The Contemporary Glass Society (CGS) is delighted to be collaborating with Black Swan Arts in Frome, Somerset in the launch of a new open-to-all members exhibition in the Centre's Long Gallery. The exhibition will run from Friday, 19th January to Sunday, 25th February 2024.

The Contemporary Glass Society is the premiere supporter and promoter of contemporary glass art and glass artists within the UK.  Membership is open to glass artists at all stages of their careers, collectors and members of the general public interested in contemporary glass.

Black Swan Arts (www.blackswanarts.org.uk) is in the heart of the renown creative market town of Frome in Somerset.  Its vibrant and varied programme features contemporary and innovative art and crafts.  It is a popular arts venue for the creatives of Frome and beyond, providing exhibitions, a shop, studio, workshop space and a friendly place to meet friends.

The exhibition is open to all CGS members at any stage of their career but with an emphasis on CGS South West and Midlands members. We are asking you to help celebrate the dazzling delight of glass in all its facets of light, colour and technique. The brief is as wide as you wish to make it but it isa true celebration of the diversity of contemporary glass.   It is an open exhibition with all work submitted to be for sale.  We welcome both wall pieces and plinth-based work.

The exhibition will be located in the Long Gallery at Black Swan Arts. This is an open show for CGS members only. A non-refundable administration fee of £25 will be charged per application.

All artists are able to submit up to 3 pieces of work in one submission.  Although this is an open exhibition, we may need to select only some of your pieces for inclusion in the final show.  This will be subject to the number of applications we receive and the size and quantity of entries.

Criteria:

Up to three pieces of work can be submitted. You can send up to 3 images of one piece, with at least one showing the whole piece, or 3 images of  3 different pieces of work.

• Entrants must be paid-up members of the Contemporary Glass Society.
• Work must comprise at least 50% medium of glass.
• Work submitted for consideration must have been made after January 2022 or to be made specifically for the exhibition.
• The work must be for sale.
• It must be possible to deliver selected works to the Gallery by Wednesday, 17th January 2024.
• We welcome both wall pieces and plinth-based work.
• Work must be resilient to both heat and light as it is not possible to control environmental factors in the Museum.

If you’re not already a member of CGS, you can join to take part, see  Become a Member: Contemporary Glass Society (cgs.org.uk).  As well as making you eligible for this exciting exhibition, you’ll be part of a dynamic contemporary glass community and receive valuable membership benefits – see full details at www.cgs.org.uk.

Selection:

Final decisions on which pieces will be included will be made by the Museum and a CGS representative. This will be subject to the number of applications we receive and the size and quantity of entries.  You will be advised which of your pieces will be exhibited by 1st December 2023.

Important dates:

Launch date: Tuesday, 3rd October 2023

Applications close: 5pm on Sunday, 19th November 2023

You will be advised of which work will be in the exhibition by 1st December.

Exhibition dates: Friday, 19th January to Sunday, 25th February 2024

Open evening: Friday, 19th January 2024, 6pm - 8pm

Exhibition take down:  Sunday, 25th February at 1pm and Monday, 26th February 2024

Delivery and collection:

Selected work must be delivered or sent to:

Black Swan Arts,
2, Bridge Street,
Frome
BA11 1BB

Opening hours: Monday to Sunday, 10am - 4pm

• Work to be dropped off on Wednesday, 17th January.  Work delivered by courier: to be between 15th - 17th January.  You must let the Gallery know in advance when you will be delivering your work and whether it is arriving by yourself or Courier.
• Deliveries can be made in the Museum’s normal opening hours during these dates; 10am - 4pm.
• If you require alternative arrangements, do let the Gallery know and they will endeavour to support this.
• Make sure your work is packed well, keeping the package as small as possible. 
• Work to be collected on Monday, 25th to Tuesday, 26th February.

Put your name and address on the outside of your package, a small image of your piece and the reference CGS.

• Include a Delivery Note inside, with your name, title of work and artist price ( we shall caculate the selling price with the gallery ). If there is more than one piece do ensure each piece is marked with a code. Do make sure work is packed well.
• Attach a label to each piece.
• Any unsold work must be collected by artists or collection arranged at their cost. 

If work is being imported into the UK for this show, the maker must pay for any duties imposed by UK customs.  

Installation:

If your work has a complicated installation system or you have specific requirements on how your work is displayed, please include detailed and clear instructions  within your parcel.

Set Up

Because Black Swan Arts is a small charity it will need help from CGS members:

Tuesday, 19th January and Wednesday, 20th January - plinth painting, help with unpacking, placing and installing of works.

Insurance:

Work will be insured from arrival at the Museum for the duration of the exhibition until work is either collected or despatched.  However, artists are encouraged to have their own insurance.

No responsibility can be accepted by the venue for any damage incurred to exhibits whilst in storage or during transit.  Transportation and insurance of exhibits to and from the venue space is the sole responsibility of the artist.

Display of Work:

All work should be provided “exhibition ready”. Where this involves framing, work should be provided in high-quality, clean and unmarked frames. Frames should be the correct size for the work, with no visible gaps around the edges or mounting area and the work should be securely fastened within. Works not in an open frame should be behind glass not Perspex. Frames should have sufficient hanging provision.

The Museum will charge 40% commission with 5% added for CGS funds = 45% total commission.  Please show your artist's price, we shall calculate the selling price.

The Museum and CGS are proposing to also include additional events:

• Workshops
• Meet the Makers
• Talks
• Competition
• Exploration sheet for children

Applicants will be advised of additional events after the closing date for applications.

Marketing and Publicity:

If selected, please ensure that all images you send are available for us to use for publicity and that you have copyright. In any case please provide the name of the photographer, who will be credited accordingly, this is important so that we can use your images to promote the exhibition. Publicity images should be a minimum of 300dpi.

Promotion by the Museum & CGS will include digital and print, including posters, inclusion on both websites, advert in Evolver magazine, social media, etc.