San Mei Gallery Open Call for Exhibitions 2023
Early Bird deadline: Sunday 17 July 2022 (midnight)
Deadline: Sunday 7 August 2022 (midnight)
Successful applicants contacted by Friday 16 September 2022
What is the opportunity?
We are looking for exhibition proposals from artists, creatives, designers, architects and makers (solo or groups) with research-based practices to stage an exhibition in our Brixton-based gallery in 2023.
This Open Call is looking for three exhibitions to be held at San Mei Gallery in 2023, which will be selected by the San Mei Gallery curatorial team.
Opened in 2017, San Mei Gallery is an independent space for contemporary art in South London, committed to research-led, educational and collaborative exchanges. Operating with an artist-led approach, we support artists and curators to experiment with new ideas. The gallery promotes and facilitates emerging artistic practice, through exhibitions, residencies, studios and events. Our cross-disciplinary programme aims to engage with local and international audiences.
In 2020, San Mei Gallery launched its first Open Call for exhibitions. This Open Call is our third annual edition. If you already applied for the first or second one and haven’t been selected, please don’t be shy and feel free to apply again! But please do read the application terms because a few things changed, hopefully improved, from previous years.
Who is San Mei Gallery looking to support?
Although this Open Call doesn’t present a particular theme, we look to work with artists with a research-based practice, and with a demonstrated record of critical thinking.
Applications will be selected on the basis of the following criteria:
- Quality of artwork and/or research
- Uniqueness and inventiveness of approach/methodology
- Critical rigour and engagement with broader social, political, and/or theoretical discourses
- Relevance to San Mei Gallery’s context and audiences
- Openness to collaboration with San Mei Gallery.
Who is eligible?
This Open Call for exhibition proposals is for artists, designers, architects and other creative practitioners wanting to exhibit at San Mei Gallery in 2023. We welcome solo or group shows that present a coherent project and are responsive to our space. This opportunity is open to contributors of all ages, at any point in their career, regardless of nationality, sexuality, gender identity, race or religion.
Whilst this open call is open to international applicants, unfortunately San Mei Gallery is unable to support artists with travel, transport of work to and from the gallery and accommodation. Please get in touch with us via email (info@sanmeigallery.co.uk) if you have questions regarding how we might be able to stage your exhibition if you are not based in the UK.
How to apply
1. Proposals must be submitted via our www.sanmeigallery.co.uk where you will be asked to provide:
a. Your name and preferred pronoun(s)
b. Any collaborator’s names, contact details,
c. Your exhibition proposal either as a PDF or, as an accessible alternative, tell us about your proposal via a video or audio track. Video and audio tracks should be uploaded to a third party platform, such as Youtube, Vimeo or Soundcloud. (Recommendations of what to include in your proposal are detailed in the next section of this document).
d. Preferred dates for your exhibition
e. Details of a correlated event alongside your exhibition.
2. You must also complete an Equal Opportunities Form alongside your application. The information you provide here is anonymous and will not be considered alongside your application. Complete your Equal Opportunities Form
www.sanmeigallery.co.uk.
3. Finally, you must also pay a £18 submissions fee (£9 early bird fee for applications submitted by Sunday 17 July). Please make your payment with the same email address you used in your application so we know you have paid. Pay your submissions fee on our website www.sanmeigallery.co.uk.
If you are unable to process your submissions fee through GoCardless (e.g. you have a non-UK based bank account), please complete an international bank transfer to using the bank details below with the reference code ‘220 [YOUR NAME]’ and email confirmation to us at info@sanmeigallery.co.uk so we can keep track of payments.
Bank details for international transfer:
Company name: Van Gogh House London & Gallery C.I.C
Account number: 61463191
Sort code: 040075
IBAN: GB04REVO00996940630378
SWIFT / BIC: REVOGB21
Intermediary BIC: CHASGB2L
What to include in your proposal
If you are submitting a pdf proposal, please include:
● A description of your proposed exhibition (300 words max)
● Details about you and your practice (200 words max)
● Examples of previous work
● You may wish to include other material in your PDF proposal as appropriate to your project, such as but these are not essential:
● Supplementary drawings
● Preparatory sketches
● Background research
● Links to an artist website
● CV
PDF proposals should not exceed 10 pages and must be under 10MB.
