Exhibit proposal submissions
Guidelines for submitting visual arts exhibition and installation proposals
Before submitting your idea, please take a moment to think about SPACE's mission:
To present contemporary, unconventional, and emerging arts, artists and ideas. We prefer to work on events that add to our community, especially events that might not otherwise get presented in Maine. We strive to present artistic excellence and we believe that artists should be paid for their work whenever possible.
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.
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.
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.
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 layout 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 14 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 the L.L.Bean store 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).
ENTRANCE GALLERY
The entrance gallery is ideal for smaller solo exhibitions and installations. Consisting of two large walls (one measuring 122" wide by 96" tall, the other measuring 200" wide by 138" tall), in the front room of our gallery, which can be curated separately from our main gallery and storefront window.
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 website@space538.org