ArtsQuest Exhibition Proposal Submissions

• 2,615 square feet 
• Track lighting plus natural lighting with windows facing 3rd Street. 
• Located on the ground floor. 
• Pedestals available for three-dimensional work. 

• 1,078 square feet 
• Track lighting and natural lighting with windows facing Northampton Street. 
• Located on the ground floor. 
• Pedestals available for three-dimensional work. 

• Track lighting, some ambient natural lighting. 
• Not available for large three-dimensional artwork. Smaller, three-dimensional pieces that can be installed on the walls and do not protrude more than 4” from the wall are acceptable. 
• This space can accommodate smaller, three-dimensional artworks that are less than 20lbs. and can fit in a 12”x12” wall mounted pedestal. 
• Best suited to two-dimensional works that can be installed on the walls. 
• We ask artists to keep in mind that this is a high-traffic area. If works are very fragile and delicate, please reach out to visualarts@artsquest.org before applying for this space. 

• Approx. 65ft of total wall space between several wall locations on the 1st and 2nd floors. Detailed measurements of available space can be sent upon request. 
• Due to the nature of this space, three-dimensional work may not be accepted unless it is wall-mounted and does not protrude more than 4”-6” from the wall. 

• Artists must be at least 18 years or older to apply for a solo exhibition. 
• Artist must not have had a solo exhibition with ArtsQuest on any properties or exhibition space in the past four years (group or juried exhibitions do not count). 

Exhibition proposals will be reviewed by the ArtsQuest’s Gallery & Exhibition Committee (which consists of board members, community stakeholders and artists/creatives) after the submission window has closed. Artists will be contacted if their project is selected by the committee for an upcoming exhibition opportunity. Proposals will be evaluated on artistic merit, educational value, opportunities for programming and appropriateness for the site. 

Artistic Merit 

When evaluating artistic merit, we will consider technical skill, exhibition concept, and feasibility of the scope of work. 

Educational Value 

ArtsQuest is a 501I(3) nonprofit organization providing access to art, culture, and educational programs for the diverse residents of the Lehigh Valley and others who seek access to our community. ArtsQuest hosts exhibitions primarily for educational purposes. We frequently partner with artists for school programs, field trips and other various Education and Outreach programs offered throughout the year. 

Programming Opportunities  

ArtsQuest’s programming reaches more than 1.9 million people annually, with Visual Arts & Education providing more than 4,000 visual arts programs (classes, concerts/performances, workshops, exhibitions and festivals) each year. We work with our exhibiting artists to provide various events for our community throughout the year. 

• In addition to field trips and group visits, ArtsQuest offers public programs and membership events related to exhibitions. These range from artist talks and performance art to hands-on workshops or community art projects. 
• Any program the artist offers will be a paid opportunity. 

Appropriateness for Site 

Proposals will be evaluated regarding the exhibition’s suitability for the gallery space, including installation needs, use of space, etc. 

Artists should include the following in each proposal: 

• Proposed exhibition title 
• Description of your concept/theme for the exhibition, about 2-3 paragraphs* 
• At least 10 images of your work
  • If submitting a completed body of work, please submit as many images as possible. If you need to submit more than 10 images, please reach out to visualarts@artsquest.org.
  • If submitting a proposal for an in-progress body of work, please submit:4-6 images that show previous works that are similar or relevant to the proposed work, AND 4-6 images that are mockups or thumbnails for the in-progress artwork proposed for the exhibition.
  • If submitting an installation-based artwork, proposals must include the following: 
    • Describe how you would like the exhibition to be installed.
    • Projected timeline for installation (expected number of hours or days for installation).
    • Artist availability for installation (will the artist be available on site for installation? Or will detailed instructions be provided?).
• Include any additional programming that the artist would be able to offer to accompany the exhibition. 
• Education Value 
• Are there themes or concepts within the proposed body of work that the artist can identify that would be useful for field trip curriculum, guided tours for guests of all ages, or more? 
• Artist CV (max one page) 
• Artist Bio & Artist Statement (max one page)**

*Helpful resources on crafting a strong exhibition proposal:
https://flatpage.com/how-to-write-a-great-exhibition-proposal/
https://wcami.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/creating-a-great-exhibit-proposal.pdf

**Helpful resources on crafting a strong artist statement:
https://flatpage.com/parts-of-an-artists-statement-with-example/
https://agifineart.com/advice/how-to-write-artist-statement/

Accepted proposals/artists will receive the following one-time honorariums, which can be used to help cover costs that are the artists’ responsibility for the exhibition: 

• Hallway Gallery: $100.00 
• ArtsQuest Center Palette & Pour/Alvin H. Butz Loft Space: $100.00 
• Gallery B: $250.00 
• Capital Blue Gallery: $500.00 

Artists will be paid ½ of the honorarium at the time of contract signing and will be paid the rest of the honorarium after the exhibition is installed. Artists must provide a completed W-9 to receive payment and invoice ArtsQuest (details will be provided to accepted artists). 

