Exhibition

Lawrence Arts Center Exhibition Program Sponsors

• Emprise Bank
• Donating Artists, Lawrence Art Auction

Lawrence Art Auction Sponsors

• Morgan Stanley
• Intrust Bank

The Lawrence Arts Center provides the community with 13 - 16 exhibitions each year in its two galleries. Approximately half of these are developed by Lawrence community arts groups. Other exhibitions feature work by professional artists in all media. Individual artists are encouraged to apply to display their work in the galleries (see "How to Apply for an Exhibition at the Lawrence Arts Center") Exhibitions are supported by grants, donations, sales and, primarily, by the proceeds of the Lawrence Art Auction, the major spring fundraising event of the Lawrence Arts Center. [Link]

As a community arts center and an independent educational not-for-profit organization, the Arts Center is committed to providing opportunities for all kinds of artists. In recent years, the Center has shown in its galleries over 1,000 artists per year of both genders, all ages, many ethnic backgrounds, all media, and ranging from local preschool children to internationally known artists from such places as Tibet, Korea, China, Canada, Germany and Indonesia. The exhibition program director takes a comprehensive approach to the selection of exhibitions. No particular group, philosophy, or approach to art is favored over others. The mission of the exhibition program is to represent and serve the community's artists in every form and expression, young and old, contemporary and historical, "cutting edge" and even "out-of-it." Such richness reflects the community that the Arts Center serves.

The Exhibition Program hosts the Committee on Imagination & Place, a group of scholars, artists, writers, environmentalists and educators with an interest in ideas of place. The Committee produces conferences, symposia, lectures, readings and, through the I&P Press, publications. [Link]

The Lawrence Arts Center Gallery Shop offers fine arts and crafts by local artists. The Shop is located just off the lobby of the Arts Center and is open during the week and often during special evening and weekend events. [Link]

Exhibition Calendar

Download Spring Schedule

June 5 - July 17

From the 60's to Sixty Something: A Journey of Art and Friendship
Works by Jim Brothers and Louis Copt

July 24 - August 21

Lawrence Art Guild All Members Show

September 8 - October 2

Contemporary Native American Exhibition
Artists TBA

September 8 - October 2

New Works by Donika Wiley
Wiley is the 2008/2009 Lawrence Arts Center Artist-in-Residence in Printmaking

October 9 - 23

Exhibition TBA

October 30 - December 18

New Works by Jan Gaumnitz
Reception: October 30, 7 - 9p.m.

How to Apply for an Exhibition
at the Lawrence Arts Center

Send a letter, or an e-mail, to the Gallery Director describing the exhibition you envision. Include a current resume for each artist plus examples of ten works representing the work to be shown. Examples may be sent as 35mm slides, photo-copies or digital files on CD or via e-mail. If you have a professional website, include the address. Also include your telephone number(s), mail address and e-mail address.

Exhibitions are planned on an annual basis by the gallery director in consultation with the Exhibition Committee. (Note: the composition and role of the Exhibition Committee (as well as other committees of the board) is currently being reviewed by the board of directors and the Center's new Executive Director. The reformation of the Exhibition Committee will be announced in this space when it is completed. Applications that are now being received will be considered as soon as possible. In general, new exhibitions are planned 18 to 24 months in advance.

The Lawrence Arts Center works with community arts groups and the public schools as well as individual local, national and international artists. Proposals from both established and new "grass roots" arts groups are encouraged as are those by both young and established professional artists.

Delivery/Pick up of work

It is the responsibility of the artist/exhibitor to deliver and pick-up work for display unless other arrangements are made in advance with the gallery director. If work is to be shipped, reusable cartons or crates should be used and return-shipping fees should be pre-paid or provided to the Center in the form of a check made out to Lawrence Arts Center.

Installation

Lawrence Arts Center staff members, in consultation with the artist/exhibitor, will normally install exhibitions. In the case of group shows that are sponsored by organizations, those organizations may take responsibility for the installation and de-installation of exhibitions.

Wall Labels

The Lawrence Arts Center can, and normally will, produce exhibition wall labels for individual works of art. Copy for labels should be provided to the Arts Center no later than two weeks prior to the opening of the exhibition.

Sales

Works of art may be offered for sale in the Centers galleries. If works are to be offered for sale, prices should be included with information on each piece and a preference specified for either a price list to be available in the gallery or for prices to be individually printed on wall labels. The Center will charge a 35% commission on all sales of art up to $500 in value, 25% over $500. Artists will receive payment for sold work in the form of a Lawrence Arts Center check issued at the end of the exhibition.

Public information and marketing

The Lawrence Arts Center will produce media information regarding all exhibitions in its galleries. Artists should provide information about themselves in the form of a current resume, slides or digital files of artwork, and any other suitable document that would be of use in preparing public information.

The Arts Center publishes The Arts in Action, an arts magazine, three times each year and will prepare articles and calendars that inform the public of upcoming exhibitions.

The Arts Center will meet the cost of mailing exhibition announcement cards to its members and to names and addresses provided by the artist/exhibitor. In some cases the Arts Center will design and have printed at Arts Center expense announcement cards for exhibitions. In other circumstances, artists/exhibitors will have responsibility for their own cards. In the latter case, the Arts Center gallery director must approve card designs before they are printed. All postal regulations related to non-profit bulk mailing must be honored.

Receptions

The Lawrence Arts Center will normally hold a public reception for artists or arts groups having exhibitions in the Center's galleries. Dates for receptions will be set in consultation with the artists/exhibitors. Exhibiting artists are expected to attend the receptions unless circumstances prevent it.

In the case of arts groups that have regularly scheduled exhibitions in the Arts Center galleries, responsibility for reception invitations, refreshments, and entertainment will be with the arts organization itself rather than the Arts Center.

Gallery Talk/Lectures

The Arts Center encourages exhibiting artists to provide a gallery talk/lecture to the public at some time during the exhibition. Arrangements for such talks will be made individually with the gallery director.

Workshops

The Lawrence Arts Center routinely offers classes and workshops to the public. Exhibiting artists and arts groups are encouraged to consider offering a class or workshop in connection with their exhibition. Coordination and planning for such classes and workshops will be done through the LAC education program director in cooperation with the gallery director.

Insurance

The Lawrence Arts Center does not carry insurance on individual works of art that are voluntarily displayed in its gallery. While the Arts Center takes every reasonable precaution to keep a safe and secure exhibition environment, it cannot be responsible for damage or theft of items exhibited in its galleries. Artists/exhibitors assume all risk for items on display. Artists who wish to insure their work should make arrangements directly with their own insurance agents. The Arts Center gallery director will be happy to supply artists/exhibitors or insurance agents with information related to the building and the exhibition.

Gallery Shop

The Lawrence Arts Center Gallery Shop features original work from over 90 local artists. We offer a wide variety of mediums, such as jewelry, ceramics, paintings, photography, textiles, books, cards, prints and more.

The shop is open from noon until 5pm, Tuesday through Saturday, as well as for special events and is staffed by volunteers who donate their time to support the arts. To learn more about the artists we are featuring, please visit the Gallery Shop Artists page.[Link]

If you are interested in offering your work for sale in the shop or volunteering , please contact Lee Saylor at lactech@sunflower.com.