Exhibition Application

Description of Available Galleries

The McMillan Arts Centre has four unique galleries
with different square footage and wall space. For dimensions, see the gallery
layouts provided.

1. Concert Gallery – largest space suitable for solo or shared shows.
2. Oceanside Gallery – second largest space best suited for solo shows but will accommodate shared exhibits or collaborations.
3. Nemeth Gallery- smallest of our galleries which includes a feature wall inside the entrance to the MAC.
4. Cloakroom MEDIA Gallery – a dedicated digital media gallery featuring 5 @ 28”X16” smart tv screens and one 28”X48” smart tv screen
   

The two largest galleries (Concert and Oceanside) also serve as rental space for concerts, meetings and other events that occur simultaneously with art exhibits. A description of any floor space required by
potential art exhibitors should be included in your application and must be discussed with the MAC and agreed to prior to the approval of an art show.

When should I apply?

Applications are accepted throughout the year with a final deadline of April 1st. Selections are made by the end of April,
at which time, all applicants will be notified of their application status. Applicants who are granted exhibitions will be provided with details about their specific dates
and gallery space via email from the Gallery Committee.

Note that the MAC makes every effort to accommodate solo exhibitions but cannot guarantee all requests.

What months are available for art exhibitions?

The MAC invites artists to apply for exhibition space from September to December and February to June. All exhibits have a duration
of 4 weeks. Requests for specific months are not guaranteed but we try our best
to accommodate requested time frames of approved exhibitors.

July and August are reserved for themed summer installations curated by the MAC.

What is the cost of an exhibit and commission structure?

The MAC charges $100 per gallery. This fee covers signage in the gallery space, advertising through the MAC’s web site and social media, and a shared opening reception with all four galleries. In cases of
shared gallery space, the fee is divided between the exhibiting artists/art
group.

For 2D and 3D artwork in exhibit, there is a 35% commission on the sale of all art exhibited throughout the duration of a 4-week exhibition. The MAC charges PST on sales but not GST. Artists are encouraged to consider this in their pricing.

The MAC reserves the right to maintain a 35% commission on art sold after the show for up to 30 days. This applies to customers who want to buy pieces after the show’s completion

Guidelines to Prepare 2D and 3D Art for Exhibition

• All work included in each installation should be new art produced within the last five years.
• All art should not have been shown at other art spaces in Oceanside during the last year.
• The condition of each piece is critical. Work will not be accepted if it has any signs of damage, wear, discoloration or requires cleaning/polishing/dusting.
• All pieces must be wired securely using D-rings with screws. Screw eyes are acceptable for small pieces only.
• Saw tooth hooks and V-clips are not acceptable.
• Any art with frames, or glass must be firmly intact, free of dust or smudges and wired for hanging.
  

Guidelines to Prepare Digital Media for Exhibition

• Gallery Setup: The Cloakroom Media Gallery comprises 6 screens. 5 are similar and arranged along the long wall of the gallery. They can either show individual artists, or where only one feature artist is being exhibited, each of the 5 screens display a different part of the exhibit. Traditionally, the 5 screens have been part of the exhibit story, with the 6th, largest screen on the short end wall linking the 5 other displays into one integrated exhibit. Where audio is part of the exhibit, the 6th, largest screen is active for maximum impact. The gallery is narrow, so thought should be given to the limited time the viewers have for screen time, to allow for natural crowd flow, depending on volume. Audio volume is limited due to spill over into the Concert Gallery. Music should be either original or copyright approved.
• Technical Requirements: Standard USB Thumb Drives are used to power the art images. Please format your thumb drive before loading your material, to allow the video or slideshow to play on RCA and Samsung TV units (FAT32, exFAT, NTFS). It is suggested that time limits on the main screen be limited to no more than 10 minutes, and preferably much less, to allow traffic flow through the Media Gallery during high volume periods. This requires the other 5 screens to be limited, on average, to 2 minutes each; a total of 10 minutes.
• Select Unique Artworks: When curating the exhibition, the first step is selecting unique artworks that will captivate the audience and make your gallery exhibit stand out. Choosing the right artwork goes beyond personal preference. It requires an understanding of how the audience sees the work within the media gallery, the exhibit theme, and the message you want to convey as an artist. The artwork should be of high quality and make a strong statement.
• Plan Gallery Layout: Think about how visitors will navigate the space, the path they take can greatly affect their experience and interpretation of the artwork. Create a natural flow that guides visitors from one screen to the next, maintaining a logical and engaging progression along the 5 screens, culminating in the 6th screen combining or summarizing the first 5 screens. Remember, the goal of your layout should be to create a memorable and enjoyable visitor experience.
• Summaries of Exhibit: The artist will provide a summary of their bio and the work they are to exhibit. This will be used to promote the exhibit online and within the Media Gallery. The artist should also provide a brief description of each of the 5 exhibits showing on the long wall. These will be used as titles at the side of each of the 5 screens describing the content of each screen video.
  
  

Installation Day

Exhibits are coordinated on Mondays when the MAC is closed to the public Installation volunteers are coordinated by the MAC to assist artists to load in and hang their show.

A member of the MAC’s Gallery Committee will be present to monitor the placement of 2D and 3D art in the galleries to ensure the MAC’s space/inventory criteria are adhered to and an appealing exhibit is installed. Artists with specific hanging formats
or unusual display arrangements should discuss them with the MAC prior to
installation

Curator of the Cloakroom Digital Media Gallery will coordinate installation of media exhibits with artist directly. 

Consider Your Space

Artists are strongly encouraged to visit the space they’ve been assigned to or refer to the gallery dimensions and floor plan to determine how many pieces to include in your show. We recommend assembling an appealing installation that leaves enough space between each piece to enhance the work and maximize sales.

Crowded installations or clear-outs including multiple pieces of accumulated work are
not accepted. The MAC reserves the right to override installation plans that do not meet these criteria even on installation day. If you need help planning the number of acceptable pieces to show, please contact the MAC for guidance.

Artist Merchandise

Merchandise displayed with an exhibit, such as greeting cards or other retail products, must be approved by the MAC gift shop well
before your installation date.