Approaching Galleries & Proposal Writing for Artists

Approaching public galleries Pippa Little, Curator

“ it would be terrific if, … a gallery owner saw one of your paintings and offered you a showing. In this fantasy, critics and collectors discover you. That’s it… You’re written about in Time magazine by Robert Hughes. You are invited to show at the Whitney Biennial.”
Molly Barnes

Approaching public galleries
Select
Write a three year plan
Skills to develop
Research (what do they offer)
Network
Remember galleries programme in advance

Proposal writing
Mission statement
Identify funding sources
Get proposal guidelines
Budget
CV
Visual materials
Timeline
Covering letter

Select
Limerick has the following publicly funded galleries
Limerick City Gallery of Art
Hunt Museum
Printmakers
Belltable Arts Centre
Bourne Vincent Gallery-UL

LCGA mission statement to provide artists with the opportunity to experiment, develop and above all display their work; Neva Elliott, 2005

Write a 3 year plan
Short and long term goals
Example
Put together exhibition in local library
Apply for County Council artists bursary
Apply for Arts Council Travel Award
Have solo exhibition by 2010

Break into goals, strategy, deadlines
Goal exhibition in local library
Strategy
Approach librarian
Fundraise from local businesses
Get press coverage
Invite curator from arts centre to open the exhibition
Deadline
6 months

Skills to develop
Proposal writing
Teaching
Computing, database management, word, Photoshop
Project management
Press releases
Negotiation

Tips
Think of Ireland as a whole
Use open submissions strategically
Spend time preparing application forms and proposals
Rejection and success is all part of the process
Use Visual Artists Ireland

What do galleries offer
Publicity
mail out database
postage
private view
invitations
preparing the press release
advertising
inclusion on web site

What do galleries offer
Exhibiting
transport
Installation (technicians)
space
production costs
catalogue
Insurance
invigilation

Network
Do not drop in on spec
Phone and find out about exhibition policy and open submissions
Sign up to the mailing list
Attend openings
Get to know staff and add them to your mailing list
Good quality post cards for minor correspondence

Alternative Networking
Can you meet for another reason (research, transport advice, voluntary)
Can you invite the curator to open an exhibition of your work
Do any of your colleagues know the curator
Look out for staff changes
What about the education or lecture programme?

Proposal writing The screening process

Why write a proposal
To plan your project
To manage your project
To fundraise for your project

Goals and objectives
Define broad project goals, then identify objectives
Goal
To publish a one off art book
Objective
Select five artists to contribute

Mission statement
Example
Cabinet 's hybrid sensibility merges the popular appeal of an arts periodical, the visually engaging style of a design magazine, and the in-depth exploration of a scholarly journal…. a valuable sourcebook…for a wide range of readers, from artists and designers to scientists and historians.
inIVA creates exhibitions, publications, multimedia, education and research projects, designed to bring the work of artists from culturally-diverse backgrounds to the attention of the widest possible public.

Identify funding sources
Arts Council- Bursaries Award, Projects New Work, Projects Once Off, Commissions, Travel and Training Awards, Small Festivals
Local Council
CREATE (Artist in the Community)
Culture Ireland
Heritage Council
Galleries
CAFE Publications / Clann Credo Irish Fundraising Handbook, 5th edition, 2003-2004

Get Proposal Guidelines
Read thoroughly
Constantly refer to guidelines
Check the following
Deadlines
Eligibility
Accompanying material
Funding goals and priorities
Evaluation process and criteria

Contents

Budget
What do you need?
Matching funding
Quotes
In kind support
Timetable of payment schedules

CV
Up to date
Include things that are relevant
Remove things if they are not
Skills based (if you are running a project)
Exhibition based (if you are applying for a bursary)

Visual materials
Use a photographer
Don’t send slides unless specified
Do send CD with contact sheet
Name your images on CD
Give title, medium and date
Make sure they are in a compatible format
Label ALL accompanying material

Timetable

Press coverage

Covering letter
Address to a real person (find out on internet or phone)
Explain why your work might be suitable for the venue/programme
Keep to one page

Submission checklist
Requested number of copies
Copy to file
Be sure to include required documentation

Summary
Approaching public galleries
Select
Write 3 year plan
Research
Network
Proposal writing
Mission statement
Funding sources
Budget
CV
Visual materials
Covering letter

Bibliography
Barnes, M., How to get Hung: A Practical Guide for Emerging Artists , Journey Editions, 1994.
Denvir, B., & Gray, H., Making Art Pay , Phaidon, 1989.
http://www.a-n.co.uk/cgi-bin/db2www.exe/home.d2w/input?textonly=0
http:// www.cpb.org/grants/grantwriting.html
http://www.artscouncil.ie/
http://www.create-ireland.ie/
www.cultureireland.gov.ie .
http:// www.cabinetmagazine.org /information/
http://www.iniva.org/general/index

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Approaching Galleries & Proposal Writing for Artists

by ArtLinks on May 18, 2009

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Approaching Galleries & Proposal Writing for Artists — Presentation Transcript