The 2011-2012 Open Call for Exhibition Proposals

THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTED PROPOSALS IS THURS, MAY 13, 2010, BY 4 P.M.

ABOUT ART LEAGUE HOUSTON:

The mission of Art League Houston is to cultivate awareness, appreciation and accessibility of contemporary visual art within the community for its cultural enrichment.

Art League Houston presents contemporary exhibitions and programs that are aesthetically strong, and that provide the community with the opportunity to explore topics of cultural, humanistic, and social relevance.

Since 1948, Art League Houston has been dedicated to fostering accessibility to the visual arts and working to address the changing needs of the arts community.  We also work to ensure women and people of color are equally represented, as historically their contributions have gone unrecognized.  By providing Houston's first alternative art space, ALH created a much needed exhibition venue for artists, and a means for the community to gain greater understanding and appreciation of their work. In 1983, ALH established its Texas Artist of the Year Award as a dynamic, informative annual project documenting Texas art history. In 1991, Art League Houston established its Outreach Program, for adults living with serious disease and disability, including HIV/AIDs, Cancer Related Illnesses, Multiple Sclerosis, Fibromyalgia, and physical challenges. Our Outreach Exhibitions help students become more self-sufficient, as well as generate much needed additional income, critical to those living on low/fixed incomes.

ABOUT THE OPEN CALL FOR PROPOSALS:

In 2005, Art League Houston began supporting the creation of new works by offering a $1,500 honorarium for exhibitions in our main gallery, to be used without restriction, such as to help defray shipping, travel, and material & framing costs. The open call for submissions is part of our continuing commitment to broadening accessibility to the visual arts for the community.

Each year, Art League Houston presents four to six major exhibitions in its main gallery, and additional exhibitions in the adjacent Art League School gallery.

Art League Houston provides the following for main gallery exhibitions:

• 1375 square feet of exhibition space
• Design, printing and mailing of postcard invitations
• Press release, calendar listing, website listing, and other promotion
• Standard gallery signage, price sheets, binder for show
• Insurance of work on site
• Assistance with installation
• An opening reception
• $1500 honorarium to be used without restriction

Art League Houston provides the following for exhibitions chosen for the Art League School gallery:

• 1200 square feet of exhibition space
• Design, printing and mailing of postcard invitations
• Press release, calendar listing, website listing, and other promotion
• Standard gallery signage, price sheets, binder for show
• Insurance of work on site
• Assistance with installation
• An opening reception

Art League Houston does not provide the following for Main Gallery or Art League School gallery exhibitions:

• Framing
• Shipping
• Catalogues
• Professional Documentation
• Extensive gallery modification/construction or major post-exhibit gallery repairs

GUIDELINES FOR ARTIST AND INDEPENDENT CURATOR PROPOSALS:

The Artist Proposal Opportunity is for individual artists or small groups wanting to be considered for inclusion in upcoming Art League Houston exhibitions.  Work which has been shown in Texas will not be considered unless it has been significantly altered, either by changing the previous context or other means. ALH emphasizes new works. Emerging or mid-career visual artists may submit proposals for consideration.

Artist responsibilities include:

• Handling all arrangements with ALH exhibitions coordinator
• Facilitating the timely installation of the exhibition
• Ensuring exhibition reflects the concept and theme of the proposal selected by ALH
• Regularly communicating with ALH Exhibitions coordinator
• Executing any agreed upon public programs or presentations during the exhibition
• Providing necessary information to ALH staff for the development of promotional materials

The Independent Curator Proposal Opportunity is for the development and presentation of original and previously un-exhibited shows. Independent curators are the primary coordinator of their exhibit. 

Curatorial responsibilities include:

• Handling all arrangements with artists; shipping, scheduling
• Ensuring the exhibition reflects the concept and theme of the proposal selected by ALH
• Regularly communicating with the ALH Exhibitions coordinator
• Overseeing the timely installation of the exhibition
• Executing any agreed upon public programs or presentations during the exhibition
• Providing necessary information to ALH staff for the development of promotional materials

Any exhibition that is first presented at Art League Houston may subsequently be presented by the curator at another venue without claim for compensation by Art League Houston. We only require that you credit Art League Houston as the originating venue for the exhibition.

