North Down Museum Cafe Exhibition EOI Applications 2025

Overview

North Down Museum invites professional artists (solo and group shows), art organisations, and community groups to apply to exhibit their artwork in the Café Gallery space during 2025.

Proposals will be considered by designated museum staff. All proposals must be submitted via this online application form. In this form applicants are asked to provide:

• Current address and contact details of the proposing artist or group coordinator.
• Background information on the Artist/Group proposing to exhibit and a description of the proposed exhibition, to include exhibition concept theme/idea (maximum 200 words). 
• Preferred time slot for exhibition.
• Jpeg images the artwork proposed or like the artwork proposed. Applicants are asked to provide no less than 1 and no more than 3 images per application. Digitally submitted images must be of high quality no less than 1MB and no larger than 3MB per image. Images should clearly depict the work. Please state if images supplied show the final works, works in progress, or examples of similar work.
• Please do not include additional materials (EG: catalogues, CDs, or more than 3 images).

If the gallery is oversubscribed, shortlisting criteria will be applied. Artists may only make one proposal per round.

Criteria

• Preference will be given to artists or groups from within the Ards and North Down Borough area.
• Quality of artwork – high standard of work regarding artistic merit and presentation and originality of work.

• Quality and relevance of concept (theme) and content of proposed exhibition.

Additionally, consideration will be given to the scheduled exhibitions in the long gallery and community gallery to avoid clashes of similar works or mediums and allow for variety of content. North Down Museum will try to accommodate preferred exhibition dates but cannot guarantee availability. Dates will be confirmed when notifying successful applicants.

Preference will also be given to applicants who have not had a previous exhibition in the last 24 months.

EXHIBITION SELECTION PROCESS

• Proposals received are logged and considered by designated museum staff. If shortlisting criteria needs to be applied consultation may be sought from the Ards and North Down Arts Officer.
• Successful proposals are timetabled into the arts programme and the applicants notified and issued with an Exhibition Contract.
• Unsuccessful applicants will be notified by letter within 14 working days of the decision.

EXHIBITION COSTS / ARTISTS’ EXPENSES:

• There is no submission fee to propose to exhibit at North Down Museum and Artists are not charged a fee to exhibit.
• North Down Museum provides the exhibition venue, curatorial guidance, installation and marketing free of charge.
• North Down Museum claim 20% commission on any work sold during the exhibition.
• The Artist/s is responsible for all travel/delivery arrangements and expenses and/or other related exhibition costs. 

Application Deadline is Friday 30 August 2024 at 12noon.