Titirangi Community Arts Council
Supporting Community Access and Emerging Artists in WaitakereCity
Emerging Artists, Community Groups and Artists wishing to Exhibit in the Upstairs Gallery are invited to submit their Proposal to the TCAC. Submissions are presented for review at the TCAC Committee meeting on the second Wednesday of each month.
Group submissions should contain a statement about the group’s purpose and ethos, with images of previous works if possible.
Artist Portfolio’s should contain images of recent works, a resume of any Exhibitions attended, an Artists statement about themselves and their work, and full contact details, including an email address if possible.
Often the TCAC elects to offer the opportunity to exhibit with other artists in order to minimize costs to individuals, effectively giving exposure to greater numbers of Emerging Artists.
Exhibition Space
The exhibition area is an intimate space – only 4.2m wide and approximately 8.5m long, with 3 lots of windows, a set of double doors at the entry and a small office area
Duration
Generally an Exhibition at the Upstairs Gallery opens on a Thursday evening and concludes on the fourth Sunday following.
Cost
$600.00 (15% GST Inclusive). Includes an Opening Night fee of $100.
A non-refundable deposit of $100 to be paid upon signing of Contract. This amount is then deducted from final payment, due 2 months prior to the exhibition.
Commission
The Gallery receives 25% commission, plus GST on sold work.
We ProvideThe TCAC Upstairs Gallery hosts your opening night by providing the following:
Venue: The Seminar Room, opposite the Upstairs Gallery, from 6pm until 8pm
Catering: Finger foods.
Staff: The TCAC Committee and Volunteers attend to assist with food preparation and set up, beverage set up and serving. The Gallery Coordinator is in attendance to open the evening and attend to the front desk for information and sales.
Music: The TCAC provides some light entertainment with live music from local Parau musicians.
Your responsibility as the Exhibiting Artist is to invite the guests!
It is very important that you create a mailing list and this should be started as soon as you have committed to your exhibition. Your list might include family, friends and associates such as workmates, fellow artists / craftspeople, your doctor, dentist, lawyer, bank teller etc, etc. You will be supplied with our publicity fliers to post or give to these people.
Do you have a regular lunchbar that might leave some on their counter? Your local gas station? Your local café? Think outside the square in order to have a fun filled, people filled evening.
We do our best to provide an evening of celebration for the Opening Night of your exhibition. Let your invited guests be aware that it is a fun social evening for all. Children are welcomed under adult supervision, and lift access is available if notified in advance.
Creating Your Portfolio
It is extremely important that artists have a professional looking portfolio in order to be competitive in today's art-world. Portfolio's are required when you apply for grants or show a gallery your work with regard to an exhibition. Your portfolio should show: who you are; your accomplishments; and how well you master your craft.
Portfolio's should be carefully planned and presented in a professional manner. Include your best work and organise the images so that pieces relating to one another are grouped together. Include a few of your strongest pieces. Any artwork such as drawings, painting on paper, collage, photography and prints should be neatly matted. If you have over-sized or sculptural pieces - include photographs or slides of them.
Presenting Your Portfolio
If you are presenting your portfolio in person there are a number of different types of presentation cases or binders available at any good art supply stores. On the other hand, archival portfolio boxes are best used when you need to ship your artwork to a gallery.
If available, include a business card and an artist statement, which includes reviews, exhibitions you have been a part of and awards you have received.
Good Luck!
Writing An Artist Statement
An artist statement is a selling tool that can help your audience to connect with you and increases their appreciation of your work. It should be clear, informative and give an understanding of your art and the methods you used.
It is better to keep your statement brief than too long – keep it to a couple of paragraphs, approximately 100 words. Write the statement in first person not third person (“I” not “Mary”). Optional things to include in your statement may be: your education, influences, awards & exhibitions, your style or themes you lean towards, technique, what inspires you and what the particular piece is about.
Remember: It is not a CV. Everything in your statement should be relevant to your art.
