The Weight Room

Department of Art Exhibition Guidelines

 

• All student applicants must receive approval from a department of art faculty advisor to exhibit artwork in department spaces. After an application is made, the faculty advisor listed on the form will be contacted for confirmation of their involvement. Applications will not move forward without faculty acknowledgement.
• Exhibitions that originate from outside of the Department of Art may be considered, but must have a Department of Art faculty advisor. These exhibitions and non-student applications are considered, but receive lower priority than student exhibitions from within the department. See Externally Originating Exhibitions below.
  
  
• Exhibitions should display works that demonstrate quality, skill, and craftsmanship in both concept and execution.
  
  
• Artworks that are physically dangerous and/or advocate practices contrary to the aims of the governing institution will be excluded from display. See the Potentially Sensitive Content section below.
  
  
• The galleries have a commitment to be thoughtful and sensitive in displaying works of art dealing with the draped or undraped figure and other sensitive content. If it is deemed that sensitive content may be displayed in department facilities, it may be reserved to more secluded spaces that allow for notification of the public regarding the work on display prior to entering the space.

 

Potentially Sensitive Content

 

We expect artists to explore their mediums and concepts. This can sometimes mean that artists tread into territories that may be sensitive for our viewers and social context at Brigham Young University. Work that contains sensitive content that has not been cleared by gallery staff runs the risk of being excluded from exhibiting.

 

Not all work is appropriate in all contexts. Traditional landscape painting might be out of place in a cutting-edge contemporary space. In turn, experimental performance art might be out of place in a traditional commercial gallery. The Galleries of Art at BYU adhere to the mission of BYU, and as such, there is some content that may be better exhibited elsewhere. Our buildings are academic structures as well as venues for worship and a sensitivity to audiences should be expected. We encourage artists to create the work they need to without concern for what we may or may not exhibit on campus. Artists can work with faculty mentors to select the best venues for their work. There are many gallery spaces on and off campus that can provide appropriate architecture, audiences, and contexts. 

 

Sensitive content may include, but is not limited to:

• Licentious/sexualized content
• Nude (undraped) figures
• Safety concerns (i.e., dangerous objects, hazardous chemicals, allergens, etc.)
• Violence
• Topical political content

 

Works that deal with this type of content will not be rejected outright. All applications will receive thorough and thoughtful consideration and discussion. It may be that with appropriate display and context, we can accommodate such works. This will be determined through conversations with the applicant.

 

Exhibiting artists who have concerns that their work may be excluded from exhibition because of sensitive content should discuss these concerns with their faculty advisor and gallery director as early as possible. The earlier we can address these issues, the sooner we can come to a suitable arrangement. We encourage these conversations so that we can support you.

Review/Acceptance Process

 

Priority deadlines for fall and winter exhibitions are held twice a year: once in late July or early August and once in October. Applications received prior to the deadlines will be considered for priority placement and scheduling. Applications received after the deadline can only be scheduled in spaces that may be available after priority applicants are scheduled. Students who must exhibit their work as part of their degree should be aware of and adhere to these deadlines.

 

Applications are reviewed by faculty, with input from the department chair and college dean as necessary and appropriate. Each proposal is evaluated based on the following criteria: 

• relevance to department academic programs and curricula
• artistic merit of proposal
• viability of proposed exhibit
• compliance with Department Exhibition Guidelines

A letter of notification will be sent to the applicant upon completion of the review process. The committee will designate the exhibit space and dates for accepted proposals.

Exhibitions that are not proposed by students or faculty in the department of art are referred to as externally originating exhibitions. These exhibitions will not receive scheduling priority even if applications are received by the priority deadline. If space and resources are available, externally originating exhibitions will be considered.

Guidelines and Expectations for Faculty Advisors

 

Each applicant must have a full-time faculty advisor from the Department of Art who has agreed to advise on the project. If you are an applicant from outside of the Department of Art, you must still find an advisor from within the Department of Art. If you do not know any faculty members well-enough to ask them to sign on as an advisor, it may be best to apply at a later date once you have gotten to know them.

 

It is the expectation of faculty advisors that they will be actively involved in the development of the exhibition under their stewardship—counseling with the student about how to plan the exhibition, display work, properly prepare it for display, and address conceptual and material concerns. The faculty advisor should be more than just a name on a piece of paper. It is the student’s responsibility to communicate regularly with their faculty advisor and seek their counsel.

 

If a faculty advisor is concerned that content in an upcoming exhibition may be sensitive, they must alert the gallery director immediately so the issue can be peacefully resolved with thoughtful discussion between faculty and the exhibiting student. Upper administration may participate in discussions when necessary and appropriate.

See floor plan before indicating your choice of locations. Note: Gallery E will primarily be for audio-visual exhibitions or installation work and is less suited for other applications.