Oh, boy. We’re on a roll now with this Ethics thing. Today: organizing a juried exhibit ethically. Here are some thoughts on how the exhibit organizer or venue should behave ethically.
1. List the juror or jurors by name and outline their qualifications.
2. Make sure jurors are not swayed by any ties to the organization or organizer.
3. If you ask for entry fees, make them reasonable and be sure they contribute to the organizing of the exhibit. If it’s a fundraiser for the organization, state the facts and where the money is going.
4. If any group of artists is given priority (such as members), disclose why and how.
5. If anything changes from the original entry form, inform those who have already applied and post a corrected version on the Web site. (For example, applicants need to know if a promised catalog isn’t going to happen.)
6. Outline the financial responsibility, if any, for those who are accepted.
7. If it’s possible that a work can be rejected upon seeing it in person, say so.
This is just a start. I think I could spend weeks on this list. Help me out here. Leave your thoughts and dilemmas in the comments below.
It’s not just the venue that is ethically responsible to exhibiting artists, but artists must also practice good ethics when exhibiting art.
