Murfree Gallery Engagement and Exhibition Guide
Art Finds Its Place.
Murfree Gallery is a community exhibition space of the MTSU Department of Art and Design and the Todd Art Gallery. Located in the Rutherford County Office Building, the Murfree Art Gallery provides MTSU students, faculty, and area artists with an opportunity to share their work with audiences beyond the traditional campus gallery environment.
Because Murfree operates in a working public building, its exhibitions function differently from those at the Todd Art Gallery. Traditional opening receptions are not held in the space. Instead, participating artists may be connected to audiences through campus introductions, digital features, exhibition documentation, social media, artist conversations, and other forms of engagement.
The purpose of this guide is to help prospective exhibitors understand how Murfree Gallery works, what is expected, and how to prepare for a successful exhibition.
Who May Exhibit
Murfree Gallery is intended to support a range of artists and exhibition opportunities, including:
MTSU Art and Design students
MTSU Art and Design faculty
MTSU alums, when appropriate
Area and regional artists
Small groups of artists
Course-related or faculty-supported exhibitions
Selected community and collaborative projects
Exhibitions are scheduled according to space availability, suitability for the venue, and the overall Murfree Gallery exhibition calendar.
What Makes Murfree Different
Murfree Gallery is not intended to duplicate the Todd Art Gallery experience.
Todd Art Gallery is a destination where visitors intentionally seek out exhibitions. Murfree Gallery places art within a public environment where people may encounter it as part of their everyday activities.
This difference is central to the Murfree Gallery experience.
Participating artists should consider:
How their work communicates with a broad public audience
How presentation changes in a nontraditional gallery setting
How artwork functions outside a classroom or campus environment
How viewers may encounter the work without prior knowledge of the artist or the exhibition
The Murfree Exhibition Experience
Murfree Gallery exhibitions are designed around a broader engagement cycle:
Connect → Introduce → Exhibit → Engage → Return
Depending on the exhibition, this may include:
A campus or digital introduction
Exhibition signage and artist information
Website and social media promotion
Installation photography
Artist interview or feature
QR-based visitor engagement
Artist's reflection after the exhibition
Inclusion in TAG communications or archives
Not every exhibition will include every component, but all participating artists should understand that the exhibition may extend beyond the physical display itself.
Before Your Exhibition
Once an exhibition is confirmed, artists will be asked to provide materials for planning, promotion, and interpretation.
These may include:
Artist name
Exhibition title
Short biography
Artist statement
Representative artwork images
Contact information
Website and social media information, if applicable
Headshot or studio image, optional
Preferred name pronunciation, when helpful
Short quotation about the work or exhibition
Materials should be submitted by the requested deadline to allow time for promotion and exhibition signage to be prepared in advance.
Artwork and Content Requirements
Murfree Gallery is located in a public county building and must operate in accordance with the requirements appropriate to that environment.
Artwork must be suitable for public display.
Restrictions may include imagery or content involving:
Explicit nudity
Graphic violence
Drug imagery
Overtly political content
Material otherwise unsuitable for the public-building setting
Artists are encouraged to discuss any questions about suitability before finalizing their exhibition selection.
Approval of an exhibition does not guarantee approval of every individual work. Todd Art Gallery staff may request substitutions when necessary to meet venue requirements.
Preparing the Artwork
Artists are responsible for ensuring that work is exhibition-ready.
Two-dimensional work should normally be:
Properly framed or professionally presented
Equipped with appropriate hanging hardware
Clean and in good condition
Clearly labeled
Three-dimensional or other nontraditional work must be discussed in advance so that display, safety, and installation requirements can be reviewed.
Artists should not assume that special hardware, pedestals, electrical access, or other equipment will be available unless confirmed in advance.
Installation
Installation must be scheduled and approved before any work is brought into the space.
Artists may not install work independently without coordination with the Todd Art Gallery staff.
Before installation, confirm:
Date and time
Number of works
Installation method
Special equipment needs
Wall or display requirements
Artist participation in installation
Transportation arrangements
Because Murfree Gallery operates within an active public building, installation should be efficient, professional, and minimally disruptive.
Exhibition Dates
The assigned exhibition period includes all exhibition-related activity unless otherwise noted.
This may include:
Installation
On-view period
Removal
Artists are responsible for adhering to the approved schedule.
Work should not be installed before the approved date or remain after the assigned removal period unless specific arrangements have been made.
Exhibition Signage
Todd Art Gallery will coordinate or approve exhibition identification materials.
Standard signage may include:
1. Murfree Art Gallery
Art Finds Its Place.
2. Artist Name
Exhibition Title
Exhibition Dates
Additional information may include:
3. Artist statement
4. QR code
5. MTSU Art and Design identification
6. Todd Art Gallery identification
7. Website or exhibition information
Artists should not add independent signage, promotional materials, handouts, or displays without prior approval.
