Durham Arts Council - Artist Information

Come face-to-face with the arts in Durham.

exhibits

How Exhibits Are Chosen

Click here for the 2010-2011 DAC Call for Artists Application (For Solo Shows)

Click here for the 2010-2011 DAC Special Exhibit Proposal Application (For Group Shows)

Application Deadline for the Call for Artists and Special Exhibit Proposals is Sunday, January 31, 2010 at 6 p.m.

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The Durham Arts Council building is a 52,000 square foot community arts center in downtown Durham that contains galleries, theatres, rehearsal studios, classrooms and meeting spaces.

What gallery space is available at Durham Arts Council?
There are 3 galleries in the building, but the DAC programs the following 2 galleries:
• Durham Arts Council's Allenton Gallery, main floor gallery area approaching the SunTrust Bank Gallery (approx. 42 running feet of hanging space) with halogen lighting.
• Durham Arts Council's Semans Gallery, second floor gallery area outside People's Security Insurance Theatre (approx. 78 running feet of hanging space) with halogen lighting.

The third gallery in the building is the SunTrust Bank Gallery programmed by the Durham Art Guild, a separate organization granted space in the building by the Durham Arts Council. (3,600 sq. ft., walls move to create quarter or half gallery spaces) with halogen lighting.

Who decides what exhibits are shown?
Every year the Durham Arts Council issues a "Call for Artists" to solicit applications for solo exhibits. The DAC holds screenings to select artists for the exhibition in the coming year. Screening panels change annually and consist of artists and arts professionals from the Triangle area. The "Call for Artists" is usually available in August and the application deadline is usually at the end of January.

The Durham Art Guild screens separately for solo exhibitions in the SunTrust Bank Gallery. More information on exhibiting in the Durham Art Guild’s gallery can be found at www.durhamartguild.org. The Durham Art Guild's phone number is (919) 560-2713.

Durham Arts Council screens for solo exhibitions in Allenton & Semans Galleries. Selected artists will generally receive one entire gallery for solo exhibit. These galleries serve as the main entry points for the first and second floors of the Durham Arts Council Building. Constant and diverse traffic and activities occur in the galleries and they are frequently scheduled for special events, especially receptions. Because of this traffic, DAC will only consider works which can be hung on the walls or exhibited in display cases. Additionally, DAC cannot provide electricity for exhibits in Semans or Allenton Galleries. Although DAC does not endorse any restrictions on any particular artistic content, in making programming decisions the agency will consider the fact that all users of the building must pass through the gallery space as they enter. Artists may reside outside of North Carolina but must deliver/install and remove show. For additional Durham Arts Council exhibit information contact Barclay McConnell, Artist Services Manager, bmcconnell@durhamarts.org.

What if I have an exhibit idea that is not a solo show?
The DAC will entertain proposals for exhibits other than solo shows (for example; a show that includes the work of several artists, a show based on a theme, a group or association show). We have a separate Proposal for Special Exhibits application (see top of page). The deadline for submitting special proposals is the same as for solo shows.

Where do I get the application form?
DAC normally emails a link to the applications to visual artists on their e-lists and publicizes the call through various publicity outlets. Other options are to pick up an application at the front desk of the DAC Building, contact us at (919) 560-2787 or email bmcconnell@durhamarts.org and request one, or download a Call for Artists as noted at the top of this page.