ACADEMY SOLO: The opportunity to go it alone, together...

 

The artists of Solo28 with Academy President Jenny Shearer (centre) at their evening opening.

What is Solo? - A concept that has a variation of the Academy selection process at its heart, where it is the artist that is selected not the artwork! Only current financial Academy members can apply for a place in a Solo. It involves a group of selected Academy artists that take over the Academy Galleries and install what amounts to a series of one-person or small group shows simultaneously.

The NZAFA exhibitions committee selects each artist and after consultation with all participants will determine the individual's location within the galleries. Individual artists are allocated at least 9 running metres of wall or floor space within one of the three galleries for a rental of $390 (plus GST) per artist.

Academy staff will install and de-install the work, however the artist is responsible for the  layout of their own work. The rental includes the cost of the space, an installer to hang the work or prepare the plinths, Academy volunteers at the reception desk each day to administer sales, postage of invitations to all our members, limited advertising and publicity and refreshments at the evening Members Opening reception as well as the lunchtime Artists function .

Artists deliver, collect and layout their own works and take turns attending the gallery during the exhibition season. As about 12 artists will be involved this usually commits each artist to only two days at the gallery during the season. If the artist cannot be present on these days the Academy can provide a minder for an additional charge to the rental. An entry form with insurance, installation, and other conditions will be sent to be signed once confirmation of participation is made.

The following scaled rates of commission apply:

33.33% on an artists total sales up to $10,000                                       

25% on an artists total sales from $10,001 to $20,000                                                         

15% on an artists total sales above $20,001

Individual exhibitors are encouraged to arrange private previews for friends and buyers for the Artists Preview from noon to 1.30pm on the day of the opening and will be assisted in producing personalised invitations for this. With several lunch parties going on at once in the galleries a “fun” atmosphere always results at these preview functions.

25 double invitations to the 5.30pm Members Opening of the exhibition are provided for each exhibitor.

Individual exhibitors are encouraged to obtain whatever publicity they can for their own work and the exhibition as a whole, including submitting images for the Academy website.

There is a meeting of participants about six weeks prior to the opening date to discuss and finalise the format of the exhibition, its an opportunity to meet the other artists sharing the space and to answer any queries the individual artists may have. Out of town exhibitors unable to attend this meeting will receive details of the discussions from the office.

Our Solo exhibitions have been very successful, sales have been very good and the public really appreciate being able to see a wider selection of an artists work than the two or three in an open Academy exhibition.

Some of the conditions relating to Solo exhibitors are that the artist must have been a financial member of the Academy for at least the previous two subscription years prior to their intended solo and have been accepted and exhibited in several previous Academy open exhibitions. 

Because this format is very popular and much planning is necessary early registration of interest is advised. The next Solos with space available are for May 2011 and October 2011 exhibitions.

Contact us to enquire about a place in the next Solo!  View a Solo here

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