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How to Submit Art for Exhibition

The submissions deadline for the 2013-2014 exhibition cycle was December 15th, 2012. Submissions are now closed.

*Note we extended the deadline from November 9th, 2012 to December 15th, 2012

The Wisconsin Union Directorate Art Committee manages exhibitions in the three spaces of the Wisconsin Union Galleries at Memorial Union and Gallery 1308 at Union South. We accept exhibition proposal submissions on a rolling basis. We are currently booked through the 2012-2013 academic year.

In late January 2013 (after classes resume for the semester), we will evaluate proposals received by the submissions deadline for possible exhibition in the coming academic year, which runs June 2013-May 2014. Submissions received after the deadline will be held for the following season's consideration.

Artists selected for exhibition can expect to be contacted by the end of February 2013. Artists not selected for exhibition can expect notification and return of submissions materials by mid-March 2013, after the submission booking process has been fully completed. These contact deadlines are estimates and may be adjusted based on the number of submissions received or for other unanticipated scheduling needs.

Submissions packets are evaluated through a competitive criteria-based process by active members of the Art Committee. Due to the volume of proposals received, not all submissions will be offered an exhibition slot nor are we able to provide critques of individual submissions. Note that depending upon quality of submissions received and their appropriateness to the exhibition spaces available, additional calls for submissions may be held as needed to fill available exhibition slots.

If you have specific questions regarding the submissions process or dates, please call (608) 262-7592 or email: art@union.wisc.edu

Preparing A Submissions Packet:

The Wisconsin Union Galleries now accept both electronic and physical submissions packets for consideration. Incomplete packets will not be considered for selection, so please make sure you include all requested information. The following items must be included in your proposal packet:

A completed Exhibit Proposal Form. Click here to download form as a .doc
An artist resume or biography. For group shows, a brief biography/resume/CV should be included for each artist in the proposed exhibition. (May be attached as a Word Document or pdf if submitting an email proposal.)
Up to 10 digital images of recent work. Images should be submitted in jpeg format on a CD-ROM for physical submissions packets or as jpeg attachments for emailed proposals. Please do not submit slides or photo prints in lieu of digital images. Images do not have to be of works that will definitely be included in the final show, but must be representative of the works to be displayed. Please do not send us images of your photography work if you are proposing an exhibition of sculpture or oil paintings.
A list of captions for each image submitted that includes dimensions (with units), title and medium of each work. (May be attached as a Word Document or pdf only if submitting an email proposal.)
A SASE (self addressed stamped envelope), if you are submitting a physical proposal packet. If a SASE with adequate postage is not included, submission materials will not be returned and will be disposed/recycled after the submissions process.

Electronic submissions are preferred.

Please email electronic submissions packets to:
wudartsubmissions@gmail.com

Please send physical submissions packets to:

WUD Art Committee
Attn: Submissions Coordinator
1308 W. Dayton St Rm 235
Madison, WI 53715