If you are submitting your proposal as a video or audio track instead of a pdf document, please:
● Tell us about your proposed exhibition
● Tell us about yourself and your practice, including examples of your previous work
● If you have any supplementary materials such as images or your work, website links, CV, please put these in a pdf or word document and upload on the google form to be considered alongside your video. If you want to provide supplementary material but are unable to put this in a document, please contact us at info@sanmeigallery.co.uk and we will find a way for you to include this in your application.
If you have any access requirements please get in touch via: info@sanmeigallery.co.uk.
Fees
● There is a £18 submissions fee (£9 early bird fee for applications submitted by Sunday 17 July 2022) to cover the administration costs necessary for the open call selection process.
● Selected artists will be given an exhibition production budget of £500 to contribute to the production of the exhibition. Any additional production costs must be covered by the artist. Please find further specifications on fees and budget in the following paragraphs.
Selections Process
Applications will be reviewed by the San Mei Gallery curatorial team. A shortlist of applicants will be selected for interview in late August or early September, via Zoom or in person.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS (If your application is successful)
San Mei will be able to support you with the following:
● An exhibition that runs for 6 weeks, during our opening hours of Wednesday–Saturday, 11am–6pm.
● A rich and varied public programme curated by the gallery team, running in conjunction with the exhibition, expanding on its core themes and research.
● Support with the installation and deinstallation of the exhibition from a professional install tech.
● Exhibition marketing and press liaison (including social media promotion, vinyl lettering displays, newsletters and press liaison).
● Invigilation of the opening event and during gallery opening hours.
● Curatorial support for your exhibition.
● Help with any funding application you may want to apply for (proofreading, advice, support letter). We can also apply for funding on the artists behalf but this will require prompt collaboration and professional documentation from the artists.
● Professional documentation of the exhibition.
● Selected artists will be given an exhibition production budget of £500 to contribute to the production of the exhibition. Any additional production costs must be covered by the artist.
San Mei expects from the selected artists:
● San Mei Gallery does not have insurance to cover exhibited works against loss and damage. If you are concerned about the security of your works, please do get in touch with us for further information. We recommend that you personally cover insurance through A-N.
● To be available to give a tour, talk, workshop or one other activity to encourage audience engagement with the works over the course of the exhibition.
● To be aware that, in case of any sale, profits of sales of artwork are split between the artist and the gallery after VAT is charged only on the gallery’s commission. The gallery’s commission is 45% + VAT. This results in the artist receiving 46% of the gross price. San Mei Gallery is a non-profit organisation (registered as a Community Interest Company), therefore all profits from art sales are fed back into future programmes.
● To fully be in charge of the research and production of your work. San Mei Gallery can cover the exhibition production costs up to £500. This is not an artwork commission opportunity and therefore this budget is for exhibition production costs only, such as installation materials, equipment hire and artwork transport. Any additional exhibition production costs above £500 would have to be covered by the artist.
● If you expect your budget to exceed what San Mei Gallery can offer financially, we strongly encourage you to apply for funding from third party funding organisations such as Arts Council England and the Elephant Trust. San Mei Gallery will work closely with you to support you through that process.
● To cover the transportation costs of your work to and from the gallery.
● Although this open call is open to international applicants, artists based outside the UK must cover their own travel, artwork shipping and accommodation costs to the UK.
● To understand that San Mei Gallery works with artists collaboratively and therefore will co-curate the exhibition with them, as this is not a gallery hire. The curatorial team will work with you on the presentation of your exhibition in order to collaboratively achieve professional standards.
● If your proposal is accepted, San Mei Gallery will do a studio visit in order to agree on aspects of the exhibition and see work in person. This will happen 3 months before the exhibition.
● To be aware of the fact that there is a grand piano in the space. You are encouraged to think creatively about how it will sit within your exhibition. Covering it with a plinth is allowed, however, San Mei Gallery will not contribute towards the costs for this.
● To be aware that the double door entrance section of the gallery contains the San Mei Shop and the gallery desk. These cannot be moved and must be considered when planning the exhibition space.
