Is it worth paying €300 to exhibit a photograph in a gallery?

Hi everyone,

I’m a photographer at the beginning of my career and I recently got contacted by a gallery representative (linked to an international contemporary art gallery that has locations/projects in Italy and is opening in New York).

She explained that I can participate in an upcoming group exhibition in Italy by exhibiting 1 or 2 photographs. The participation fee is €300 + VAT per photo (so €362 each). If a photo sells, I would receive 70% and the gallery keeps 30%.

She also mentioned there will be collectors attending, an opening night presentation with a critic introducing the artists, and that the exhibition will run for about 3 weeks. Additionally, the most voted artwork will be acquired by the gallery.

My questions are:

- Is this a normal/legitimate structure for emerging artists?

- Have any of you paid exhibition fees like this — and was it worth it?

- How often do photographers actually sell work in these kinds of group shows?

- Would you consider this a good investment for building an international CV/network, or more of a “pay-to-play” situation?

I’m trying to understand if this is a strategic step in my career or if I should be cautious.

Thank you in advance for any insight or personal experiences 🙏