Exhibit proposal submissions
Guidelines for submitting visual arts exhibition and installation proposals
If you're looking to book music, theater, film, or other events click here.
If you want to co-present an event, or if you want to rent SPACE for a private event, click here.
Before submitting your exhibition ideas, please take a moment to think about SPACE's mission:
To present contemporary, unconventional, and emerging arts, artists and ideas.
We prefer to present exhibitions that add to our community, especially those that might not otherwise get presented in Maine. We value artistic excellence. We appreciate submissions that acknowledge something about our space and our programming, and it's helpful to explain why your work should be here rather than at one of our neighborg galleries.
We believe that artists should be paid for their work whenever possible, either through sales of work, stipends, commissions, or other creative means. We've had some success funding installation work and some success selling work, but we can guarantee neither.
Please note that we generally like to see the work or comparable samples before agreeing to present it at SPACE. Currently, we're booking 6-15 months ahead. We occasionally book last minute exhibitions. Some of our best shows are the result of two or three years worth of conversations about the work, the goals of the show, the audience, and other factors.
We evaluate submissions based on thoughtfulness and creativity as well as appropriateness to SPACE's vision and mission. Because we receive numerous proposals and have limited staff resources, we can't always respond to everyone. Your patience and understanding is appreciated. If you've sent us what appears to be a mass-email looking for a show, we probably won't respond.
You might want to look at some past exhibitions to get an idea of what we do. To see photos and a diagram of the gallery and annex layouts click here.
To submit:
email nat@space538.org with ample information about what you want to do, including relevant artist statements, a c.v. if you have one, and low resolution jpgs that are large enough to give a sense of the work. Images must be accompanied by the following information: title, size, medium, and date produced. No phone calls, please.
MAIN GALLERY
The main gallery is a multi-function room of approximately 2500 square feet with 13 foot-high walls and an unusual vaulted brick ceiling.
Artists working in all media are welcome to propose solo and group exhibitions for the main gallery. Shows are generally one or two months in length. As SPACE is a multi-function venue, preferable consideration will be given to proposals that allow artwork to remain installed while the gallery transforms for music, readings, kids events, etc. The space is very active, and we encourage you to visit the gallery during one of our events to see how the exhibitions and events co-exist.
STOREFRONT WINDOW
Every day, hundreds of people pass by our Congress Street window, located between the Maine College of Art and Reny's in the heart of Portland's vibrant arts district. The window can be curated independantly of our interior main gallery, and offers a unique oportunity to bring non-traditional artwork to the public and into the street.
Plan your installation to take advantage of the window's unique space: which includes the large street facing glass panels (85" high by 110" wide), the window platform (179" long, 26" deep, 17" tall), and the back wall (centered on the platform, 96" tall by 122" wide).
SPACE GALLERY annex
Our new annex gallery is ideal for installations and exhibits that take up more floorspace or need more time for installation. We're excited to program this room for events, interactive installations, and performances as well.
ART*O*MAT
Don't forget about the Art-O-Mat machine! We'd love to know about artists who would like to be featured in our machine.
SPACE is run by a small staff and lots of volunteer hours. While we strive to do all we can to promote our calendar of events, you can help us generate attendance by participating in the promotions process. WE REALLY LOVE being provided with flyers and posters for events! If you are able to create or provide your own promotional print materials, it saves our staff a big chunk of time and work. Included is a fairly complete list of print and radio resources in Maine. We encourage you to contact as many as you are able to with press releases, bios and audio/visual samples for promotion. Thanks for helping SPACE help you.
Please send updated information to nat@space538.org