The Sheridan Libraries
Exhibition Proposal Guidelines & Application

The Sheridan Libraries Exhibition Program Committee welcomes exhibits that meet its selection criteria. This packet includes the following:

• Guidelines for application
• Exhibition selection criteria
• • scope
  • characteristics
  • documentation
• Exhibition proposal form (Word document)

The Exhibition Program Committee will review your proposal. If it is selected for further consideration, you will be asked to provide more detailed information to be presented to the Committee.

Guidelines for Application

The Sheridan Libraries have two exhibitions venues: the George Peabody Library Exhibition Gallery, 17 East Mount Vernon Place, Baltimore, MD 21202, and the display pavilion on the main level of the Eisenhower Library, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218.

1.  Application Timeline

Proposals must be submitted at least eight months prior to the proposed opening date.

The Committee will decide which venue is most appropriate for each exhibit. Please consult the exhibition planning calendar for next available dates at both venues.  Proposals should be mailed to: 

Pamela Higgins
Chair, Exhibit Program Committee
Sheridan Libraries
Johns Hopkins University
3400 N. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 212118

Exhibitions at the George Peabody Library typically run for three months.  Displays on M-Level in the Eisenhower Library run from August through December, and January through June.  Fragile materials may have shorter exhibition run periods at the discretion of the Preservation Department.

If your exhibit is tied to an anniversary date or an event, please provide details in the Proposal to Exhibit form.

2.  Eligibility

Any faculty member, staff, student, alumnus, sponsored group, or department of Johns Hopkins University may submit a Proposal to Exhibit to the Exhibition Program Committee by mail or electronically.

Proposals from outside the JHU community must be submitted through a library, museum, university, or community cultural organization. Our policy prohibits us from accepting proposals directly from the artist(s) represented in an exhibition.

3.  Selection Criteria

The Exhibition Program Committee will review all applications.  The Committee will make its recommendation based on the Exhibition Selection Criteria and the availability of resources.

4.  Notification

The Exhibition Program Committee meets monthly.  Proposals will be reviewed at these meetings, and the Committee Chair will notify the applicant about the outcome by e-mail or phone.

Upon acceptance of a proposal, a member of the Exhibition Program Committee and/or librarian will be assigned as liaison to the curator for the exhibition. 

Exhibition Selection Criteria

The Sheridan Libraries Exhibition Program advances the mission of the Libraries as an educational resource. The Sheridan Libraries view the exhibition program as an opportunity to promote the knowledge and use of its collections, to encourage donations and new acquisitions to the Libraries, and to add to the cultural and educational experience of The Johns Hopkins University. 

In addition to promoting its own collections, the Sheridan Libraries support traveling exhibitions and collaborative exhibits with faculty, scholars, and area organizations in order to bring exhibitions of interest to the university and Baltimore communities.

Scope:  The Exhibition Program Committee will consider all proposals for exhibits that fall within the scope of its mission and purpose as described above. The Committee considers the following types of exhibitions outside of its scope and mission:

i) Of a single artist: the exhibition of a body of work by a single artist that has been organized and designed by that artist.
ii) A commercial venture: exhibitions that are primarily commercial in nature.
iii) Potentially unsafe:  exhibits whose materials may compromise public and/or building safety.

Proposals that have satisfied the mission and goals of the Exhibition Program will be reviewed for the following characteristics:

1. Originality of exhibition content
2. Quality of exhibit concept, writing, and materials
3. Suitability of physical form to the exhibition venues
4. Historical or educational significance
5. Relationship to the academic programs or current and/or developing library research collections
6. An ability to highlight or stimulate interest in the Sheridan Libraries’ resources, development program, or collection development
7. Partnerships with other local, regional, or national cultural institutions that contribute to the awareness of the Libraries’ resources, collections, and services

The Exhibition Program Committee and its Chair reserve the right to recommend changes and/or modify any exhibit proposal in order to meet its timetable and work within its budget and staff and material resources.

Sheridan Libraries Exhibition Proposal Form