Community House Gallery

Request to Exhibit at Cummington Community House Gallery (CH Gallery)

The CH Gallery, located within the Cummington Community House and coordinated by the Cummington Cultural District, invites artists to apply to exhibit their work through our Annual Open Call for Exhibition Requests.

Annual Open Call Timeline

• Call Opens: April 30
• Deadline to Request: May 29 at 5:00 PM
• Scheduling Period: Early June
• Annual Calendar Publicly Announced: June
• Exhibition Year: July–June (following year)

About the CH Gallery

The CH Gallery is located in the historic Cummington Community House and serves as a cultural gathering space for the Hilltown region.

• Exhibitions are typically one month in duration
• An opening reception is typically held on the evening of the first Saturday of the month
• The gallery includes three primary walls plus two additional display areas
• A professional hanging system is installed on most gallery walls
• The hallway space uses crown molding brackets with picture wire suspension
• Freestanding works are not permitted except during the opening reception
• No nails, adhesives, hooks, or direct wall attachments are allowed

The CH Gallery is a community-centered exhibition space that welcomes emerging and established artists working in a variety of mediums. The Cummington Cultural District aims to be inclusive of arts & culture in the region, supporting exhibitions that are open to and welcoming of all residents and visitors, and represent a broad range of disciplines and cultures.

We encourage:

• Solo exhibitions
• Two-person exhibitions
• Small group exhibitions
  

Artist Responsibilities

Artists agree to:

• Exhibit work for the full scheduled month
• Coordinate installation and deinstallation with the CH Gallery Coordinator
• Install work using the gallery’s hanging system (no direct wall attachment)
• Provide and serve refreshments for the opening reception (if hosting one), and if have received alcohol permit
• Design promotional materials, coordinate with CH Gallery Coordinator to publicize the exhibition through personal networks
• Leave the space clean and as found
• Remove trash after events
• Provide their own insurance, if needed (the Gallery is not able to insure artworks)
  

Artists are encouraged to publicize their exhibitions through regional print, radio, and social media outlets, as well as printed postcards.

CH Gallery Coordinator Responsibilities

The CH Gallery Coordinator and Cummington Cultural District will:

• Manage the annual call and scheduling process
• Coordinate scheduling for the exhibition year with the Community House Coordinator
• Work with artists to confirm one of their top three preferred dates
• Support installation and deinstallation, as needed and requested
• Provide access to hanging hardware and ladder
• Facilitate request use of the space for the opening reception
• Support submission of application for a one-day permit for wine and beer service (if applicable) on behalf of exhibiting artist/s, who are responsible for supplying their own beverages
• Provide support in publicity design and recommended distribution for artists; publicize the exhibition through social media
• Announce the annual exhibition calendar with a press release and social media
• Coordinate with town staff to post exhibition information on town signs and Community House bulletin boards
• Provide ongoing logistical support

Scheduling Process

Artists will be asked to indicate their top three preferred months from available exhibition slots.

• We will work to schedule artists within one of their preferred choices.
• If demand exceeds available slots, we may:
  • Extend scheduling further into the following calendar year
  • Prioritize artists who have not previously exhibited in the space
  • Consider geographic representation to prioritize Cummington artists and then Hilltown artists
  • Use a combination of equitable review factors
    

Our goal is to create a fair, transparent, and community-centered selection process while honoring as many requests as possible.

Questions?

Please email us. If you need help with this application, or to request a paper application, please contact us at culturaldistrictcummington@gmail.com, using the subject line Community House Gallery or CH Gallery.

Forms

On acceptance of an exhibition month, an artist agreement, a rental contract detailing use agreements, and an optional one day liquor license request if you intend to have alcohol at the opening will each need to be completed and submitted to finalize.