• All gallery spaces at the ArtsQuest Creative Factory powered by PPL and the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks can accommodate exhibitions of two-dimensional work, including (but not limited to) photography, paintings, drawings, digital, mixed media, fibers, chalk, ink, pastels, wax, graphite and printmaking. 
• Due to the public nature of our community arts center and the galleries frequently used as multi-use spaces, works on paper, prints and photographs are required to be framed behind Plexi or glass. 
• Two-dimensional works are limited to a 50lbs. total weight (including any framing) per work, unless discussed in advance and agreed upon in the exhibition contract. 
• Three-dimensional works that fit within an 18” X18” footprint and weigh up to 50lbs. each may be accommodated on floor pedestals/ or as a free-standing sculpture in the Capital Blue Cross Gallery and Gallery B in the ArtsQuest Creative Factory powered by PPL. Three-dimensional works that fit within a 12”x12” footprint and weigh up to 20lbs. can be accommodated in the Hallway to the Arts at the ArtsQuest Creative Factory powered by PPL, or other spaces in that building. 
• Only wall-mounted three-dimensional works will be considered for the Creativity Commons/Palette & Pour, Alvin H. Butz Gallery 
• Any A/V equipment required for the exhibit will need to be provided by the artist(s) unless discussed in advance and agreed upon in writing in the exhibition contract with the artist and ArtsQuest. 

• ArtsQuest does not provide for shipping, transportation, or specific production costs. 
• If the artist plans to ship work, all work should be packed neatly and contain pre-paid return shipping if the artist does not plan to drop off/pick up work in person. ArtsQuest cannot purchase shipping on behalf of artists. 

• ArtsQuest requires a signed exhibition contract that includes a full list of artworks to be exhibited. The list must include (for each artwork):
  • Title
  • Medium
  • Dimensions (including any framing)
  • Sale Price or Value
• A signed contract must be completed by both parties before the agreed-upon deadline. If the artist does not sign their contract, they forfeit the offered exhibition and honorarium.
• ArtsQuest provides limited insurance for artwork while on gallery premises as detailed in exhibition contracts. Insurance covers theft, vandalism, and damage caused by gallery patrons or staff (in accordance with and within limitations of ArtsQuest’s insurance policy). PLEASE NOTE: Insurance does not cover damage caused during shipping for any reason, including mishandling by the carrier or failure of the packaging to protect works in transit. Also not covered is damage caused to work by failure of the work itself, its mounting systems installed by the artist, or disintegration/degradation due to the nature/quality of materials or craftsmanship. If work value exceeds the offered insurance, ArtsQuest strongly recommends artist purchase their own insurance for the duration of the exhibition as a supplement, and Insurance for work during transit, if shipping artwork.

• Exhibited work shall be sold only through ArtsQuest during the exhibition period, with a commission on any sales at the rate of 40% to ArtsQuest, 60% to the Artist. Artists must submit a completed W-9 to ArtsQuest, payments will be issued in the form of a check after each sale is completed. 
• ArtsQuest will handle contacting buyers of purchased works after the close of the exhibition. 
• Works can also be listed as “Not For Sale”, however, a value must be provided at the time of contract signing for all works included in the exhibition. 

The First Friday events at the ArtsQuest Creative Factory powered by PPL serve as opening and closing receptions for all exhibitions. These events take place on the First Friday of each month, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. ArtsQuest provides a cash bar, staff and a live band/musician for these events, in addition to other free programming throughout the evening. 

Artists submitting proposals will be required to pay the following fee, due at the time of submission through Formstack: 

• $20.00-Hallway to the Arts Gallery/ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks Alvin H. Butz Gallery 
• $35.00-Gallery B 
• $50.00- Capital Blue Cross Gallery         

ArtsQuest is a 501I(3) nonprofit organization providing access to art, culture and educational programs for the diverse residents of the Lehigh Valley and others who seek access to our community. All proceeds from entry fees fund ArtsQuest’s mission-based programming. 

Artists may request the use of ArtsQuest scholarship funds (funded by various grants awarded to the organization) to cover the cost of the application fee. All other juried exhibitions and artist opportunities offered through ArtsQuest are free of charge.