Yes, holding a successful art exhibit will predetermine the cooperation of the congregation and artists in the future. Each congregation usually has it's own list of rules concerning their property and values. Make sure these are always important guide lines in the planning of a program or exhibit within the confines of your church property.
- Never insult the properties manager! Make certain that you do not damage church property while hanging an exhibit. We will discuss the methods of hanging work under a new category. If you do damage something, replace it promptly.
- Get organized and never assign any one volunteer too many jobs. Make the art experience pleasant for everybody. You want the church to be enthusiastic about having another exhibit in the future.
- Make sure that any work involved is done right once. This is important because it means that future art shows will be easier for folks to put together. Keep your work stored properly in the church staff computers and closets.
- Assign duties in accordance to talents. If you have a retired advertising executive in your congregation ask him sweetly if he could help advertise the art show within a limited budget. If you have a marvelous cook in your church, ask him if he would consider preparing food the opening night of the exhibit. If you have musicians ask these folks to play music at the event. To each gift, assign proper work.
- Make sure that the church folk are not your victims, but are those whom you are extra cautious about caring for. Artists have undeserved negative reputations attached to themselves, simply because of "hollywood stereo-types." Sometimes artists must preform by higher standards of conduct in order to exhibit artwork to those people who are unfamiliar with their way of life.
- Get children involved with the exhibit, if possible. This will insure that parents and kids take an active role in participating with your group as well as retired professionals. Have a children's exhibit in a separate classroom at the same time as your show. Provide coloring projects or crafts in another room, along with free baby-sitting, during the art exhibit's opening night.
- Or plan the art exhibit to be opened during other major events like: Christmas plays, Easter concerts, a visiting speaker or a convention. This draws in more foot traffic and provides for artists enthusiasm for the show because they understand that there will be many people who will see their work. This also cuts advertising costs down because the art exhibit is included with other events that are already being advertised.
- Do not insist on hanging artworks that you know for a fact will incite people. Not only will you insure that there will never be another exhibit in the church again, you will also defeat the ministry purposes of the artist's church community.
- Ask for the artworks to be reviewed by several people before these are hung. Three is a good number because two will have to agree on a work before it is hung.
- When asking for submissions for an art exhibit, always include a very deliberate outline of your expectations concerning art works. Include size and wt. limitations and subjects that you would prefer artists to submit for review.
