By Abdi Ali
Published July 14, 2018
An annual fine arts show that raises funds for the National Museums of Kenya invites artists to submit their work for consideration for the curated exhibition.
“Please confirm your intention to participate as soon as possible via info@kenyamuseumsociety.org, giving your name, phone and email contacts and stating the type of work–painting, sculpture, photography or mixed media–you will submit,” Kenya Museum Society (KMS), that organises the Affordable Art Show scheduled for October 26 – 28, 2018, says of the exhibition that is open to painting, sculpture, photography and mixed media work.
“We invite artists to submit a maximum of two pieces … All submissions will be scrutinised by an experienced panel for their artistic merit and to ensure they satisfy our other criteria,” Marla Stone Art Show Coordinator and Lydia Gatundu-Galavu, Art Curator, say.
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And what citeria does KMS use in judging ‘artistic merit’?
- Each piece in any medium must be limited in size to a maximum of 100cm x 100cm to facilitate buyers carrying their purchases home by car
- The work must be created in 2018
- All paintings must be framed/stretched and ready for exhibiting, preferably with no glass. All fragile 3-dimensional pieces must be submitted in protective packaging. Please note: KMS will not be responsible for any damage to any pieces of work
- Artists must price their work at a maximum of Sh99 999, and
- KMS will retain 30% of the price for cash sales and 35% for credit card sales per piece sold.
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KMS says artists should deliver their work to the Courtyard behind the Louis Leakey Auditorium on Wednesday, October 17, 2018 between 9:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
“Artists from outside Nairobi who send work by public transport must make sure that the work arrives no later than Monday, October 15, 2018 with a label attached to each piece giving artist’s name, title of piece, medium and price. Any shipped art that arrives late or has no label will not be included in the show,” Stone and Gatundu-Galavu say. “Unsold art must be picked up on Monday, October 29 between 9:30 AM and 3:30 PM because KMS has no place for storing art after that day. Any art not collected by that date and time will become the property of KMS and will be used to raise additional funds for NMK.”
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Saying that detailed information or clarification is available via cell 0724 255 299, phone 020 233 9158 or via info@kenyamuseumsociety.org, KMS says the event not only showcases the diversity and richness of the creativity of Kenyan artists but that it “has had increased success each of the last 5 years. In 2017 40% of the pieces exhibited were sold.”
The Affordable Art Show will take place in the Courtyard behind the Louis Leakey Auditorium at Nairobi National Museum on Museum Hill. There is a Sh500 entry fee to the opening in the evening on October 26 that must be paid by all, including artists, KMS says. However, there will be no entry fee to the show that continues on Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
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