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 statementto 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 libraryStrategy• Approach librarian• Fundraise from local businesses• Get press coverage• Invite curator from arts centre to open the exhibitionDeadline 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

Exhibition name

Contents Exhibition name detailed proposal p.1 Current CVs Curator p.4 Gallery p.5 Artists Artist 1 p.7 Artist 2 p.8 Artist 3 p.9 Artist 4 p.10 Artist 5 p.11 Artist 6 p.12 Artist 7 p.13 Supporting documentation Images Artist 1 p.14 Artist 2 p.15 Artist 3 p.15 Artist 4 p.16 Artist 5 p.17 Artist 6 p.18 Artist 7 p.19 References to similar initiatives and projects p.20 Additional financial and administrative details p.21 Press and publicity p.21 The catalogue p.21 Outline of plans for evaluating the proposal p.21 Audience figures p.21 Evidence of collaborative process p.21 Timescale/schedule p.22 Venue agreement and administration support p.23 Brochure: Previous exhibition Catalogue: previous catalogue

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

Schedule for Newsletter!

September October November December January February March April May June JulyDialogue with artists and writersEditingPrint issueAssessment of issueLaunchDistribution

August SeptemberOctober NovemberDialogue with artists and writers Powwow endedEditingPrint issueAssessment of issueLaunchDistribution

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