HOW DO I APPLY TO HAVE AN EXHIBIT IN THE BARN DOOR GALLERY?

NCFA invites exhibit proposals each June for the upcoming exhibition year, which runs from January through December. A curatorial committee reviews submissions in July, and applicants will be notified of decisions by early August.

We welcome proposals for:

• Solo Exhibitions

• Group or Curated Exhibitions

• Submissions for our August Emerging Artist group Showcase

All forms of visual art are encouraged, including both 2D and 3D work.

IF I AM SELECTED FOR AN EXHIBIT, CAN I SELL MY ART?

Yes! To support sales opportunities for artists and ensure the sustainability of our exhibitions, we ask that at least 85% of the submitted works be available for purchase. The remaining 15% of the approved exhibit can be designated as Not for Sale (NFS) for pieces that are already sold, on loan, or committed to future exhibitions. If this requirement is not feasible, we can explore alternative options, such as hosting a ticketed panel or discussion, or offering replicas or prints for sale, including greeting cards or posters.

NCFA handles all sales and retains a 20% commission to support administrative costs associated with gallery operations.

WHAT ARE THE GALLERY SPECIFICATION?

The Barn Door Gallery is approximately 20’ x 26’ with about 70-80 linear feet of wall space (depending on the kind of art being displayed). There is a moveable wall, five pedestals, and tables may also be available for 3D work. In the future, we hope to have a floor plan or video tour available.

HOW CAN I APPLY TO BE ON THE CURATORIAL COMMITTEE?

Any community member is welcome to apply to serve on NCFA’s Curatorial Committee. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis via an open form, and selected applicants are contacted each spring to join the committee for that year. The committee meets in July to review exhibition proposals.

Applicants remain in our pool unless they ask to be removed. All eligible applicants will eventually be invited to serve. Community members may be asked to serve more than once, though not in consecutive years.

NCFA is committed to equity in both exhibitions and curatorial leadership. Each committee is assembled with a goal of reflecting the diversity of our exhibiting artists—prioritizing representation of BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ individuals, as well as a balance of emerging and experienced artists. We recognize and honor the intersectionality of these identities.

Each Curatorial Committee also has the option to curate a January group show—either featuring their own work or highlighting an artist or theme they wish to amplify.

WHY DOES REPRESENTATION & IDENTITY MATTER IN OUR GALLERY?

At the Northampton Center for the Arts, we believe the gallery can be a space for care, inclusion, and transformation. Curation is not just about selecting work—it’s an opportunity to challenge the status quo and build a more equitable and welcoming arts ecosystem.

According to the National Conference for Community and Justice, identity shapes how people experience the world and how they are perceived by others. By naming specific goals related to identity and representation, we aim to correct longstanding inequities in access and visibility within the arts. We want to be clear: artists who hold marginalized identities are not only welcome—they are actively encouraged to apply.

HOW WERE THE BARN DOOR GALLERY PROCESS & CRITERIA DEVELOPED?

In January 2023, NCFA hosted a community listening session for local artists and arts supporters to share their hopes for a new gallery space. Based on this conversation, we circulated a follow-up survey to broaden input, and in June 2023, we convened a second community dialogue to continue the conversation.

Later that summer, NCFA issued a call for volunteers to join a gallery steering committee. This committee—comprising five community members and four NCFA staff and board members—met in October 2023 to shape the foundation of the Barn Door Gallery. Together, they defined the gallery’s mission and values, and developed the application process, selection criteria, and structure for curatorial committees.

2023 Steering Committee Members:

• Community Members: Steve Calcagnino, M Rudder, Robin Griffith, Ella Alkiewicz, Nyasia Velazquez

• NCFA Representatives: Carlos “Rec” McBride (Board), Natania Hume (Board), Javier Lopez (Board), Kelly Silliman (CoDirector)

WHAT ARE THE MEASUREMENTS OF THE BARN DOOR GALLERY?

For artists interested in exhibiting in the Barn Door Gallery 

Our gallery has high ceilings, beautiful wood floors, and two windows which let in natural light. There is diffused lighting overhead, as well as adjustable track lighting (track lights will be handled by NCFA staff only). Our gallery walls are painted a neutral matte Light Pewter #1464.

The drawings below illustrate the dimensions of the usable wall space in the Barn Door Gallery. You may also like to look at our past exhibits to see how other artists have utilized the space.