| Being responsible for a group art exhibition can be | | | | exhibition look professional. Some people prefer the |
| scary. There are artists to organize, the venue to | | | | tops of the paintings to be level and some prefer all |
| book, promotional material to distribute -- the list is | | | | the centres to be at eye height. Whichever height you |
| endless. One of the most stressful times is hanging | | | | prefer you can reduce the time hanging the artworks |
| day. This can be both chaotic and exhausting with | | | | by pre-marking the walls. |
| artists dropping off artworks, paintings waiting to be | | | | Using a tape measure and map pins, measure the |
| hung, and price lists to organize. With some | | | | required height at several different places across the |
| pre-planning you can make your hanging day less | | | | wall. Connect the pins with long twine to give you a |
| stressful and more fun. | | | | horizontal line. This line can then be used to accurately |
| Reduce stress on hanging day by getting some help, | | | | and quickly find the common hanging point. |
| ensuring you have the right equipment, pre-marking the | | | | 4. Efficient Hanging Method |
| walls, adopting an efficient hanging method, and using | | | | Climbing up and down a ladder can be frustrating and |
| artwork swing tags and price cards. | | | | exhausting. Make life easier for yourself by getting |
| 1. Get help | | | | someone to help you. One of you can be up the |
| Well before hanging day enlist the help of several | | | | ladder, while the other can be passing the hooks, |
| people. Give each person a different task so they can | | | | hammer and artworks. Not only does it take less time |
| get on with the job independently. Enthusiastic helpers | | | | to hang the exhibition, but it will be more fun too. |
| will allow you to coordinate the day, not left to do it all | | | | If you’re using the pre-marking technique above, |
| alone like a super hero. | | | | use a ruler to measure the distance between the |
| When the day is over remember to thank your helpers | | | | hanging cord and the top of the painting. Transfer this |
| by mentioning them at the opening function, sending | | | | measurement onto the wall, using the horizontal string |
| them a thank you card, or presenting them with a | | | | line as your guide. |
| Certificate of Participation. Appreciation for a job well | | | | 5. Swing Tags and Price Cards |
| done is important. | | | | Creating an accurate price list can be a nightmare, |
| 2. Bring the right equipment | | | | particularly at group exhibitions. Many artists change |
| There is nothing worse than discovering you have | | | | the title, price and even the artworks before the big |
| forgotten to bring the step ladder or hammer to | | | | day, and this can be frustrating to keep track of. Use |
| hanging day. Returning home to collect the forgotten | | | | swing tags and price cards instead of exhibition |
| item is time consuming and stressful. Be organized by | | | | numbers and a price list to help reduce the stress. |
| writing an equipment checklist and checking the items | | | | Before the exhibition give every artist a swing tag. It |
| off before you leave. If you hang exhibitions regularly | | | | should be hung on a cord long enough so the swing |
| consider purchasing a tool box on wheels to help cart | | | | tag can hang over the top of the artwork. One side of |
| your equipment around. | | | | the swing tag will have the artist details, the other will |
| Items to take along with you on hanging day are a | | | | have the artwork details. Transferring the artwork |
| step ladder, hammer, tape measure, spirit level, picture | | | | details onto a price card will be easy to do now, and |
| hooks and nails, pencil, box cutter, bluetac, map pins | | | | the completed card can be quickly adhered to the wall |
| and twine. Other useful items are a screw driver, | | | | with bluetac. |
| assorted screws, nails and hooks, gun stapler and | | | | The hanging day for a group art exhibition can be |
| staples, scissors, packing tape and a permanent | | | | stressful and hard work. With a little bit of pre-planning, |
| marker. | | | | help and some basic equipment you can turn a |
| 3. Pre-marking the walls | | | | frustrating day into a fun day! |
| Hanging artworks at the same height makes your | | | | |