opportunities adds. past subscriptions piled up besides the toilet with only the websites visited. being now in Hong Kong and with little contact on public commissions... i asked isc last year if they did a separate subscription for web access only but was disappointed. it was too much risk to subscribe to an unknown and very expensive mag for opportunities pages only. it may be the right decision as pretty nearly all the adds on this site are limited to local and US application anyway. so if thats true with the mag? if anyone has a gain say on this please enlighten me as to isc content.
i found that 'an' magazine in the UK also would not separate its pulp from the web so in a fit of pique i dropped my subscription... is it not time that modern publishers look for more sales elsewhere rather than lose cusomers?

Jim Racine, other side of the world.

[LaurenH]

Hi Jim,

Most of our opportunities do come from inside the US (although I'd think that some international artist might still be interested in applying for these). Taking a peek through what we have available online in the "Public Arts Projects," "Calls for Artists," and "Competitions" sections this month, I see the following international opportunities listed:

6 in the U.K., 2 in Canada, 2 in Ireland, 2 in Berlin, and one each in Mino, Japan, Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Oslo, Norway.

Your idea about offering a web-only membership is an interesting one. I think it might be difficult for us to implement at first, as our membership database is structured around the shipping of the magazine (if your membership is up-to-date, a mailing label is automatically generated for your copy of Sculpture). Is there interest from other posters here in a web-only membership category?

[Merlion]

I am not too clear what 'web only subscription' means. Does it mean no hard copy magazine and newsletter if any will be sent, but web access is allowed to all and not very limited contents of them? How about attending activities?

About Lauren's comments, I would not look at the current amount of opportunites and adverts from outside the US. It is a 'chicken and egg' situation. They are currently not so interested as our current membership outside the US is small. The ISC has to take the initiative. We are looking at the future.

[Merlion]

I posted this quoted comment on Jan 5, 2008 about joining ISC.
Anyway, I'll join to give it a try, and see how it goes.
A few days later, I sent off the hardcopy membership application card to join and to pay by card.

Today on Feb 9, I received the Jan/Feb 2008 issue of the magazine Sculpture, posted on Jan 30. It was by Air Mail. The postage was $0.90 + 7.75, or $8.65. I suppose in future the magazine may come by airfreight and remailer. I don't know.

For curiosity, I looked through the adverts in this magazine issue to see if any are from outside the US. I found none. There is one about marble workshop in Italy, but it is for workshops in both Italy and the US. So it means on this magazine issue, advertisers from outside the US are not interested to pay to advertise at all.

I also looked through the list of 20 ISC Directors. There are 3 from outside the US. One is from Mexico/German, another from Switzerland, and the third from Japan.

[LaurenH]

I posted this quoted comment on Jan 5, 2008 about joining ISC.

A few days later, I sent off the hardcopy membership application card to join and to pay by card.

Today on Feb 9, I received the Jan/Feb 2008 issue of the magazine Sculpture, posted on Jan 30. It was by Air Mail. The postage was $0.90 + 7.75, or $8.65. I suppose in future the magazine may come by airfreight and remailer. I don't know.

Just to explain this part -- we need to send mailing information to our printer 45 days in advance. So to prevent new subscribers from having to wait a month or two to get their info into the printer's system, we mail their first issue directly from the office and pay the postage ourselves. Your next issue should be delivered through the standard shipping system.