General Information

Exhibitions typically last up to 6 weeks, except for certain student or MFA shows.
Artists are encouraged to present a gallery talk.
Artist works with the Art Committee to design and install exhibits, but the Art Committee reserves the right to change exhibition layouts for risk management or aesthetic reasons.
Artist is responsible for all expenses and logistics of transporting artwork to and from galleries, including insurance during transportation and all packing materials.
Artist is responsible for all incoming and outgoing shipping expenses, including packing/shipping materials, freight/shipping/delivery fees, and travel/lodging costs if hand-delivering works.
For 2012-2016 exhibitors at Memorial Union who are hand-delivering works, please note that we will not have storage space for packing materials due to major renovation construction in the Memorial Union. You will need to take packing materials with you following delivery and return with them for pick up. Selections of exhibitions with shipped artwork may be limited during this time period, due to a severe lack of storage space for crates/shipping boxes.
Work is insured only while the work is in our physical possession and secured to risk management standards.
All artworks must be removed from the galleries by the artist within 48 hours of the exhibition closing.
Memorial Union Pedestals: Up to fourteen pedestals of various sizes, eight with locking glass tops, are available for use in the Porter Butts and Class of 1925 Gallery as a shared supply of pedestals between the two spaces at Memorial Union. For 2012-2016 exhibitors, pedestals are stored off-site due to major renovation construction. One week advance notice of pedestal needs will be required in order for us to provide them for your exhibition.
Union South Pedestals: Up to six pedestals ( 24 W x 24 L x42 H), with locking glass tops (24 W x 24 L x 30 H) are available for Gallery 1308.
Gallery is able to provide basic installation hardware and equipment. Specialized hardware and equipment are the responsibility of the artist (including cost of said hardware and equipment).
Absolutely no drilling, nailing, or gluing to the floors, ceilings or molding is allowed. Absolutely no painting, mudding, plastering or use of adhesives/markers/paint/other damaging substances on the walls, pedestals, windows, floor or ceiling is allowed.
2D works appearing in any gallery MUST be framed and pre-wired (with sturdy picture wire only) for hanging PRIOR to arrival at the gallery.
Artwork appearing in the Lakefront on Langdon Gallery MUST be framed, prewired AND behind glass or plexiglass.
The Lakefront on Langdon Gallery has a bracketed rail system, so sintra mounts, sawtooth hangers and other non-wired hanging mechanisms will NOT work in this facility.
Memorial Union AV: For exhibitions that require AV equipment, the artist is responsible for providing all necessary equipment and instructions for simple operation. Our galleries are not staffed, so operation must be limited to starting the system at gallery opening each day of the exhibition (DVDs/CDs must loop.) Equipment must be installed to our risk management standards, or it will not be covered by insurance against theft, fire or damages in excess of normal handling.
Union South AV: Gallery 1308 features a discrete mono sound system with speakers, subwoofer, power amp, 5 disc CD changer, mp3 dock, mic input wall panel, and a single ceiling mount projector with 1 Blu Ray player (will project onto wall, not screen).
Any programmatic or financial sponsorships, grants, funds, etc must be approved for inclusion by the Art Committee prior to the start of the exhibition and are subject to all Wisconsin Union Directorate policies and procedures for co-sponsorships.
If the proposing party does not physically own/manage the artwork included in the proposal, adequate documentation of the availability of the artwork must be provided with the proposal. All rental, shipping, and transit insurance costs will be the responsibility of the proposing organization. The WUD Art Committee advisor must review and approve all contracts related to exhibitions of this nature prior to their final execution.

Publicity

The Art Committee oversees the design of electronic exhibition announcements with collaborative input from all artists exhibiting. The Art Committee reserves the right to edit artist statements as needed due to limited space in announcements.

The Art Committee distributes announcements to a sizeable electronic mailing list, but the artist is responsible for all costs associated with his/her own mailing list.
The Art Committee provides typing and printing of exhibition labels, wall text and price information.
The Art Committee sends press releases to local media and art organizations.
The Art Committee will also select one of the artist's images for inclusion on this web page.
The artist is expected to provide up to 6 electronic images of work in advance of exhibition, for publicity purposes. Images should be in jpg format and be at least 200 dpi resolution for use by local media.
Any other publicity materials provided/produced by the artist must be approved by an Art Committee Representative prior to production. The venue should be listed as “The Wisconsin Union Galleries” and the presenter should be listed as the “Wisconsin Union Directorate Art Committee” in all materials. The Wisconsin Union Directorate logo must be used on any and all materials that feature other institutional or sponsorship logos. Click here to download the logo (.JPG).

Artist Reception

The Art Committee provides a modest reception of non-alcoholic beverages and hors d'oeuvres for one shared reception per exhibit cycle. Artist may purchase alcoholic beverages and additional food or beverages through Union Catering at their own expense. The Opening Reception is usually held from 7pm - 9pm the first Friday of the exhibition. Please hold this date on your calendar. Carry-in food and/or beverages are not permitted in the Wisconsin Union Galleries.

Sales of Work

The Wisconsin Union Galleries must act as an intermediary for all sales of artwork during an exhibition. The Wisconsin Union Galleries takes a 20% commission on all sales during or resulting from an exhibition. Please price your works accordingly. The Wisconsin Union Galleries will collect 5.5% Wisconsin Sales Tax and will remit sales tax directly to the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.