The verdict in three sentences
An art gallery or art advisory in Frankfurt loses collectors when its site shows a past exhibition on the home page, works no longer available or a careless English version. A redesign costs EUR 12,000 to 35,000 at a local agency in 2026, against EUR 2,700 (Starter), EUR 4,500 (Growth) or EUR 8,200 (Premium) on the Kolonell fixed grid, with a project manager reachable in your time zone. The real risk is the migration rather than the budget: URLs, exhibition archives, image rights and legal notices have to be handled before go-live.
The signals that cost you credibility
A collector, family office or wealth adviser discovering your gallery before an art fair judges within seconds. They search an artist name, an exhibition or 'art advisory Frankfurt', then check that the gallery is active, that the artists are genuinely represented and that the contact route is serious.
| Signal on the current site | What the visitor concludes | Expected fix |
|---|---|---|
| Last year's exhibition on the home page | The gallery is not very active | Dated programme, separate archive |
| Sold works still shown as available | Inventory is poorly kept | Updated status or page removed |
| Artists listed without a current agreement | Doubt about representation | Pages only for authorised artists |
| Slow or blurry images on mobile | Lack of care | Optimised images, fast loading |
| Missing or incomplete Impressum | Legal unreliability | Complete, easy to find Impressum |
| Machine-translated English version | The gallery does not serve international buyers | Native English copywriting |
| Enquiry form asking for too much | Distrust over data | Minimal form, clear purpose |
Budget: Frankfurt agencies, freelancers and the Kolonell grid
| Option | 2026 ballpark | What it usually covers |
|---|---|---|
| Freelance designer | EUR 3,000 to 9,000 | Brochure site, copy often left to you |
| Local agency | EUR 12,000 to 35,000 | Design, build, on-site workshops |
| High-end brand studio | EUR 40,000 to 90,000 | Identity, art direction, full site |
| Kolonell Starter | EUR 2,700 | A polished site for a gallery with a focused programme |
| Kolonell Growth | EUR 4,500 | Richer artist, exhibition and archive pages |
| Kolonell Premium | EUR 8,200 | The multilingual tier, languages set in the quote |
| Maintenance after delivery | EUR 150 to 600 a month (market assumption) | Updates, backups, small changes |
Local ranges come from typical agency quotes and public agency rate pages. Every Kolonell tier includes a project manager reachable in your time zone, native English or French copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks (4 to 6 for Premium) and 3 months of support. Private viewing rooms, connections to gallery inventory software or an online shop, and maintenance beyond the 3 included months are on quote. The tiers are detailed on the international offer.
Timeline by phase
| Phase | Indicative duration | Checkpoint |
|---|---|---|
| Content preparation (texts, images, artist agreements) | Before kick-off | List of authorised works and artists |
| URL inventory and 301 redirect map | 2 to 3 days | Every indexed page listed |
| Design mock-ups and sign-off | 1 week | Approval from gallery management |
| Build and archive migration | 1 to 2 weeks | Exhibition archive checked |
| Legal and rights review | 2 to 4 days | Impressum, privacy notice, photo credits |
| Go-live and Search Console monitoring | 1 day, then 4 weeks of monitoring | No 404 errors on old URLs |
These timings assume content is ready. Avoid switching over during an art fair week, when traffic and enquiries peak.
Risks and how to contain them
Loss of visibility. Artist and exhibition pages often draw most visits from Google. A URL inventory, a 301 redirect map and Search Console monitoring keep the damage small.
Rights and agreements. A work or an artist appears only if representation and image rights are actually in place, with photo credits. Nothing is invented: no sales, no collectors.
Regulatory framework. The GDPR and the federal BDSG apply to forms and tracking tools, overseen by the state data protection authorities, in Hesse the HBDI. The Impressum duty stems from German law, now mainly the DDG. Art market participants are subject to anti-money-laundering obligations deriving from the fifth EU directive: the site must not contradict your procedures. This is not legal advice, have these points checked by your counsel.
Downtime. A planned switchover outside opening hours and fair periods keeps the risk to a few minutes.
Questions to ask, and when a local agency is the better choice
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Ask any provider: who writes the English and German copy, how old URLs are redirected, who checks image rights, what the timeline is once your content is ready, what is included after delivery.
A Frankfurt agency remains the better choice if you need regular photo shoots in the gallery, German-first copywriting with weekly on-site workshops, or deep integration with your inventory software and online sales.
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Mainufer Contemporary, a fictional gallery representing 14 artists, picks Premium, the multilingual tier, at EUR 8,200, in German and English. It adds German translation by a specialist translator, EUR 1,800 (market assumption), and photography of 60 works at EUR 25 each, EUR 1,500 (market assumption). Total: 8,200 + 1,800 + 1,500 = EUR 11,500, against a local quote of EUR 28,000, a gap of EUR 16,500 that can be reinvested in two art fairs.
FAQ
How much does a gallery website redesign cost in Frankfurt?
As a 2026 ballpark, allow EUR 12,000 to 35,000 at a local agency and EUR 3,000 to 9,000 with a freelancer. At Kolonell, the fixed grid runs from EUR 2,700 to 8,200 depending on the tier.
How long does the redesign take?
Kolonell delivers in 3 to 4 weeks, 4 to 6 for Premium, once content is ready. Preparing texts and artist agreements often takes longer than the build itself.
Should we show prices for works?
Many galleries keep 'price on request' for major pieces. What matters is stating a response time, for instance within 24 hours, and a named contact.
Does a gallery need an Impressum?
A professional website operated from Germany is in principle subject to the Impressum duty. Have its content checked by your counsel before go-live.
What happens to our current search visibility?
With a 301 map covering 100% of indexed URLs and 4 weeks of Search Console monitoring, any loss usually stays limited and temporary. No serious provider promises a ranking.
Let's scope your project. A gallery redesign with archive migration and a 301 map, from EUR 4,500 on Growth, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks once content is ready. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