Receptions and Events
Traditional opening receptions are not held at Murfree Art Gallery because it is located in the public Rutherford County Office Building.
When appropriate, an exhibition may instead include a related activity through the Todd Art Gallery or the Department of Art and Design.
Possible alternatives include:
Artist conversation
Campus preview
Classroom visit
Critique
Recorded interview
Studio feature
Digital introduction
Social media spotlight
These activities are not guaranteed for every exhibition but may be developed when they meaningfully support the artist and exhibition.
Promotion
Murfree exhibitions may be promoted through the Todd Art Gallery and the MTSU Art and Design communication channels.
Possible promotion may include:
Todd Art Gallery website
MTSU Art and Design website
Social media
Aesthetics Newsletter
TAGlines
Digital display
Campus announcements
Exhibition photography
Related community outreach
Artists are encouraged to promote their own exhibition and share approved TAG materials through their own channels.
Photography and Documentation
Artists should expect the exhibition to be photographed for documentation, promotion, archival use, and future Murfree Art Gallery communications.
Documentation may include:
Installation views
Individual artwork images
Artist photographs
Behind-the-scenes installation images
Short video
Interview content
Artists should provide any necessary image credits when requested.
Visitor Engagement
Murfree Art Gallery may use simple engagement tools to encourage public interaction with exhibitions.
These may include QR codes or short response prompts such as:
What caught your attention?
What would you ask the artist?
Choose one word to describe your response.
What would you like to see exhibited here in the future?
Visitor participation is optional.
When appropriate, selected feedback may be shared with participating artists.
Artist Engagement
Artists may be invited to contribute additional material during or after the exhibition.
This may include:
A short written reflection
Interview questions
Exhibition commentary
A brief recorded response
Social media participation
A TAGlines feature
A post-exhibition reflection
Participation in these opportunities helps connect the Murfree exhibition back to the MTSU and Todd Art Gallery audience.
Student Exhibitors
For students, the Murfree Art Gallery offers an opportunity to gain experience beyond the classroom and campus.
Students may develop experience in:
Artwork selection
Professional presentation
Installation
Artist statements
Exhibition documentation
Audience awareness
Public engagement
Professional communication
Students should treat Murfree Gallery exhibitions as professional exhibition experiences.
Faculty-Supported Exhibitions
Faculty may recommend students or develop course-related exhibition proposals.
Faculty-supported projects should identify:
Participating artists
Course or project connection
Proposed exhibition dates
Number and type of works
Installation requirements
Faculty point of contact
Faculty are encouraged to use the Murfree Art Gallery as a teaching opportunity related to exhibition practice, audience, context, and professional development.
Community and Regional Artists
Area artists are encouraged to consider Murfree Gallery as an opportunity to engage with both public audiences and the MTSU Art and Design community.
Participation may create opportunities for:
Community visibility
Connection with MTSU students and faculty
Digital and social media features
Artist interviews
Future programming or exhibition opportunities
Inclusion in broader TAG engagement efforts
Removal of Artwork
Artists are responsible for removing work according to the approved schedule unless other arrangements have been made.
Work should not be removed early without approval.
Artists should confirm:
Removal date
Removal time
Transportation plan
Packaging needs
Assistance required
Failure to remove work on schedule may affect eligibility for future exhibitions.
Artist Responsibility
Participating artists are expected to:
Meet all deadlines
Provide accurate information
Submit the requested promotional materials
Present exhibition-ready work
Follow venue requirements
Maintain professional communication
Install and remove work according to the schedule
Coordinate any special exhibition needs in advance
Todd Art Gallery Responsibility
Todd Art Gallery will coordinate:
Exhibition scheduling
Venue communication
Basic exhibition signage
Installation planning
Promotion, when appropriate
Exhibition documentation
Engagement opportunities
Artist communication
Removal coordination
Specific services may vary according to the exhibition and available resources.
Requesting an Exhibition
Artists interested in exhibiting at Murfree Gallery should complete the official Murfree Gallery exhibition request process.
The request should include:
Artist name
Contact information
Student, faculty, alums, or community status
Proposed exhibition title
Brief exhibition description
Representative images
Preferred dates
Installation requirements
Additional relevant information
Submission of a request does not guarantee an exhibition.
Requests are reviewed according to:
Space availability
Suitability for the venue
Exhibition readiness
Scheduling needs
Programming balance
Public-building requirements
Request a Murfree Gallery Exhibition through this form
Questions
Questions about Murfree Gallery exhibitions, suitability of artwork, installation requirements, or the request process should be directed to Todd Art Gallery before submitting or installing work.
Murfree Art Gallery
Art Finds Its Place.
A community exhibition space of the MTSU Department of Art and Design, the Todd Art Gallery, and the Office of the Rutherford County Property Assessor.