Exhibitions
City of Sydney Library Art Display Policy
1. Purpose
1.1 The purpose of the policy is to guide the effective use of the City of Sydney Library’s display areas.
1.2 To establish criteria by which City staff can judge the suitability of a display.
Photograph: Kings Cross Library.
2. Background
Within each of the eight libraries under the control of the City of Sydney there are a number of areas for the display of artwork. This policy outlines how the spaces can be used for the benefit of the City of Sydney, visitors and residents in an organised, fair manner.
The spaces are flexible to display a variety of mediums and are offered free of charge to individual artists as well as community, educational and charity groups. Each library has a number of locations to utilise, and different libraries are able to accommodate different mediums. Applicants are encouraged to visit the libraries to view the spaces available to determine which is the most suitable or contact the Team Leader of the library in which you are interested to discuss the use of the space.
3. Application and Selection Process
3.1 Applicants must submit a proposal including a description of work, dates required (if appropriate) and 3 samples of work proposed to be displayed. Proposal should be no more than 500 words and sent attention to the Exhibition Coordinator by either email or post.
3.2 Proposals will be assessed by the Exhibition Coordinator and the relevant Team Leader and, where necessary, in consultation with the Library Manager and the Manager, Culture and Libraries.
3.3 A period of one (1) month will be required for the selection process.
3.4 Applicants will be notified by the Exhibition Coordinator to advise of the outcome and, if successful, arrange dates for display.
4. Display Content
City of Sydney Culture and Library management can reasonably reject any application if it is deemed to not be in compliance with any of the following:
4.1 Work should be:
• Created by;
• Relevant to;
• For the benefit of;
the Council or residents of the City of Sydney.
4.2 Relevant to the City’s Library’s status as a community cultural institution accessed by people of all ages, displays that can be reasonably judged to be obscene, illegal or offensive will not be permitted.
4.3 Interpretive signage content will be judged by same criteria found under point 4.2 and must of a presentable quality and of a size and colour fitting with existing library décor. This is at the discretion of the Team Leader and should be discussed before production.
4.4 Items within display may not be sold through the library display. Contact details and/or website may be provided.
4.5 Displays for businesses or for-profit organisations will not be permitted with the exception of professional artists.
4.6 Content must be for information only and not attempt to persuade viewers to a particular political or religious point of view.
5. Scheduling
5.1 Display allotments are for a minimum of two (2) weeks to a maximum of four (4). Team Leaders can authorise displays of lengths of time in excess of one month in consultation with the Manager, Culture and Libraries.
5.2 If a display is date specific, i.e. artworks themed around Seniors Week for example, applications must be submitted at least 3 months in advance. Applications for specific dates will be considered, but the City will not necessarily be able to accommodate them.
5.3 Preference is given to community or educational organisations over individual artists.
5.4 The City retains the right to cancel or postpone any display at short notice, if a booked display space is needed for the City’s own purposes.
6. Rights and Responsibilities of Applicant
6.1 To produce, and be present during the installation and dismantling of artwork and associated materials. Applicants can apply for funding through a number of the City’s Grants and Sponsorships.
6.2 Display must be installed and complete by the morning of the first day of the display allotment.
6.3 Display must be removed at the end of the final day of allotted time. If the display is not removed, the Exhibition Coordinator will organise for the removal of it and store it on site for a maximum of seven (7) days. At the end of this period, if there is no further communication from the artist, the method of disposal of the display items is at the discretion of the Library Manager.
6.4 Display must comply with relevant OH&S policy (related document 8.1) during installation, display and dismantling. Applicants are covered by the City’s public liability policy however exhibitors install and dismantle their exhibition at their own risk. The Exhibition Coordinator should notify the Manager Risk Management via email of the installation and dismantling dates.
6.5 Exhibitors are responsible for the costs and organisation of insurance of work in transit and for the duration of the exhibition.
6.6 Exhibitors are responsible for the care of their equipment. The Library will not accept responsibility for loss or damage of the exhibitor’s equipment.
6.7 Display areas, including all cabinets, fittings, hanging materials must be returned to original condition after the display period has ended. Applicants must consult with the Team Leader and Exhibition Coordinator to determine any specific requirements of the space they are using.
6.8 Catering requirements, if applicable, must be organised and paid for by the exhibitor.
7. Rights and Responsibilities of the City of Sydney
7.1 The City will provide security for the display within the confines of standard library security procedure; however, while the display items and installation hardware are on site, the City is not liable for any damage or theft that occurs either before, during, or after the display period.
7.2 The City is able to promote the display through its normal channels of promotion such as the City’s website, newsletters etc. The content of promotional material must be supplied by the applicant, including any written text or high quality jpeg images, and must presented to the City a minimum of three (3) months before the display is installed. However, the City is not obliged to promote the display. If exhibitors wish to promote their exhibition through advertising, the costs and organisation of advertising are entirely their responsibility.
Download
- Library Art Display Policy Form | PDF 309Kb
For More Information
Written submissions should be addressed to either:
Exhibition Coordinator
City of Sydney Library
GPO Box 1591
Sydney NSW 2001
or
Email: library@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
Tel: 02 9265 9895
