Tuesday, August 21, 2012

FAQ in black, Joburg Fringe answers in blue


FAQ JOBURG FRINGE
thanks for these useful questions, tips, suggestions!

Logistics

What is the vision for this year's event? 
The Joburg Fringe happens at the same time as the Joburg Art Fair to benefit from, contribute to and promote the Joburg 'Art Season'. It has grown steadily, and last year offered affordable exhibition space to 103 artists in total.
The Joburg Fringe follows a classical fair set-up. with a high standard of jury-selected artists work.
Like any market place, there is a lively exchange of information and a chance of trade. Artists meet the public, potential clients, curators, collectors, dealers, gallerists and other artists. Artists share their experiences and develop a better sense of the market value of their work.
We know the difficulty of getting artwork 'out there'. Nothing compares to the immediacy of a face-to-face engagement with someone interested in one's work.
What is expected of us? 
Artists are physically present, talking about and selling their own work during the Fringe, making it informative and profitable.
The artists connect with buyers, dealers, curators and other artists..
They exchange information, discuss common ground and collaborate on future exhibitions. They engage with the visitors on issues pertaining to their work, informing and sensitizing their future art-buying public. A dialogue begins between art professionals and the public about art: the public gain valuable insights which may well spark an interest to buy art.
How soon will the official press release be ready and how can we help to distribute it.
were listed in all the NB media,....if anyone is best friends with editors & arts writers, we would love to hear from you what they would like from the Joburg Fringe in terms of content....last year we had a headline on all the street poles by the M&G...

Who has been allocated to which venue?  When will we know?
as soon as it is really relevant


What differentiates the venues? JoFri doesn't! On what basis were decisions made to group artists together?  (This may affect marketing decisions and opportunities.) if you can afford Sandton convention centre...

decision made completely in the interest of showing the work to its best advantage and safety

When will floor plans be available?  
we're still waiting too!


What visitor numbers are we expecting?
traffic has always been good

When can we see the space? Monday 3rd September 9am latest. Will the exhibition space be ready for installation of works? no (Will the the floor be mopped, walls painted, holes patched etc.) no If artists have to prepare/ repair the space themselves, what is the deadline? best to do it Monday morning first thing

Can we have access to the space the weekend before the exhibition?
we've requested to have keys for w/e if possible, depends on owners of each space. will post once we get confirmation.
(they only committed give us keys for period 3-10 September)

Will the 3.5 m be a running space or a cubicle?  running wall space

How far into the venue / passage can we extend if we need extra space?

Will the spaces be painted white and clean? some will, some won't Will everything be ready for hanging? again, no Or will we be expected to repaint the wall beforehand (different makes of paint and shades could be an issue)? one kind of paint solves this

Can we put nails in walls, screws etc.?  How strong are the dry walls?  
Is the back main wall dry-walled?  Do we need special dry-walling screws?
question is with our wonder-boys, answer coming
What are the ceiling heights?  Will there be an electrician / handyman yes who knows the venue no and can assist with possible lighting rigs we favour a neon-flooded ceiling lighting, no extra light riggings and complicated hanging? complicated hanging makes an otherwise boring job more interesting

Venue facilities

What is the R 2500 paying for, what is the breakdown?
Artists pay a feel of R2500 towards overhead costs (jury, temporary walls, electricity, advertising, online catalogue, and if this time there is anything left over the organizers might get paid a token amount instead of a thank-you-pat-on-the head)

Is there art storage space available at the venue?  Or do we have to use the boot of our cars? 
Bring a table and store work underneath/against it, or behind a chair, or on floor infront of, or against wall, or in car boot.

Where can packaging materials be stored, and who will supply them?
See above, artist  

Where do we park when we set up?  Infront of, or closest next option, to venue. Where do we park during the exhibition? Is there 24h security for visitors and artists' cars?  There is free parking for first come first serve in the little road directly opposite Bridge House for during the day. Otherwise secure covered pay parking available @ Arbour Square Parking Garage, 86 Juta Street, (between Melle and Biccard).
NB on the evening of the opening, you will be able to park at Bridge House parking for free.

Will there be kitchens / bathrooms available?
definitely bathrooms available in or close to venues, sometimes kitchens. Bring a kettle.

Will there be wireless internet access?
In Post, Velo cafes, and ?

Who will be cleaning?  Do you need volunteers?
Thought you'd never offer!
we'll keep you posted

Suggestions

Can venues be marketed individually in order to spread exposure amongst more artists? 
?
We would like to suggest a central packaging stand / wrapping table in each venue, with someone on duty.  If not covered by funding, artists could share the material and labour costs per venue.
good idea!
We suggest one guest book / table per venue to collectively capture e-mail addresses (with artist's names in columns to tick) at exit?
great, please share with us to grow our mailing list!

Would it be possible to organize special artists' parking underground during the exhibition? e.g. hotel de Mono.
Hotel Lamunu has very limited parking and has a boom.
see parking above. when ever i have been to Braamfontein between 8 and 10, I mostly find free parking

Will there be a bus from the Art Fair to the Fringe? no If not, can it be arranged? on the planned hop-on-hop-off taxi we can include a stop at the Park Gautrain Station: Park - Sandton costs R22 one way. n.b. one needs a Gautrain card (R11 one-off)

Can people who are absent during the exhibition (eg Alison McKay, Vincent Bezuidenhout) and have nobody to man their stall be placed closely together, in order to pay one person to supervise?  
sure this will be solved once everyone's there and putting up work: any volunteers?