I've been reading through some of the old CRAFT newsletters and come across a few articles that are still relevant and full of usefull information. This article, from a 2003 newsletter, talks about hosting a student art show. At the end, Kathy Breazeale (now retired), of Bayfront Gallery, gives you her step-by-step guide for getting started.

Bayfront Gallery's innovative program introduces students to American craft.

 

Supporting and encouraging the creativity and artistic excellence of American craft artists is an important mission of CRAFT. What better way to do this than to introduce craft to students early on, with the hope that these students will become the professional artists and patrons of the future?

 

Since 1995, CRAFT members Kathy and Leighton Breazeale, Bayfront Gallery, Pensacola, Florida, have sponsored an innovative and exciting program to do just this. For eight years, the Bayfront Gallery Student Art Show has provided the motivation and reward for a great number of highschoolers who might otherwise not have been exposed to the joy of making something with their hands.

 

Kathy, a former teacher (not art), concerned with the increasing threats, and in some cases actual elimination of school art programs, convinced local school boards to cooperate in this annual program. Not only are students (and their parents) introduced to the excitement and possibilities of a career in art, but the public has the opportunity to appreciate the value of and results achieved by a high school arts program.

 

Like any gallery exhibition, Bayfront's Student Show is a nearly year-round project, starting in the first days of the school year and culminating wit a spring opening and exhibition worthy of any professional. Along the way there is continuing school contact, press releases and announcements (often generating media coverage), individual school programs and finally, impartial jurying and awards. Everyone is a winner - award winners, certificate of merit recipients, schools, teachers, students, parents, the public and, of course, the gallery.

 

Kathy and Leighton encourage all CRAFT members committed to the future of American craft to follow in the footsteps of Bayfront Gallery and sponsor similar programs nation wide.

 

Kathy Breazeale suggests the following:

 

1.  Start a year in advance of the planned exhibition dates.

2.  Contact the appropriate administrator in the public school system and solicit their support for the program.

3.  With the administrator, review the school calendar for the coming year and determine the appropriate time. Experience suggests that the exhibition should be in the Spring (second semester), to allow for introduction of 3D/craft into the students' curriculum.

4.  Determine the maximum number of pieces that can be accommodated in the actual gallery exhibition. Allocate these spots appropriately by school district. Bayfront Gallery generally plans for sixty pieces.

5.  Develop a plan for "Merit Awards" (not 1st, 2nd, 3rd - no winners, hence no losers).  Bayfront awards five $50 each, some of which are sponsored, and prints "Certificates of Merit" for all others selected for the gallery exhibition. Bayfront's program includes an award to the high school art department that has the best overall submission.

6.  During the first month of the school year send a complete packet of information directly to the art faculty of each public and private high school eligible to participate;  coordinated with an announcement of the program from the schools system's arts administer. Follow up by seeking commitments of participation during the next month.

7.  Plan a series of press releases to local and community newspapers, neighborhood newsletters, TV and radio stations, arts organizations and county and city government officials, etc. Kathy warns not to be surprised at the interest and coverage that this can generate.

8.  As the school year progresses, "check-in" with arts teachers directly to maintain motivation.

9.  Recruit a team of judges from the community - professional artist, collectors/patrons, museum directors, arts organization leaders, college art faculty, etc. to "jury" the exhibition and decide on the "Merit Awards".

10.  Prepare for the gallery exhibition the same as any other gallery event you plan. Budget for the same type of advertising and direct mail that you would use for other promotional events. Prepare in-gallery artist information, including artist's statements, for distribution during the exhibition. Prepare and publicize the "opening" in a manner in keeping with other events.

11. Upon opening, publicize (press releases, etc.) the "Merit Award" recipients and other news.

12.  After the exhibition closes, thank, in writing, everyone who participated and will probably be called on again.

13.  Return to #1 and start over for next year. Quality and customer appreciation will improve year after year.