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TOURING EXHIBITIONS

© Dijanne Cevaal

Ozquilt Network Newsletter Issue #39 March 2001

There are a number of things that I learned whilst travelling the 'Australian Bounty' exhibition. Due to the constraints of money and air travel, the quilts had to spend small amounts of time in suitcases. This means those with special requirements or surface treatments which are of a fragile nature suffer as the cost of arranging special transport becomes impossible when you are on a tight budget. Also quilts which are not heavily quilted suffer - this happens after just twenty four hours of being packed in a suitcase. Please keep these things in mind when you make quilts for a travelling exhibition.

One of the reasons the Australian Embassy has been so enthusiastic (apart from the fact that the quilts are wonderful!) is the ease of transportation. So this is a point we can use to our advantage. I have tried to roll the quilts or lay them flat - but this is not always possible. Another consideration is the weight of the quilt, as every one adds to the weight significantly. I was lucky with 'Bounty' as my family travelled with me and we used their luggage allowance, but next time I am on my own. Secondly - and this has been said many, many times - opt for the best photography you can afford. Not only does it give your quilt a better chance of selection but it allows the organiser to do a lot of pre-publicity . This contributes to increased numbers through the door and also keeps the sponsors happy. Let's face it, without their money a lot of these things would not be possible.

There is one thing that has concerned me a little, and you can all help to educate your local quilt groups on this issue. I have been approached a number of times by groups who wanted to show 'Australian Bounty' and I must admit I have tried to work out a schedule that allows us to show our work in both galleries and quilt shows. However, many of these groups have baulked when I have asked them to pay for all the transportation costs of the quilts. I got the feeling that many people are not aware of the sheer logistics and costs involved in moving the exhibition around, (and I think Terri Keck referred to a little of this in her article 'Progressions - the Exhibition' in Issue #38). The cost accrues regardless of whether you are an individual or a group.

Just the additional postage for something like 'Bounty' is horrendous - sending submissions here, there and everywhere including visuals to galleries overseas and here. Sending the visuals to magazines (and I usually enclose a SSAE in the hope of getting the slides back, something that does not always happen). And then there are the many things you send out which get the 'no' answer or simply do not get answered. And the follow-up phone calls. I am not complaining, but there seems a presumption out there that all these things happen for nothing - well they don't. They are part of any exhibition budget, and legitimately so.

Dijanne Cevaal © 2001
 

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