Call for Proposals for FALL 2017/ SPRING 2018

Deadline: June 1, 2017

The Stamp Gallery at the University of Maryland, College Park, is currently seeking exhibition proposals from independent curators or curatorial collectives with a compelling vision who are interested in fostering dialogue with diverse audiences through the work of emerging, contemporary artists in the area. This is an open call for independent curators working in Maryland, DC, and Virginia to submit proposals for an exhibition to be held in fall 2017 or spring 2018. Proposed exhibitions may present work by a single artist or multiple artists, and should seek to present recent artwork that is challenging, academically engaging, and attuned to broad community and social issues. Work in all media is considered, including installations, but please note that the Stamp Gallery cannot accommodate work that requires hanging heavy objects from the ceiling.

The curator(s) associated with the selected proposal will organize an exhibition in the Stamp Gallery to be on view for a six- to eight-week period between October 2017 and March 2018. The exhibition may not include work created by the curator(s). Proposals shortlisted for consideration for the 2017-18 academic year will be contacted by August 2017.

The outside curator(s) contracted by the Stamp Gallery will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the exhibition’s execution, including arrangements with artists, installation and de-installation, written materials and visual resources to be submitted to gallery staff on deadline for the timely creation of promotional materials, and creating/implementing any programs (performances, lectures, tours, etc.) to complement the exhibition. The gallery staff will advise and consult with the outside curator(s) to ensure the exhibition’s success. The gallery will create promotional materials for the exhibition and will provide a staff to aid with installation and de-installation.

About the Stamp Gallery

Located on the first floor of the Adele H. Stamp Student Union—Center for Campus Life at the University of Maryland, College Park, The Stamp Gallery is dedicated to exhibiting contemporary art, especially the work of emerging and mid-career artists. The Gallery is dedicated to providing meaningful art encounters and experiences for a diverse student body. Through its exhibitions and programming, the Gallery offers outside-of-the-classroom experiential learning opportunities. It functions as a laboratory where emerging artists and curators experiment and work through their ideas. The Gallery’s programming aims to emphasize the importance of process to contemporary artistic practice and to provide a forum for dialogue.

For a list of previous exhibitions held in the Stamp Gallery, click here. A SketchUp model of the Stamp Gallery can be downloaded here, and a PDF of the floorplan is available upon request.  

What to Submit

1. CV/Resume (3 pages, max) demonstrating the curator(s)’s capacity to execute exhibitions of the proposed scale, institutional context, and complexity.
2. Proposal. Describe the proposed exhibition, including its potential title and public time frame (Oct-Dec 2017 OR Jan-March 2018), its curatorial concept or themes, the name(s) and websites of artists you plan to include, and a list of all required equipment. Explain how this project is well-suited to the space, audience, and mission of the Stamp Gallery.
3. Short bios and resumes/CVs for all artists to be included in the exhibition.
4. Digital documentation of work by the artist(s) you propose to include. Max. 5 images per artist; images should be saved as JPEG files, max 72 dpi. If new work is to be created, include images of past work that adequately represents the artist(s). Video or audio clips should be shared as a link to a streaming site (with passwords provided as necessary).
5. (Optional) Suggested programming (artist talks, performances, lectures, panel discussions, etc.) to accompany the exhibition or interpretive areas built into the exhibition layout (in-gallery reading room, communal art-making areas). (Programming and interpretation can also be determined after the acceptance of the proposal.)

Submissions should be sent by email to stampgallery@umd.edu
Questions? Contact stampgallery@umd.edu or 301-314-8492