[Imc] arts space proposal

[jpitzl at wildhunt.org]

IMC members and Steering Committee,

The following is a proposal that will be put before the Steering Committee 
this Sunday for consideration. I welcome any input or questions that the 
membership may have about the proposal. I would like to thank Sascha for 
helping with the initial revisions and the Shows Group for looking it 
over. 

In respect,
Jason Pitzl-Waters

***

Proposal for running and maintaining an arts space in the middle room of
the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center.

Jason Pitzl-Waters would act as the initial curator for this space under
the auspices of the shows working group.

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*** START PROPOSAL ***
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The Middle Room Art Gallery @ The Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center

Aims and scope:

To consistently promote and showcase emerging artists and concepts with an
emphasis on the local fine arts community.  This will be accomplished by
providing a clean, attractive space dedicated to this purpose and by
providing ongoing promotion and events to attract people to the shows and
the the UCIMC.

***

Operating Philosophy:

a.) Art must be allowed to speak for itself, the IMC's gallery should
endeavor to make sure the space allows that voice to be heard.

b.) Shows will start and end on time. Consistency is the key. We will not
leave an artist's work hanging in neglect. We will respect the artists and
ourselves by honoring our agreements. We will be caring of the art that
we hang.

c.) We will not buckle to controversy about a show from any political
spectrum, progressive or conservative. We have faith in the art and the
artist(s) and know that most great art is vindicated by history.

d.) We will respect ourselves as a venue for art by asking that artists,
whether individual or as a group have a theme or body of work before
granting a show. All artists who aproach the gallery about a show must
have a proposal to present to the curator(s) who will decide within the
structure of the shows group. We do no favors by showcasing an artist or
group of artists who are not ready to present their voice and vision to
the world.

e.) The curator(s) have the discression at the shows groups approval to
remove or cancel a show if the agreement between the artists and the venue
has been been broken.

***

Benefits of plan:

a.) Increases the visibility of the UCIMC as a cultural center

b.) Attracts creative minds to the UCIMC

c.) Fosters stronger links with the University and the local fine arts
community

d.) Benefits younger and emerging artists who have no method of showing
their work on a regular basis

***

Physical Needs:

a.) Repainted walls.  The bright orange walls detract from anything hung
on them because they are not neutral in color. I reccomend the walls be
repainted white (or another light neutral color) to emphasis the work.

b.) Refinished floors. This will help alleviate the "dirty" look the
middle room space has accquired and make the space more inviting to people
who want to browse the works.

c.) Track lighting. While an arts space could function with the current
lighting, a better, flexible lighting system would be ideal to emphasise
the work instead of the space.

d.) The floor must be kept clear when not in use for a rental. Chairs,
Tables and Audio/Visual when not in direct use must be returned to their
proper storage areas.  NOTE:  This need is intended to maintain a clean
environment -- the space would remain mixed-use and would continue to be
available for meetings, yoga, dance, etc.

***

Promotion:

a.) The gallery space will have a website that details all upcoming shows
and events, for an example/draft please see:
http://www.wildhunt.org/middleroom/

b.) All shows will be listed in the CU Cityview, The Buzz, The Public I
and any other appropriate venues

c.) All shows will have PSA cards delivered to WEFT to be read on the air

d.) We will host an opening (or alternately closing) reception for each
show. We will try to make this as much an event as possible including
booking a musical act in the back space to coincide. Refreshments will be
served as operating budget allows.

e.) We will encourage as much in-depth coverage as we can for shows by
having stories published in the CU Cityview or alternately The Public I

f.) We will produce a flyer and postcard for each show. These will be left
in appropriate spaces along town and copies will be given to the artist(s)
to disperse to their own contacts/mailing lists

***

Organization:

a.) The gallery project will exist within the providence of the
shows/booking group at the UCIMC with the curator(s) serving as member(s)
of this group.

b.) While the active involvement of multiple curators is recommended, a
maximum number of no more than three will be set.  All initial arbitration
for any disagreements between curators should be settled by the shows
group.

c.) All curators are expected to have the "bigger IMC picture" in mind
when becomming a curator for the gallery space. The reason to become a
curator is not to see your friends get a show but to nurture a healthy
arts community for the Champaign-Urbana community. This includes setting
up shows that you may not find to your liking but realize are important.

***