● To work with San Mei Gallery to produce a limited edition artwork(s) accompanying the exhibition that can be sold in the SMG shop, the profits of which can help to fundraise and support future San Mei Gallery artistic and educational programmes as a non-profit organisation.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do you have further details about the gallery space (map, dimensions, images etc.)?
Information about the gallery space including a floor plan, dimensions, and images can be found in our gallery info pack here.
Can I apply with a collaborator?
Yes
Can it be a group show?
Yes, we are open to proposals from individuals or groups.
Can it be a solo show?
Yes, we are open to proposals from individuals or groups.
Can I send images of previous work?
Please upload examples of previous work in your PDF proposal.
Can I include work that has been exhibited elsewhere?
Artwork previously exhibited can be included.
Can I apply if I am not based in the UK?
Whilst this open call is open to international applicants, unfortunately San Mei Gallery is unable to support artists with travel, transport of work to and from the gallery and accommodation. Please get in touch with us via email (info@sanmeigallery.co.uk) if you have questions regarding how we might be able to stage your exhibition if you are not based in the UK.
How defined should my proposal be?
Your proposal should be developed, specific, thoroughly researched and well thought through. If the work you wish to include in your exhibition has not been made yet, we would expect to see plans of what you want to present as well as examples of previous work. We also recognise that projects can and do evolve, and as part of our curatorial remit we will work collaboratively with successful applicants towards the final exhibition.
Can the proposal's title change?
If your application is successful you will have the opportunity to change the title of your proposal.
Can I apply with a performance?
This Open Call is for exhibitions lasting 6 weeks. However, performance may be an element of the exhibition you propose.
Can I submit a solo application as well as a group application?
Yes, you’re more than welcome to apply with separate projects with different collaborators. However, you would have to pay a submissions fee for each project you apply with.
Do I have to give an artist talk as part of the exhibition?
It is not essential for the artist to give a talk, other ways of audience engagement are encouraged too. We will work collaboratively and sensitively with you to deliver an engaging events programme that feels appropriate to you and your work.
What will I get in terms of support from the gallery?
Please refer to our terms and conditions (above in this document) for a full list of the support San Mei Gallery is able to offer successful applicants.
My payment won’t go through on Go Cardless. Is there another way I can pay?
If you are unable to process your submissions fee through GoCardless (e.g. you have a non-UK based bank account), please complete an international bank transfer to using the bank details below and email confirmation to us at info@sanmeigallery.co.uk so we can keep track of payments.
Bank details for international transfer:
Company name: Van Gogh House & Gallery CIC
Account number: 61463191
Sort code: 040075
IBAN: GB04REVO00996940630378
SWIFT / BIC: REVOGB21
Intermediary BIC: CHASGB2L
Where does the Open Call submissions fee money go?
The submissions fee covers the administrative costs of running the Open Call. If we receive more applications than expected, any excess profit from the submissions fee will be directly funded into the successful proposals. San Mei Gallery is a registered Community Interest Company (CIC), which is a special type of company that exists to benefit the community rather than private shareholders. We are not looking to make a profit from this Open Call.
When will the finalists be selected and will I be notified?
Successful applicants will be contacted via email by Friday 16 September 2022. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified via email towards the end of September 2022.
Will you be able to give feedback if my application is unsuccessful?
We expect a large volume of submissions and unfortunately, we won’t be able to get back to applicants with individual feedback.
How many proposals will be selected from this Open Call?
We will be selecting three exhibitions from this Open Call.
How will San Mei Gallery guarantee fairness and equality in the access, treatment and selection process of the Open Call?
We strive to be as fair as possible in administering this Open Call. The anonymous information provided in the Equal Opportunities Form helps us identify areas we may need to improve in future opportunities. If you have any access requirements, please contact us by email via info@sanmeigallery.co.uk or telephone at +44 (0) 2070 959771.
What will happen with the data of the applications after selection?
We will keep successful applications in our records indefinitely. We will hold onto unsuccessful applications for three months after selection, after which they will be deleted. If we wish to hold onto your application beyond then, we will send a request via email. The data provided in the Equal Opportunities Form is anonymous and will be kept on our records indefinitely.