- Exhibiting at SUGs: The Proposal Selection Process
- Three Proposal Categories
- Agreements and Understandings
- The Application and Review Process, Step By Step
- Suggestions for a Strong Proposal
- Production Responsibilities of the Student Union Galleries
- Production Responsibilities of the Artist or Organizer
1. Exhibiting at SUGs: The Proposal Selection Process
SUGs exhibitions are selected entirely by students. The SUGs committee and directors, under the guidance of the faculty advisor, meet following each proposal deadline to review the submissions and make the exhibition elections. Being a SUGs committee member is an effective way of sharing your ideas and shaping an integral part of your academic art experience. If you are interested in getting involved, stop by either of the galleries to speak with a director, or simply contact us by phone or email with some information about yourself, and how you would like to help out.
2. Three Proposal Categories
a. Group.
Proposals for group exhibitions should contain works united by a common theme or medium. Complete only one application per show (not per artist) and list a contact person for the group. This person should be responsible for receiving communications from SUGs and disseminating information to the rest of the group involved with the proposed exhibition. Documentation for all artists to be included in the exhibition should be submitted with the application.
b. Individual.
Individual proposals are considered for inclusion in both solo and group exhibitions. Complete the attached application and include appropriate documentation of the work.
c. Juried.
A juried exhibition is a group exhibition based on a theme or selection criterion. A call for entries will be posted after a date and gallery location for the exhibition has been decided. Submit an application that fives a clear description of the show’s concept and administrative parameters. For example, describe how the work is to be selected, what type of work would be considered, who would be eligible to participate, who would serve as the jury, et cetera. A copy of the Chicago Artists Coalition pamphlet concerning juried shows is available for review at the LG space.
3. Agreements and Understandings
a. Student status.
Students making submissions must be enrolled in classes at the time of submission and at the projected time of exhibition. Exceptions to these enrollment requirements may be decided at the discretion of the directors and the committee. There is no limit to the number of proposals one student may submit.
b. Commitment to the proposal.
The work documented in the submitted proposal is the ONLY work that will be exhibited. The acceptance of a proposal does not indicate that the space can be used in a different manner than proposed. If, after the acceptance of a proposal, any additions are to be made to the proposal, those changes must be approved by the SUGs committee and directors.
c. Participation.
The students involved in a proposal must make themselves available to assist in the installation and removal of the artwork, and for any other sessions required to return the gallery space to its original condition. If the students involved cannot arrange for these times in their schedules, they must appoint someone to assist on their behalf.
d. Insurance and liability.
If the exhibiting artists wish to insure their work, they must do so independently. Even as the utmost care and respect will be given to all borrowed artwork, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Student Union Galleries are not responsible for damage or loss of objects lent to the exhibition. For these reasons, it is mandatory that all artists sign a release form before any part of an exhibit is brought into the space.
4. The Application and Review Process, Step By Step
Complete the application form and attach the appropriate documentation. You should consider what form of media would represent your work best, whether it be slides, photographs, sketches, video, et cetera. Be creative, but keep your proposal clear and concise.
Deliver your application package to the LG space, no later than 5:30 on the applicable deadline.
Your application will be reviewed by the SUGs directors and the faculty advisor. Should any uncertainties arise concerning your proposal, you will be contacted, prior to the committee review session, to resolve the related issues, time permitting.
At the committee review session, the submissions will be studied and discussed in terms of innovation, artistic quality, and social and cultural significance. Proposals are selected without regard to race, gender, disability, or sexual orientation of the applicant(s) or artist(s).
You will be notified by mail and/or email of the committee’s decision within three weeks following the review date.
5. Suggestions for a Strong Proposal
The importance of clear visual documentation cannot be stressed enough. During the review process, the proposals that truly stand out are those that give a clear vision of the exhibition idea.
A curatorial or artist statement is a valuable asset for the committee’s understanding of the work and/or concept proposed. This is a brief description (no more than a page long) of what your art or proposal concept is about. It should address the reasons why you want to have an exhibition and what motivates and inspires the work involved. A good reference point would be an exhibition catalog from a major museum annual or group show, or the reviews in a contemporary art magazine. Relating your work ideas to the contemporary artistic discourse is an integral part of a professional quality exhibition.
Floorplan diagrams of the gallery spaces are included in this application. It is advised that you clarify how your proposed exhibition will fill the space and whatever additions you may want to make to the existing wall layout.
Consider material cost for installation, a narrative description of any time-based pieces, or any other information that was not addressed in this application.
See the calendar for upcoming scheduled proposal workshops.
6. Production Responsibilities of the Student Union Galleries
The exhibition typically runs for three and a half weeks. The gallery space is open four days during the week usually from 12:30pm to 5:30pm. There is a gallery attendant present during open hours.
Cards and posters co-designed by SUGS communication directors and the artist. The card must include the SUGS logo, school name and address. The budget allows for the printing of 1000 two-sided cards; one side color and the other side black and white.
SUGS also advertises in F news, Exhibitions & Events newsletter, on the Studen Union Galleries website, and potentially in the reader. Any other advertising by the artist needs to be approved by the gallery staff.
SUGS will have installation directors on staff. The job of the installation directors is to work with the artists in the construction, painting, set-up and design of the space. Their position is to facilitate the artists' use of the space.
SUGS directors and faculty advisor will work with artists to make the exhibition safe for the public and accessible to all visitors
The gallery staff will work with artist to make the space as conductive to the display of their work as is possible. However, the artist is responsible for any maintenance needed for the artwork.
7. Production Responsibilities of the Artist or Organizer
We ask the curator and/or artists be present during the production meetings. These meetings are important in keeping on schedule with advertising and installation preparation.
We ask that the artist's assist in all installation and de-installation of their exhibit. This includes construction and painting of the space. It also includes returning the space to its original consition and the removal of artworks.
A complete, signed loan form must be filled out and turned in at the gallery to a director before the work is received into the space.
Artwork should be prepared for display prior to bringing it into the space. SUGS will not perform and adjustments on artwork to enable its display
Provide a curatorial statement, usually included in the proposal. The gallery directors and curator must agree upon this statement. This statement is used for the wall text and other press released.
Individual artist statements are the discretion of the artist and curator and are not required by the gallery, however, they are often helpful.
We ask that artists pick up artwork within 2 days after the closing of the exhibit. The gallery does not have room to safely store artwork.
It is also required that any damage done to the space by an artist of the exhibiting of their work be prepared within 2 days of the closing of the exhibit.
SUGS has two 13" monitors and two VCRs available for use in the exhibit. Any other equipment is the responisibility of the artist.
SUGS cannot provide any computer equipment for the exhibit. It is the artist's responsibility to make arrangements to have the nevessary equipment for the duration of the show.
