The Boise State specific calls for artists below are directed through the office of the Director of University Art and University Affairs.
If you would like to exhibit your work throughout the year in partnership with the Department of Art, Design, and Visual Studies, or with the School of Arts, please contact Kirsten Furlong, Director of the Blue Galleries, at kfurlong@boisestate.edu or Lisa Hunt, Interim Director of The Stein Luminary, at lisahunt@boisestate.edu.
Continue to the bottom of this page to learn more about what to expect when exhibiting at the SUB.
What to expect when you exhibit at the SUB
General Expectations
Am I eligible?
All currently enrolled Boise State University undergraduate and graduate students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community members may apply to exhibit their work as a complete show in the Student Union galleries. Traveling and collaborative shows are also eligible under a shared application with a lead contact acting as the organizer for your group. Selected exhibitors must agree to display their work for an approximate 2-month exhibition period (8 weeks).
How will my application be evaluated?
The Student Union Arts Advisory Board will support the Student Union in evaluating your exhibition application as follows:
We carefully review each application on its own merit and look for originality, quality, cohesiveness, and a distinct and passionate artistic point of view. We select applications for exhibition that are challenging, interesting, and inspiring of dialog and interaction from students, faculty, and community members who visit the Student Union.
We give first preference to quality applications from current undergraduate and graduate students, followed by members of the Boise State (alumni, faculty and staff), then external community applicants.
We consider additional factors including show size and scope, relevance to with current events on campus and in the community, as well as the availability of the applicant(s) to exhibit. We will always consider applications that are submitted according to the priority deadline. Late submissions will be contacted only if there is a vacant space within the gallery.
The Student Union exhibition series includes between 10 to 12 full exhibitions per academic year, with additional pop-up exhibitions around campus.
What is expected of me as an artist exhibiting in the Student Union Galleries?
Abide by university policies and guidelines
Communicate and consult regularly and professionally with curatorial staff. Groups exhibiting will appoint one point of contact
Provide artwork that is ready to hang and which is available for display during the entire exhibition duration, as well as any specialty installation components, including but not limited to projectors, screens, etc…
Provide a description of the show, an itemized list of selected artwork, up to 5 digital images for promotional purposes, and artist(s) bio(s)
Arrange and pay for any/all delivery and transport of the artwork to and from the exhibition space
Return 40% of revenue from sales of any exhibition artwork during the exhibition period
What can I expect of the galleries while I am exhibiting?
Communicate and consult regularly and professionally with the artist/exhibitor
Develop, design, and execute a promotions plan for the exhibition within budget specifications
Installation (with standard hardware and interpretive signage) and deinstall exhibition
Provide university insurance coverage for exhibited artwork not to exceed $500,000 per the University’s requirements.
Coordinate a free and public exhibition reception, with budget and arrangements for catering from Aramark
What standards are in place for health, safety, and public display?
Student Union staff will curate and install the exhibition, with consultation and support from the exhibitor.
Student Union staff will light the exhibition, with consultation from the exhibitor.
Selected artwork may not stain, damage, prohibit ingress and egress, or cause excessive audio disruption to the facility, equipment, or surrounding meeting rooms.
Student Union staff will review installation methods of securing, hanging, and attaching any and all artwork. This may include an assessment of size, weight, and any specialty hardware intended for use during the exhibition process.
Student Union staff may review and screen, prior to opening, any exhibition or part thereof that may be considered unsafe, inappropriate for public display, and/or in direct conflict with Boise State University’s shared values. Please note that the gallery is designated a free speech space as per University policy.
Student Union will observe all ADA requirements for arrangement and museum display of artworks.
Student Union Fine Arts Gallery Layout and Equipment
Selected exhibitors will display their work as a solo or group-organized show in the Student Union Fine Arts Gallery on the second floor of the Student Union Building.
Remember, you have a whole gallery to work with!
The gallery footprint is provided to serve as a reference when you are planning your application. Feel free to visit the gallery space in person to envision how your work may appear within the space. Other spaces may be available for a “pop-up” style exhibition as available and identified by Student Union staff. For this gallery, a collection of movable walls provide for a wide variety of configurations in the gallery space (subject to availability and condition). Plinths and vitrines are also available for protecting your three dimensional works (subject to availability and condition). Applicants selected for exhibition will be able to meet with the curatorial staff to determine optimal configuration and exhibition needs. Each exhibition will feature a marketing postcard for takeaway and an exhibition title, to be designed, placed, and installed by university staff within the gallery space.
Ceiling height is 118 inches throughout the open gallery space
There two main sections of wall available exhibition works. One is 311 inches the other is 103 inches
There are two columns 18 inches per side
The gallery is also equipped with 16 moveable MILA walls, each measuring 39.37 inches by 98.42 inches
Trueblood Pop Up Gallery Layout and Equipment
Selected exhibitors will display their work as a solo or group-organized show in the Trueblood Pop Up Gallery on the second floor of the Student Union Building.
This is the perfect space for more intimate shows presenting smaller bodies of work.
The gallery footprint is included here to serve as a reference when you are planning your application. Feel free to visit the gallery space in person to envision how your work may appear within the space. Other spaces may be available for a “pop-up” style exhibition as available and identified by Student Union staff. For this gallery, plinths and vitrines are available for protecting your three dimensional works (subject to availability and condition). Applicants selected for exhibition will be able to meet with the curatorial staff to determine optimal configuration and to exhibition needs. Each exhibition will feature a marketing postcard for takeaway and an exhibition title, to be designed, placed, and installed by university staff within the gallery space.
Trueblood Gallery Footprint Description
Ceiling height is 118 inches throughout
The open gallery space is located at the center of three hallways
Available wall space includes sections with 89 inches, 142 inches, 31 inches, 63 inches, 119 inches, 49 inches, 113 inches, 106 inches, and 90 inches.
Sustainability Center Gallery Layout and Equipment
Exhibitors will be selected from an annual call for artists celebrating Earth Day. This gallery is in the Student Union near the atrium on the first floor of the Building.
The Sustainability Pop Up Gallery rotates artworks each Earth Day in collaboration with the Sustainability Center and its ASBSU Sustainability Committee. The exhibition space is special for several reasons: its non-traditional layout challenges the white cube model of traditional gallery spaces; its focus lies in supporting the economic development of professional makers (it pays students for their artwork); and it marks an important intersection of the Student Union Building. Thousands of students and visitors to the Student Union pass through this exhibition space on a daily basis, making this a highly visible spot for makers to showcase and sell their work. The walls allow for both large and small works to be displayed, and the open floor plan invites the artist to use plinths and their accompanying vitrines to create a dynamic traffic pattern through the space.
Potential Exhibition Walls (measure 5’ and 15’ of available wall space, respectively): Artworks installed on wall surfaces must be ready to install, i.e. framed if necessary, and weigh no more than 50 lbs. General hardware will be used for installation. If your work requires special installation methods or hardware, please include such requirements in your proposal. Sculptural works may be placed on plinths (stands) with vitrines (acrylic cases); plinths vary from 12” to 16” and vitrines stand approximately 14” tall.
Potential Exhibition Glass Wall (measures 5’ of available glass surface): Any materials used on glass surface wall must be easily installed and deinstalled without damage to surface of the glass or permanent residue and without damage to the surrounding area, i.e. carpet, tiles, supporting metal posts and lintels.