WallSpace for Artists & Audiences
allows artists to exhibit and curate their own work, and audiences to experience art in a community-supported venue, WallSpace-LNK Fine Art Gallery & Salon, 1624 S 17, Lincoln, NE.
This high-quality professional exhibition space serves serious artists. It gives people of all ages and inclinations an opportunity to see work and interact with artists they otherwise would not encounter.
An artist-focused and artist-curated exhibition is a rare occasion for artists and audiences to communicate on a deeper level. We anticipate that each exhibition will have a significant impact on each artist's creative practice. Likewise, audiences will enjoy & grow through their exposure to artists, their processes, and various artistic media.
*******************************************************************************************************
For Artists. . .
Curate your own exhibition and display it in a purpose-designed space.
Solo show: Artists may exhibit work of their choosing. Recent, retrospective, single or multiple media work—it’s up to you!
Group show: Artists may collaborate on exhibitions featuring a particular medium, style, or theme.
Either way, your creative inclinations will determine what you exhibit and how you show your work.
Exhibition selection: Artists are encouraged to informally apply to exhibit their work. Board members, all with professional visual arts (photography, film-making, drawing, assemblage, architecture, and museums) and educational backgrounds (undergraduate & graduate instruction), will meet with artists to review proposed exhibitions and portfolios and discuss gallery operations.
Sales: WallSpace does not represent the artist, and takes no percentage of sales
Costs: Making art costs $$. So does operating a gallery. Most galleries cover their expenses by taking a percentage of artists’ sales. WallSpace’s nonprofit status and ensuing community support, including grants funding, helps subsidize exhibition opportunities. Some artists have had their costs covered by sponsors, who receive public acknowledgment (and in some cases, work from the exhibit) for their underwriting.
Grant-funded artist fees for those exhibiting helps defray the considerable costs (and risks) artists incur in creating work and preparing it for exhibition.
Space: The gallery includes 183 linear feet of wall space and ample floor space for three-dimensional art. Artists will determine gallery layout and design. The gallery's innovative hanging systems (magnets for unframed work, STAS cord system for framed, movable modular pedestals for 3D objects) offer flexibility and lower costs for artists. Board members are available to assist artists with show installation dates before the opening on the First Friday.
Staffing: Artists are responsible for staffing during open hours during the month and will host opening receptions on First Fridays. Each artist may choose to offer additional public programs aligned with their shows. WallSpace board and volunteers will help cover in case of schedule conflicts. Artists may use their own friends or volunteers, but our experience is that artists are the best representatives for their own work and are most likely to generate sales.
Programs & Events: Artists will host opening receptions on First Fridays. Typical open hours are Friday-Sunday afternoons, 12-5pm. Artists may also offer by-appointment viewing.
Each artist may choose to offer additional public programs aligned with their shows. Clubs, senior living residents, art classes and family groups have enjoyed artist-given tours at WallSpace. An Oscher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) Art Appreciation discussion group has met one Sunday each month for more than two years
PR & Marketing:
One to two months in advance artists and board work to identify specific exhibition goals, target audiences, and public program opportunities. Artists will prepare image files and draft written copy for email announcements, newspaper articles, social media, and our website.
WallSpace sends email announcements to over 3000 subscribers each month. Artists may add their lists to expand the reach of email blasts. The gallery has an Instagram, X, & Facebook social media presence and encourages artists to share promotional posts on their channels. The Lincoln Journal Star’s Neighborhood Extra publishes brief information the week prior to each opening in print and online form. Exhibitions are listed on the events calendars of the LJS, Lincoln Convention & Visitors Bureau, Downtown Lincoln Association, Irvingdale, Near South, and Country Club neighborhood associations.
Artists are frequently interviewed for Nebraska Public Media’s Friday Live with host Genevieve Randall for statewide broadcast and subsequent online podcasts. We continue to work with commercial media on event listings and potential feature stories.
Time frames: On hanging day artists are given a key to the gallery. Installations are made the week of the First Friday opening. After closing on the last Sunday of the month artists have one to two days to take down and remove their work. The door key is returned at this time.
email us to set up an appointment if you're interested in exhibiting. wallspaceforartists@gmail.com
Welcome artists…
ARTISTS -Past & Present
Michael Farrell Lana Miller Wendy Weiss Stephen DeLair Mark Dahmke Robin Smith Roger Bruhn Ted Kooser Craig Roper Stephen Dinsmore Emily Frenzen Twyla Hansen Jan Christensen Lexi Fields Megan Wilberger David Routon Phoebe Little Jeff Chadwick John Spence