Joining Peer Gallery

ARTISTS’ CO-OPERATIVE
GUIDELINES FOR MEMBERSHIP 2008-09

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR MEMBERSHIP
A practicing visual artist demonstrating interesting subject matter and the technical skill and proficiency in its production & presentation.

An ability and interest to actively participate in the spirit and operation of the Co-operative gallery.

Please be advised that reproductions (directly scanned images, ie. paintings, watercolours, drawings or mixed media) printed by offset or archival ink jet or giclee, are not accepted by the co-operative gallery.

BENEFITS OF BEING A FULL MEMBER
An established gallery for contemporary art (opened June 2002)
A great exhibition space in one of the most visited areas of Nova Scotia
You’ll be featured on our gallery website, www.peer-gallery.com
You will benefit from any of the PR. for the gallery in general.
You’ll have a min. of 6’ and a max. of 9’ of linear wall space or if you a creator of 3D objects, a comparable amount of floor space
You’ll have an opportunity to hold a 2-week solo show in the off season,
spring or fall. (if no present and prior member claims the time period)
You’ll keep 100% of the revenue from sales of your work, minus the credit card fee.
Peer Gallery uses VISA & Master Card service.
There is a collegial atmosphere to share with fellow members
Peer Gallery is part of the Lunenburg Art galleries’ Co-operative. The larger Co-operative produces a gallery map and catalogue to create a market destination for Lunenburg.

HALF MEMBER STATUS
This position is reserved for only 2 half members.
They have the same benefits of belonging to the gallery as the above, except they cannot have a solo exhibit but only a shared exhibit with the other half member. They also share a full members wall space, in other half the space for each half member.

FULL MEMBERSHIP FEES
You must be willing to commit to full year membership, June 1 – May 31
Monthly fees, $ 100.00 in 12 postdated nonrefundable cheques, (June 1 - May 1), delivered by MARCH 1
If you don’t wish to renew your commitment for the following year, please advise the Co op in writing by NOVEMBER 1

HALF MEMBERSHIP FEES
You must be willing to commit to full year membership, June 1 – May 31
Monthly fees, $65.00 in 12 postdated nonrefundable cheques, (June 1 – May 1), delivered by March. 1. If you don’t wish to renew your commitment for the following year, please advise the Co-op in writing by NOVEMBER 1.

FULL MEMBER’S RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Gallery sitting on an average three, 8 hour sessions (10:30 – 5:30) per month in season, June 1 - October 15. Gallery sitting during the Off season, (depending on solo exhibits), March 15 - May 31, 1-2 days a month, 4 hour sessions (12:00 - 4:00). Please note that if scheduling time is difficult, we have a sitter available with enough notice. She is paid $9 per hour.
2. Attend monthly Co-op meetings (at least ¾ of the meetings)
3. Support openings and other gallery events if possible.
4. Share tasks: e.g. exhibition planning, installation, hospitality, PR
5. Supply alternate work for exhibit on a monthly basis, the same time as the meetings. (The same image shouldn’t be displayed for more than 2 consecutive months).
6. Sit or arrange gallery sitting during one’s own show
7. Re the monthly hanging of one’s own work, utmost care must be taken of the walls. After the exhibit you must return the walls to their previous state.
8. Equally responsible for the rent & other expenses of the gallery. (The monthly fee $100 may go up, although we’ve held it to that figure for the last 7 years).

HALF MEMBER’S RESPONSIBILITIES
They have half the gallery responsibilities, i.e. sitting the gallery, going to meetings etc.
They have half the voting privileges.
The 2 half members arrange between themselves, their schedule for the sitting, meetings and rehangs for the gallery.

MEMBER’S EXHIBITION SCHEDULE
No member, full or half, can have an exhibit in the spring (March – May) unless they are continuing their membership the next year.

PLEASE NOTE: The gallery has no insurance for your personal artworks, only insurance that covers liability for the gallery.

NON MEMBER EXHIBITS, OR EXHIBITS INVOLVING NON MEMBERS DURING THE EXHIBIT PERIOD OR OTHER EVENTS TO BE FEATURED BY THE GALLERY:

All NON MEMBER exhibits or events can only be scheduled during the closed period of the gallery, usually January 1 – March 15. However in some cases a member may want a nonmember to exhibit with him/her during the spring or fall period.

All exhibits and events have to be approved by a simple majority vote of the membership.

TO JOIN PEER GALLERY, MEMBERSHIP SUBMISSIONS FOR YOUR PORTFOLIO SHOULD INCLUDE:

Artist statement describing your practice, specialized areas of interest and/or a particular body of work, résumé that includes your background and exhibition/gallery experience (if any).

Examples of work:
Up to 10 pieces, original work is preferable to augment your submission; you can send slides, CDs, (Digital) jpeg images to:
Susan Hudson,
P.O. Box 52,
Lunenburg, NS., B0J 2CO
(902) 634-9991
Email

Please provide your own contact information (mail, email, telephone, etc). If needed, please enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of smaller submission packages. We will do our best to return your portfolio and works but we are not responsible for loss or damage of material submitted.

SELECTION PROCESS FOR NEW APPLICANTS TO PEER
Applications for new members are reviewed at the January meeting each year. The CV, artist’s statement and submitted digital images are reviewed by the current Peer Gallery members.

Each member enters their ranking of the applicant on the summary sheet with comments if they wish.

The votes on the summary sheets are counted and a shortlist created.

If the shortlist is longer than the available spaces these applicants will be asked to formally submit examples of their work to the Gallery for further review.

Both the successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified by mail or e-mail.

Willingness to become an active participant in the co-operative framework and to commit to membership for a full year are important considerations in reviewing the submissions of prospective new members.

The time between Dec. 23 – March 13, 2008, the gallery will be closed. (Subject to change if demand requires it).

However from February 15 – March 13, the space can be used for weekend lectures on art practice, visiting artists, book readings, etc. (members’ work could be displayed and sculptural pieces could also be displayed out of traffic areas during these events).

OBJECTIVES OF THE GALLERY

(According to the Co-operative Associations Act): The objectives for which the Peer Gallery Co operative is established are carried on a co-operative basis, is the promotion of contemporary art, the provision of a gallery to exhibit contemporary art and the provision of a supportive environment for the artists of the Cooperative gallery

MISSION STATEMENT

PEER GALLERY Co-operative is a non-profit organization whose members are recognized visual artists working together to nurture and promote their artistic passion and to actively engage in the cultural life of the broader community.