Buzz Ware Village Center (BWVC) Public Art Exhibit Space Operating Policy

Mission Statement

The Mission for the BWVC Public Art program is to increase public awareness and appreciation of visual arts by providing a setting for exhibitions and educational programming. 

Schedule:  The BWVC intends to conduct periodic exhibits in the designated areas of the facility.  Each exhibit will be scheduled to last at least one week and up to four weeks by agreement. 

Security/Insurance:  The BWVC is a public space with limited access.  Insurance on exhibited works will be the responsibility of the Artist.  The Artist will hold harmless the Village of Arden, BWVC and its representatives for liability due to damage, destruction or theft.  The Artist must sign this Policy and Art Loop Application prior to installing artwork, in acknowledgment and understanding of this Policy. 

Frequency of Display:  A selected artist may not have exhibited in any medium within the past 24 months at the BWVC as a featured artist of this program.  One exception to this would be on the rare occasion an Art Loop Reception needs to be cancelled due to weather. 

Selection:  The Selection Subcommittee, (currently: Toby Ridings, BWVC Committee member; and Bernadette Donohue, coordinator), is appointed by the BWVC Committee to choose the exhibition content.  The Selection Subcommittee may consult the BWVC Committee for its recommendation for final approval as applicable.  Notification letters or Email confirming acceptance or rejection will be sent to each submitting Artist after a few selections for display have been finalized.  The selections made by the BWVC Selection Subcommittee are final. 

Application Process:

a.     The BWVC Committee shall consider any Application to exhibit art at the BWVC facility.  The Application consists of a completed Art Loop Application form and a minimum of at least three photos (or samples) of the type of work proposed for display.  

b.     The Selection Subcommittee shall approve all Applications on the basis of the guidelines below. Preference will be given to artists based in the Ardens.

c.      For Subcommittee approval, at a minimum of 30 days prior to the show, the exhibitor will present for inspection photos of the art to be shown or the artwork itself.  The Committee recognizes that art making does not stop and if the artist wants to substitute a new piece for an approved piece, they must do so prior to hanging the show.  The Subcommittee reserves the right to refuse unapproved artwork.              

d.     If an Application to exhibit is disapproved, an explanation as to why in writing will be provided to the applicant. 

e.     If an Application to exhibit is approved, the BWVC Selection Subcommittee shall negotiate the display area and period with the applicant and arrange for the exhibit’s installation and removal.                                                                                                                                                               

Selection Guidelines:  Applicants will be judged on the basis of originality, artistic quality, and suitability for a family setting.  All decisions made by the Selection Subcommittee and/or the BWVC Committee will be final. 

Sales Policy:  Each Artist is allowed to offer works for sale.  Effective April 6, 2018, the BWVC requires a commission of 10% total sales by the 25th of the exhibition month.  Checks can be made payable to BWVC; and sent to 2119 the Highway, Arden DE 19810. 

Exhibitor/Artist’s Responsibility

Exhibit Opening:  The BWVC will hold an opening reception for each Exhibition.  The date and time of the opening reception will be defined as part of the scheduling agreement with most openings being on the evening of the first Friday of the month.  The exhibiting Artist will be required to be present for the duration of the opening event.  The exhibitor will supply an Artist’s Statement to be displayed for the duration of the show. 

Exhibit Installation:  Each exhibitor is responsible for the installation of the artwork with the assistance of a member of the BWVC Selection Subcommittee, BWVC staff and/or volunteer.  Artworks must be “ready to hang”.  The installation should be done in such a manner that the facilities can be returned to the original state without cost to the BWVC.  By mutual agreement, some portion of the installation may be removed by the exhibitor prior to the end of the exhibit if it represents a safety or security concern.  That is, any works not displayed on the walls must be removed at the end of opening night.

Exhibit Removal:  The removal date and time will be coordinated with the assistance of a BWVC Selection Subcommittee member or designated volunteer.  There will be a charge of $5.00 per day per piece issued to the exhibitor for items not removed by the agreed upon time.

Publicity:  Exhibitor is responsible for submitting publicity information to the BWVC Selection Subcommittee preferably 6-8 weeks before the opening of the show.

 Artist/Exhibitor Name:                                     _______________________________________

 Exhibit Dates:                                            _______________________________________

 Acceptance of Policy Conditions:      ________________________________________      (exhibiter signature)