Photo from Brian Kelly of Old Federal Building

The first ten artists to secure a venue, secured the space through Steve Samson, Exhibitions Manager for UICA (UICA is also selecting artists for Old Federal Building). So, he’s the closest thing ArtPrize has to a “veteran” of the process and I thought a quick email interview with Steve would be helpful to artists and venues.

For artists interested in showing at the UICA or Old Federal Building, keep reading. For venues, Steve offers advice about securing artists.

Steve Samson is the Exhibitions Manager for UICA and is spearheading the selection committee for both the UICA and Old Federal Building. Each committee member has served between 5-9 years in a curatorial capacity at UICA which features 30 visual art exhibitions each year of regional, national, and international artists. These questions were sent to Steve before any other venue had secured artists.

PM: You are leading the selection committee for the UICA and Federal Building during ArtPrize. What is your curatorial direction for those spaces?

SS: The curatorial committee of the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts adheres to the mission and purpose of UICA by soliciting, selecting, presenting and promoting evocative new art, be it regional, national and/or international in scope. This includes art that employs unconventional approaches and materials, or utilizes traditional media in an innovative manner. Work presented is often installation-based, non-commercial in nature, activist in intent, and typically prioritizes concerns other than the purely aesthetic. The curatorial committee, as a representative body of the UICA, is invested in the potential of images and objects to generate discourse, and actively seeks to present work that will serve as a catalyst for individual contemplation, cultural dialogue, and ultimately, social change.

In order to provide context for this often challenging work, the UICA will proactively publicize each presentation, sponsor educational symposia, and prepare print and video materials highlighting the artists and the production / installation / presentation of their work.

As curators, we desire to keep the educational aspects and dimensions of artistic work a priority in the selection, preparation and administration of programs presented. In our curatorial decision-making, the committee will deliberately consider the needs of regional learning institutions, providing numerous educational opportunities for area students and the public to engage in a live discourse with artists actively defining and shaping the fields of visual, literary and performative culture.

PM: What advice would you give to artists interested in showing in either the UICA or Federal Building?

SS: Be as thorough as possible with your bio information, artist’s statement and specific proposal for ArtPrize. Be sure to upload good quality photos of your proposed work. If your work that has not yet been created, be sure to provide detailed sketches and a written description of what you propose along with photos of similar work you have previously completed.

PM: As of the date I send this email, you are the only venue host who has secured artists. What is your advice to other venues working through the process right now?

Be sure to contact the artists you are interested in, either by e-mail or phone, to obtain detailed information about their proposed artwork, special installation needs, shipping schedule, plans to travel to Grand Rapids, length of stay, etc. This is an excellent time to get to know the artist and determine if they are a right fit for your venue. In some cases, a small photo of the artwork and paragraph description of the proposal may not offer enough detail to make an informed decision.

If artists reach out to you about showing in your venue, respond to them in a timely manner. Let them know when you will make your decision so that they are fully informed about your process.

PM: Specifically, how have you designed your Hosting Agreement and is there a certain “etiquette” you suggest other venues follow?

• Be very specific with the timing and requirements of installation and de-installation. Let artists know if they can install early (e.g. August), if your venue will be open on evenings and weekends for installation, and if you will have any staff or volunteers that can assist with installation.
• If your venue has any specific requirements before, during or after ArtPrize, be sure to explain them in detail. This should include a list of what is and what is not possible in your space.
• Include any additional hours that your venue may be open to the public during ArtPrize, if applicable.
• State any costs or responsibilities of the artist so that there are no surprises.