WEST SPACE invites artists / collectives / curators to submit proposals to exhibit between January and June 2010

Proposals must be received on or before 5pm Friday 19 June 2009 (received not postmarked!).

The Gallery

West Space operates three exhibition spaces.

• The floor is polished concrete and the walls are plasterboard.
• A quality gallery lighting system provides flexible illumination of the spaces. Galleries 1 and 2 feature theatre-type spotlight systems or bright fluoro bank lighting, while Gallery 3 has halogen lighting.
  

Who can apply

• West Space welcomes proposals by practitioners working in all fields of creative endeavour. These fields broadly include visual and audiovisual arts, new media, sound, design, craft, literature, performance.
• West Space welcomes proposals by emerging and established practitioners.
• Applications for solo or group exhibitions are welcome.
• West Space does not exhibit work by current undergraduate students, but accepts proposals from undergraduate students for exhibitions that will commence after their studies are complete.
• West Space selects proposals with a view to programming a first class calender of events. We seek to balance emerging and experienced artists, while presenting a broad range of media and critical approaches.

Exhibition Fees

Gallery 1: $990 (including GST)

Gallery 2: $700 (including GST)

Gallery 3: $500 (including GST)

Please note that West Space will maintain the duration of exhibition length at 3.5 weeks in 2010.

West Space does not take a commission on sold works.

Equipment Rental

West Space has very affordable rates for the rental of AV equipment used in exhibitions and events held at the gallery. All equipment is of high quality and is well maintained. For more specific details please contact us. Rental rates are quoted for length of exhibition period.

• 1x data/video projector $330
• 6x DVD/CD/VCD player (multi-zone) $44
• 1x stereo VCR (with loop) $55
• 3x amplifier (surround and stereo functions) $66
• 2x televisions 51cm $44
• 3x pairs speakers $33 per pair
• 1x slide projector $110

Prices supplied are for the 4-week duration of a West Space exhibition. Prices include GST and are subject to change. Basic leads and cables are included in rental rates. West Space does not loan equipment for off-premises projects.

How to apply

General Information

Only postal applications are considered. Emailed or faxed applications are not considered. Applications must be typed. Please include your name on all pages of the proposal.

If you are considering a project that will span multiple gallery spaces, please contact the Program Coordinator to discuss your plans before preparing your proposal. We welcome ambitious projects and want to ensure they are not disadvantaged by asking for appropriate space.

If proposing major construction work to occur during installation and de-installation, please include a schedule for installation and de-installation. Set up times are Monday to Wednesday 8 am - 9pm, Thursday 8am - 6pm. Deinstallation is Saturday 5pm - 9pm and Sunday 8am - 8pm. However, West Space supports ambitious projects, and these times may be negotiable.

Returns

West Space retains all successful and unsuccessful written proposal material. West Space retains all images from successful applications until the time of exhibition. Do not send originals. Please include a sufficiently stamped, sufficiently sized, self-addressed envelope for the return of unsuccessful proposals/support material. We are unable to return support material if you provide an envelope with insufficient postage or the wrong size.

If you get an exhibition

• Each exhibitor is responsible for sitting the gallery for 2 days over three and a half weeks (negotiable for interstate/ overseas exhibitors). The gallery is open to the public Wed-Fri 12-6, Sat 12-5.
• Successful applicants will need to sign an exhibitor's agreement upon exhibition acceptance.
• No commission is charged on the sale of work.
• Exhibitors are responsible for insuring their work and/or equipment if required.
• West Space design and print invitation and statement/bio cards (artists receive approx 100 copies).
• West Space mailout (including postage & envelopes) to around 360 subscribers, galleries, media, institutions, curators etc.
• West Space email out to over 1800 subscribers
• West Space Art Almanac line listing.
• Promotion of your exhibition on the West Space website.
• In-gallery archive and web presence of visual and other documentation of your exhibition.
• Opening bar service provided by the West Space committee (drinks for sale, food is not included).

Applicant Information Required

1. One Page: Proposal Cover Page must include:

• Main contact person and contact details.
• Names of all applicants if a group show is being proposed.
• Preferred exhibition space.
• Preferred exhibition times (eg Feb-March or Oct-Nov)
• A very short (two sentence) summary description of your proposal.
• Please indicate if the proposed work contains audio.
• Clearly indicate if you are interested in hiring equipment.

2. One Page: Description of the exhibition and the work you wish to exhibit (No more than one A4 page).

Following are some points that contribute to clear and informative proposals.

• Do not bind your application in any way.
• Use clear subheadings in your text.
• Keep your application brief.
• The description of work may take the form of What, Why, Where, How.
• If the work is especially suited to a particular gallery, describe why.
• Proposals for group shows or collaborations are only likely to be successful if they contain a clear rationale relating the works of participants together.
• If there is a conceptual/ visual gap between your proposal and support material, please describe how you will arrive at that new body of work, and its connection to your past work. For example, if all your past work consists of paintings, and you are proposing a video or installation exhibition, you may want to describe how you will achieve this new work.

3. One Page: Curriculum Vitae for each of the applicants.

4. Support Material

The quality of your support material is important. It is preferable if the support material relates directly to your exhibition description. However, material that clearly indicates your ideas and work approaches is adequate.
You may supply still images and/or audiovisual material. Do not duplicate the same material in two different formats.

Submit slides and/or digital images
Maximum 15 images for a solo show, maximum 30 for a group show. Slides: All slides must be clearly marked with your name, title, date, dimensions and medium. Do not use adhesive labels on your slides, label with a permanent marker. Digital images: Please provide in jpeg format on CD

Audiovisual Support Material
West Space can view materials on VHS, DVD, audio CD and Quicktime format. Maximum duration of A/V material: 12 minutes.
CD or DVD only (no zip discs).

You may add a small amount of other support material, such as past publications, invitations, exhibition reviews etc.

5. One Page: Description of support material

Include name, date, medium, dimensions. Include a brief description of the relation between your support material and proposed show. Is it the actual work to be exhibited or is it indicative only.

Please send applications to
West Space
PO Box 12425
A'Beckett Strett
Melbourne VIC 8006

Or drop it into the gallery during gallery hours only (Wednesday to Friday 12-6, Saturday 12-5 during exhibition periods). For Saturday entry please ring bell. 1st Floor 15-19 Anthony St Melbourne Vic 3000

For further information, please contact Program Coordinator Mark Feary on +61 3 9328 8712 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it