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Being Exhibition Ready for Belconnen Gallery
A list for emerging artists and first time exhibitors in the Belconnen Gallery
General information
Most exhibitions are hung with some assistance by Anni, our curator, on a Monday, and the exhibition openings are normally on Tuesday or Wednesday from 6pm. Exhibitions normally run for 2 weeks.
In 2006 the hire cost of the gallery is $60 per week.
The Belconnen Gallery has developed the following policy with regards to the sale of artist’s works during exhibition.
If the artist sells their work directly, and the Gallery is not responsible for taking money from a buyer and/or holding works for collection by the buyer after the exhibition is finished, then the Gallery does not charge commission.
If the Gallery is required to hold the work for collection by the buyer and/or hold money for collection by the artist, then the Gallery charges a commission of 20% on the purchase price of the work.
Gallery exhibitions get reasonable media coverage, but to facilitate this we require the artist to supply us with images, an artist’s statement and an artist’s biography. It’s always good for artists to contact the press as well, but there is no particular or fixed way of doing this.
Visitors to the gallery are currently averaging 60 to 70 per day, so
over a 2 week exhibition period you could expect at least 500 visits.
The presentation of works.
All framed works need to be ready to hang. This means that you will need to have a strung wire, (or string at a pinch) attached with screws at the back of the frame, from one side to the other.
It is not ok to bring works in pre-bought frames with just the flat metal clips attached to the back. The curator doesn’t like it.
If your works are unframed works on paper, that’s absolutely fine. The curator will use clear-headed pins or, in some cases, white tac, to attach your work to the walls.
Opening night.
Openings are usually organised by the artists in terms of guests, opening night speaker, the provision of opening night food and drink etc, but we can assist with or consult on all these.
We charge $50 for staff and glass hire etc for opening night events. These draw about 50 to 70 people, but again that relies on the artist sending out invites and talking to friends and supporters.
Unless a special arrangement has been made with the curator, the provision of opening night food and drinks is the responsibility of the artist or the artist’s friends and family. The equivalent of 3 assorted platters of finger food is a good amount to budget for. Your drinks should include: Plain Mineral water, red wine, orange juice and sparkling white. Don’t serve white wine if you are going to serve sparkling white. If not serving sparkling white then 1 bottle of white to three bottles of red is about the right mix. If your opening is for 50 people, then you should budget for 2 litres of juice, 2 litres of mineral water, 4 bottles of red wine and 4 bottles of sparkling white or, if not sparkling white, then add another litre of mineral water and a bottle of white wine. If you are having an opening without alcohol, you need to make sure there are plenty of alternative drinks. 3 or 4 different fruit juices and lots of mineral water, probably 10 litres in all, for an opening night crowd of 50.
If you are serving sparkling white or white wine, make sure it is cold.
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