All Submissions:

• Should be typed
• With 8.5" x 11" format
• With a 1" left margin
• On white paper
• No less than 10-point font

DO NOT USE BINDERS, FOLDERS, OR REPORT COVERS.

Including a CD with a copy of all submitted materials in electronic format compatible with Windows (such as MS Word) is strongly encouraged.

PLEASE SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING WITH YOUR ARTIST/CURATOR PROPOSAL:

• Up to one (1) page biography. Please include your name, address, phone, website(if applicable) and e-mail
• A resume (no more than three pages) that includes your art education, exhibitions, awards, and bibliography.  For curated exhibitions or for group artist exhibitions, please also include artists' resumes.
• A written proposal narrative, not to exceed two pages.
• An artist or curatorial statement, not to exceed two pages.
• 10 - 20 images of work with corresponding numbered image script
• A self address stamped envelope (SASE), with sufficient postage for the return of all submitted materials.

PROPOSAL NARRATIVE DETAILS:

Narrative should include a suggested title of your exhibition, (This title may be amended up to the time it is required for printing the invitation or other promotional material.) and your name, if you are organizing or curating a group exhibition, and the names of the artists.

Indicate whether the accompanying images (CD or slide image list) are images you are proposing for exhibition, or they are representative images only.

ARTIST OR CURATOR'S STATEMENT DETAILS:

• Describes the concept, or theme of the work
• For artists only - describes your current work, as well as your proposed work, noting any significant new direction your work will take
• For independent curators only - demonstrates your capacity to execute the exhibition
• Provide information about how the work pertains to the mission and goals of Art League Houston:  Art League Houston presents contemporary exhibitions and programs that are aesthetically strong, and that provide the community with the opportunity to explore topics of cultural, humanistic, and social relevance.
• Identify any special equipment or other requirements you may need that may become an impediment to presenting this proposed exhibition
• Include details of any supplementary public programs or presentations.  All ALH exhibits include opening night artist talks.  We encourage participants to also propose additional artist talks, panel discussions, or workshops geared toward engaging the general public.

IMAGE FORMAT DETAILS: digital images are preferred, but other formats are accepted

• 10 - 20 images of work to be exhibited, or if you are creating new work, images of work that has been created in the past three years.
• NO POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS
• Digital Images on CD should: please test your disc before mailing
• Be .JPEGs
• Not be a resolution greater than 300 dpi
• Have a maximum image size of 800 x 600 pixels
• Must be in MS Windows readable format
• Images must be numbered sequentially (1-20) and should include your name.  For example Jones001, Jones002, Jones003.
• A numbered image script file or print out that corresponds to the digital or slide images, and that includes the title, date, size and medium of each work listed along with the artist's name.
• Video submissions should not be longer than five minutes and must be compatible with MS Windows (PC).
• SLIDES are accepted with a numbered image script that includes the title, date, size and medium of each work listed along with the artist's name.

ADDRESS SUBMISSIONS TO:

Art League Houston Programming Committee
Artist or Independent Curator Review (please indicate the one that applies to your application)
1953 Montrose Boulevard
Houston, Texas 77006

Proposal selection is based on the artistic merit of the work proposed, feasibility of the proposal and its relevance to the vision, mission, and goals of the Art League Houston.  Curators and artists will be notified if their proposal has been selected in the fall of 2009.  Art League Houston asks to hold submission packets for up to one full year.  Incomplete submissions will not be reviewed. Art League Houston reserves the right to reject all submissions.

QUESTIONS:

Email questions regarding exhibitions or proposals to sarah@artleaguehouston.org. If email is not available, call 713-523-9530 and ask for Sarah Schellenberg or Beth Secor.

SUMISSIONS CHECKLIST: Proposals NOT containing all items on the list below WILL NOT BE REVIEWED.

• Contact information
• Biography
• Resume
• Proposal Narrative
• Artist/Curatorial Statement
• 10-20 Images
• Slide Script (numbered image list)
• Self-Addressed, Stamped Envelope with sufficient return Postage