How to get your art displayed in the Library

Our exhibits are usually 2 months long. We only consider exhibits shorter than 7 weeks in exceptional circumstances.

• Contact us with a brief description of your art and what you would like to display.
• All display must be suitable for the general public. We do not accept artwork that promotes hate or violence in any way. Display of any and all art in the library is at the discretion of the library, and all decisions are final.
• Only pieces of art that can be attached to the metal grids will be considered for display. There are to be no free-standing displays of any kind.

Congratulations! We are looking forward to having you! Here are the next steps:

• Confirm your contact information
• Arrange times for setup and optional opening reception
• Send your biography or organization introduction to the library for posting on our website. (Ideally less than 250 words).
  • We strongly encourage you to provide us with a few digital photos of your art and/or a logo or photo of yourself so we can publish it on our website to help promote your exhibit.
  • Need help? Try these guides to help you get started!
    • https://guelpharts.ca/general/how-to-write-your-artist-s-bio-in-5-easy-steps/
    • https://www.artworkarchive.com/blog/how-to-write-an-appealing-artist-biography
• The library will not provide any insurance for any works of art displayed at the library by the artist. Artists are responsible for their own insurance.
• We require you to provide us with an inventory list of anything that you display with us.
• Decide what (if any) pieces you wish to sell.

Preparing for set-up day

• 
  The Library Art coordinator will arrange a time for you to drop by the library so you can plan how best to display your art on the designated walls!
  • The library will supply the required hanging supplies.
  • Remember:
    • Only pieces of art that can be attached to the metal grids can be displayed. Tape or adhesive of any kind is NOT to be used to attach the art piece to the grid.
    • No free-standing displays of any kind. The display rooms are used by other community members during the exhibit.
• Prepare your display cards for next to each art piece.
  • We would like you to prepare display cards for each piece with the price (if for sale), and information about the piece. We recommend: your name, the name of the piece, the date, and the artistic medium. However, if you want to provide more information on the card here are a couple guides on what you can include:
    • https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/writing_in_art_history/museum_title_cards.html
    • https://www.museumnext.com/article/what-makes-a-great-museum-label/
• Prepare your printed biography to accompany the display. (It can be the same as the one you provided to the library.)
• Optional: prepare your advertising materials
  • Business cards, printed brochures, etc. may be suspended from the wire grid in suitable envelopes or clear containers for interested viewers to take.
  • The library is not responsible for informing you that you have run out of advertising material during the exhibit.

On set-up day

• 
  Unfortunately, the library does not have suitable storage for any art pieces before the display. You cannot bring any art pieces into the library before your set-up day.
• On the day (or days) you have booked to setup your display, before you start unloading talk to the library staff member on duty.
  • Staff can give you access to a hand cart and/or door jam to keep doors open if you need either to move your art and provide other information.
  • The artist is expected to either setup their own display or find helpers to assist them.

This is optional but strongly encouraged!

• The date and time of the reception will be held at a time that works for you and the library.
• While the library will do its best to promote your reception and display, ultimately you will be responsible for any advertising.
• You may offer food and non-alcoholic beverages at the reception at your own expense.
• If you wish to have additional reception(s) please contact the library. (We cannot guarantee that you will be able to have more than one reception.)

Congratulations on your sale! When an art piece is sold, please either leave it up until the end of your exhibit or replace it with another piece of art. Your art is interesting, and we want a constantly interesting display, not bare walls.

• Prospective purchasers will contact the library's art coordinator who will provide contact information for the artist. The artist and purchaser will then conduct their transaction independent of the library.
  • However, if a viewer who is just passing through wishes to purchase a piece of art, the library staff will accept payment as posted and will store it for the artist in a separate envelope.
• The library cannot issue any receipt or offer any packaging for the purchased art.
• Artists will remit 20% of the posted purchase price as a donation to the library at the time of removing their art pieces. This donation is to be recorded by the library staff.

• Check in with your exhibit, especially if you left business cards or other advertising material. The library may not realize they have run out!
• Bring in new artwork to replace any items that were sold or removed for other reasons.

Arrange a time that works for you and the library to take down your art display.

• On removal day, make sure you talk to library staff before taking any art down.
  • Staff can give you access to a hand cart and/or door jam to keep doors open if you need either to move your art and provide other information.
  • The artist is expected to either takedown their own display or find helpers to assist them.
• Unfortunately, the library does not have suitable storage for any art pieces after the display. Please do not leave any art in the building overnight after taking down.