Call for exhibition and display proposals 2023-24

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Blueprints of Hope exhibition, Octagon Gallery. Image ©UCL/Kirsten Holst

Objects of the Misanthropocene exhibition, Octagon Gallery. ©UCL/Kirsten Holst

Inspiring Action on the Climate Emergency display in the Cloisters. Image ©UCL/James Tye

The UCL Museums and Cultural Programmes team are seeking proposals from individuals, departments or groups across UCL for engaging exhibitions and displays, to be hosted in the Wilkins Building across the 2023-24 academic year.

Exhibitions and display proposals should be rooted in the work of UCL, demonstrate relevance to an identified target audience and the wider UCL community, and take a topical, collaborative and multidisciplinary approach.

Full Exhibitions and Displays Criteria

Available spaces

We are looking for proposals for the following spaces:

The Octagon

This gallery space sits at the heart of the Wilkins Building on UCL’s main campus.

It comprises four large showcases with 15 micro-cases that meet security and environmental criteria for housing objects. The display infrastructure includes spot lighting for case contents and label rails for interpretative text. Exhibitions proposed for this space should be object-based.

Octagon exhibitions are co-produced with the UCL Museums and Cultural Programmes team over a period of six months. We support the realisation of exhibitions by providing a structure and schedule for developing and interpreting content, managing all design aspects, and supporting on the practical aspects of their delivery, including installation. Associated public programmes are also collaboratively developed.

The M&CP team provides a budget to help realise Octagon exhibitions, though we encourage proposers to consider their own financial contribution and other available budgets and awards.

The M&CP team are currently seeking proposals for an Octagon exhibition opening at Easter 2024.

To share an idea for an Octagon exhibition with us, please fill out the Octagon Exhibitions Proposal Form by 6pm on Friday 9 June.

Please refer to the Exhibitions and Displays Criteria to check that your idea is suitable.

The Cloisters (North and South)

These spaces function as a significant throughfare on campus, connecting the Octagon and Main Library to a host of other spaces including the Provost Office, UCL Art Museum and ASCR. They each comprise eight large panels for hosting two-dimensional displays.

Cloisters displays are co-developed with the UCL Museums and Cultural Programmes team over a period of four months. We support the realisation of these displays by providing a structure and schedule for developing and interpreting content, managing all design aspects, and supporting on the practical aspects of their delivery, including installation.

Budget for the production of Cloisters displays must be provided by proposers.

The M&CP team are currently seeking proposals for Cloisters displays for Autumn 2023 onwards.

To share an idea for a Cloisters display with us, please fill out the Cloisters Display Proposal Form by 6pm on Friday 9 June.

Please refer to the Exhibitions and Displays Criteria to check that your idea is suitable.

Further information

If your project involves a range of original, three-dimensional artefacts (for example, objects from UCL Collections) it is likely to be suited to the Octagon Gallery. If your project is reliant predominantly on graphic information and/or AV material, it is probably more suitable as a Cloisters display.

Please select your application form accordingly.

Next steps

If you would like to find out more about the exhibition-making process or would like to discuss which space your idea is most suitable for in advance, please come along to one of our drop-in information sessions on Monday 22 May and Tuesday 23 May between 13:00-14:30 in the Whistler Room, Wilkins Building (near the Octagon Gallery).

Proposals will be shortlisted by the Exhibitions team then reviewed by Programmes Board in late June 2023. Follow-up conversations with proposers may be scheduled in mid-June in advance of final selections.