Ironstone Art Space – How It Works

The Ironstone Art Space is in a public area with six double-sided exhibition panels (total hanging length 8.4m/27.5 feet).

The area has a combination of spotlighting and natural daylight.

The panels include two double-width display surfaces (140cm width) and eight standard-display surfaces (70cm width). Double hanging (or triple hanging with smaller work) is possible on any of these surfaces. 

Work can be hung using a smart hanging wire system, so that artists are able to hang their own artwork relatively quickly and with no need to physically attach artwork to the panels. The wire hanging system and hooks are provided. Panels cannot be reconfigured.

Panels layout as provided. Panels cannot be reconfigured.

Exhibit for two weeks from just £100

All artwork sales are commission-free. Artists pay a fixed hire fee and keep 100% of the sale price of their work.

This space is bookable in slots of two weeks, Thursday to Thursday including installing/deinstalling days. For example:

Install: Thursday 12.30–3.30pm
Exhibition: Wednesday to the following Wednesday two weeks later
Deinstall: Thursday 10.30am–12.30pm

In your application, please give your preferred availability. The museum will try and accommodate all reasonable requests and offer alternatives if your dates are unavailable.

Two Weeks: £100
Four Weeks: £200

*Longer hire periods may be available at the museum’s discretion. Please indicate this on your application form.

To apply fill in the application form at the end of this page and return to enquiries@banburymuseum.org

The space may be hired by more than one artist or by a group of artists under a single booking/hire fee. There must be one designated ‘lead artist’ to liaise with the museum and make a single payment.

Applications are reviewed by the museum. We aim to offer the space to a broad range of artists and artist groups and may consider the suitability of the proposed work, availability of the space and the overall programme of exhibitions.

Please be aware that the Ironstone Art Space is a public area of the museum open to all visitors including children. The museum reserves the right to refuse any application if we feel that the work may cause offense, distress or may not be age appropriate for members of the public. For any queries relating to this or for further information contact the museum enquiries@banburymuseum.org.

Successful applicants will be contacted by the museum with full payment for bookings taken prior to exhibition installation. This payment is non-refundable. If you cannot fulfil your booking, please contact the museum as soon as possible.

All artwork sales are commission-free. Artists pay a fixed hire fee and keep 100% of the sale price of their work.

Artists may wish to use this exhibition opportunity as a selling space. Sales are directly between the artist, and the buyer and artists are responsible for any VAT to be paid and declared. 

Artists should ensure that:

• Each item has a selling price on a suitably attached label that is visible when the item is displayed. If any artwork is not for sale this needs to be made clear using ‘NFS’ or similar.
• Contact details are available so that prospective buyers can contact you or access your website etc.

Sold artwork should stay on display until the end of the exhibition. If any work needs to be removed before the end of the exhibition, then it is the responsibility of the artist to ensure the space is filled.

Only artists will be allowed to remove artwork on display.

It is the responsibility of the exhibiting artist(s) to liaise directly with their buyers and arrange collection of their purchases. Work cannot be left at the museum after the hire period. The museum will not handle artwork sales. 

Easy Installation

The Ironstone Art Space is deliberately arranged so that artists can easily set their exhibition up themselves using the supplies wire hanging system. Museum staff will not be available to help with either unloading or installing, but you can bring others with you to help.

It isn’t possible to rearrange the formation of the panels or change the neutral white panel colour, but artists can adjust the hanging wires and hook positions to create arrangements of double or triple hanging. 

Artists are advised to visit the space to see the hanging system in advance.

Exhibition slots run from Thursday to Thursday
Installation Thursday 12.30pm to 3.30pm 

Please arrive promptly to allow plenty of time to install your work. Artists will not be able to bring in artwork or any other materials until your installation slot.

If available artists may park in the museum loading bay at the Spiceball Road entrance, subject to needs of the museum. Alternative parking is available near the museum (see here) and in some circumstances museum staff may ask you to move vehicles after unloading.

The hanging system can be used independently however you are welcome to bring a friend to help. Remember there won’t be anyone available from the museum to assist with hanging the work. If you have any accessibility requirements, please contact the museum prior to booking so we can discuss your needs.

Artists are welcome to bring in step stools or small stepladders to aid installing.

The Ironstone Art Space panels are supplied with hanging wires and barrel hooks, to which artwork can be attached. To hang your artwork you must have either:

• small D-rings; or
• eye hooks no more than 2mm in diameter.

Artwork cannot be attached directly to the panels using nails, screws, Velcro, Command strips or other fittings.

NB: Larger D-rings will not fit the hanging system.

It is the artists responsibility to supply and fit suitable hanging fittings.

The weight limit on each pair of hanging wires is 60kg.

If double hanging, allow for the combined weight of the two pictures.

For additional security artists may want to attach small cable ties between the D rings of the artwork and the hanging wire fittings (hook barrel).

Contact Information Panel

A freestanding A4 post is available to display artist contact information. Alternatively, the hanging wire system can be used but the information needs to be attached to the hanging system in the same way as the artwork.

Labels

Labels no larger than A5 and printed on a light material (foamboard/card) may be attached to the panels, but using only removable gluedots (supplied by the museum). Artists should write and print their own labels. We suggest selling prices (or not for sale) are included in individual picture labels or on tags with the prices clearly visible.

Leaflet / business card dispensers may be used but not attached to the exhibition panels.

It isn’t currently possible to include A/V work which requires electrical wiring in the space.

The panels are lit by daylight and ceiling-fitted lights however it isn’t possible to add additional lighting.

A member of museum staff is present at the nearby museum desk, but the exhibition is not supervised by staff.

Outside of public opening times, the museum is locked and alarmed, including with motion sensor alarms. 

Artists are responsible for insuring their own artwork. The museum cannot accept responsibility for loss of or damage to artwork, equipment or display materials.

The exhibition slots run from Thursday to Thursday.
De-installing must be between 10.30am and 12.30pm on the final Thursday.

Please leave the Art Space in the condition that you found it. Other artists may be installing immediately after you and there may not be time for repairs or repainting. 

The museum wants to make this space as accessible as we can and would like to encourage artists at every level, from new and emerging artists to professional artists to consider applying to exhibit.

If you have accessibilities needs or face barriers to exhibiting, please get in touch with the museum and we will consider what we can do to help your application.

Banbury Museum & Gallery may photograph or film the Ironstone Art Space, including artwork on display, for use in marketing, publicity, social media, the museum website and other promotional materials. By exhibiting in the Ironstone Art Space, artists agree that images of their exhibition may be used by the museum for these purposes.

The museum may also promote exhibiting artists through its own marketing channels where possible. However, as exhibition schedules and staff resources vary, the museum cannot guarantee individual promotion or dedicated marketing support for every exhibition. Exhibiting artists are encouraged to actively promote their exhibition through their own websites, mailing lists and social media channels.

To apply you will need:

• Contact details of the artist or artist group contact
• A short description of your work
• At least four images of the work
• Your preferred dates
• Any accessibility requirements
• Have read all the information in the ‘How it Works’ section*

*Please take time to read and understand the supporting application information on this page. If work is installed contrary to these guidelines, work may be removed and the exhibition space forfeit. If you have any questions about the suitability of work for the Ironstone Art Space, you can contact the museum at enquiries@banburymuseum.org.