Eligibility

This call is open to applicants regardless of race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, or disability. All artists in the Northwest region are welcome to apply, but artists must be present for scheduled installation and removal. All artwork must be of professional quality and must meet display and installation requirements listed below. Selectees are required to enter into an Acceptance Agreement with the City setting forth specific conditions of display. Selectees and invitees may reapply annually; if selected again, 75% of the display must be artwork that has not been previously displayed in Initial Point Gallery. Organizations and informal artist groups are welcome to apply.

Selection Panel and Process

The Meridian Arts Commission advises on arts/cultural policy and promotes public awareness and participation in the arts. All members are appointed by the Mayor and approved by City Council. The Meridian Arts Commission will select the artists to be represented in the gallery and the City of Meridian Arts & Culture Coordinator will notify applicants on commission selection and exhibition offers, send acceptance agreements, and coordinate exhibits. The Meridian Arts Commission typically groups more than one artist in each exhibit and will inform the artists on how much space is assigned to them. In evaluating eligible proposals, the following factors will be considered:
• Adherence to the Call to Artists;
• Quality of artwork represented in images;
• Quality of proposal and level of professionalism;
• Appropriateness of subject and concept for a functioning government workplace;
• Consistency with City policy and community values; and
• Contribution to aesthetic and cultural atmosphere of Meridian City Hall.

Artwork Display, Hanging, and Installation:

The number of artworks to be included in each exhibit depends on the size of the artwork. For two-dimensional works, artists should plan to have around 12 – 18” of space between each artwork to avoid crowding artworks and to allow for labels and breathing room. For three-dimensional works, pieces must fit within the four supplied display cases.

Two-dimensional works displayed in Initial Point Gallery must be comprised of professional-quality, ready-to-hang, original art. Initial Point Gallery is equipped with a track system for hanging two dimensional artwork. Two-dimensional works should not exceed 5’ in height. Two-dimensional artwork will be hung from cables, using hooks, and therefore must be equipped with two D rings (fig. 1) on the side rails on the back of the frame (fig. 2). The inside of each D-ring must allow a space of at least one-quarter inch (¼”) for insertion of the hooks; any wire constricting this space must be removed. The D rings should be approximately a quarter of the distance of the total frame height from the top of the frame (or less) in order to avoid slanting away from the wall. Wires, eyehooks, and clip frames may not be used for hanging. Salon style is possible. Initial Point Gallery also provides four display cases, each with different dimensions (fig. 3), for displaying three-dimensional artwork.

For three-dimensional works, display cases have acrylic tops of varied sizes including: 3½’ tall, 3’ tall, 2½’ tall, and 2’ tall. All display case bases are 2’ wide and 2’ deep. Three-dimensional works may be of any medium, but must fit with the four supplied display cases.

No artwork will be displayed which: cannot be safely hung or displayed using the gallery’s equipment; requires unusual maintenance, handling, or security; or is disruptive or likely to offend the sensibilities of the general public.

The gallery has space to display the artist/exhibit statement and a price list, however, no artwork displayed in Initial Point Gallery may have a visible price tag.