Purpose and scope
Lauinger Library has established community galleries to showcase the scholarly and creative work of Georgetown University’s faculty, staff, and students. The purpose of these exhibitions is to foster intellectual engagement and encourage dialogue and inquiry among all library users.
The Library will support exhibitions curated by faculty, students, or staff who want to promote and showcase their scholarly work or creative projects, and those seeking to publicize an initiative or collection.
The Library’s Exhibition Committee will evaluate each proposal to determine whether the exhibition is appropriate for the Library’s users and spaces and whether the requested space is available within the desired timeframe.
The Exhibition Committee will also identify a library liaison to support the exhibit.
Exhibition Content
The Library is a welcoming, inclusive environment for Georgetown faculty, students, and staff from across campus as well as members of the community. Visitors of all ages frequent the library; therefore, community exhibitions must have artwork appropriate for all library users.
Exhibitions are open to the public free of charge and are selected based on the following criteria (not all exhibitions will meet all criteria):
- Highlight Georgetown University’s academic strengths and foster opportunities for collaboration with faculty from across the campus community.
- Offer educational content that is innovative, thematically strong, and contributes to deeper understanding and broader perspectives.
- Demonstrate quality, aesthetic value, and a compelling narrative.
- Relate to campus life, current events, and the wider community, ensuring timeliness and relevance.
- Appeal broadly to diverse audiences, inspire student engagement, and encourage community participation.
- Present content that is accurate, respectful, and appropriate for a diverse academic and community audience
- Fit within the scheduling and planning constraints of the Library’s exhibition calendar.
Exhibition Proposals
Lauinger Library is pleased to consider exhibition proposals from students, faculty, and staff to display works in the Gelardin Community Gallery, Second-Floor Community Gallery and the Pierce Reading Room Display Case. See Library Community Exhibition and Display Spaces for more information about the configuration of these spaces. When preparing your proposal, please ensure that your exhibition is suitable for the space. If you would like to schedule a walk-through, please contact Beth Marhanka (beth.marhanka@georgetown.edu).
Most exhibitions are scheduled 6 months to one year in advance. Proposals for exhibitions requiring a shorter timeline will be considered on a case-by-case basis, depending on available resources and staff capacity. To propose an exhibition, please use the Library's Community Galleries Exhibition Proposal form. You can expect a response to your proposal within 30 days. Submitting an exhibition proposal signifies your commitment (as sponsoring unit or individual) to partner with the Library’s liaison to:
- curate the content
- install the work and the labels
- plan and execute events
- promote the exhibition
- Fund production and event expenses
Pop-up Exhibition Proposals
Pop-up exhibitions—typically lasting from just a few hours to two weeks—provide an opportunity to create small-scale book exhibits or poster displays. These short-term exhibitions help inform the Georgetown community about campus resources and services. Pop-up exhibitions can take place on the 2nd floor or the lobby of Lauinger Library. Please see Library Community Exhibition and Display Spaces for more information about the configuration of these spaces. Pop-up Exhibitions must be proposed 30 days before the intended display date.
Review and Approval Process
The Library’s Exhibitions Committee will evaluate all proposals and make a recommendation to the Dean of the Library and the Head of Outreach and Engagement about whether the proposed exhibition meets the following criteria:
- Meets the Exhibition Content Requirements.
- Reflects the Spirit of Georgetown and our Jesuit values.
- Upholds a safe, productive environment for library users.
The Dean of the Library makes the final decision about which exhibitions are accepted and installed in the Library.
Application Requirements
If your proposal is accepted, you will meet with your assigned library liaison to work through the Community Exhibitions Checklist template and create a project plan. See the Roles and Responsibilities section below for details about the requirements.
We require all applicants to:
- Visit the exhibition space before committing to partner with the Library on an exhibition. If you have previously exhibited in this space, this requirement may be waived at the discretion of the Exhibitions Committee.
- Obtain all required permissions and licenses for any copyrighted materials used in their exhibition before installation of the exhibit. Acceptable proof of permission may include loan agreements, written authorization from copyright holders, email confirmations, or similar documentation.
- To sign an agreement form that outlines roles and responsibilities.
Roles and Responsibilities
Library exhibitions are collaborative projects involving curators, library staff, and other partners. Clear communication and shared responsibility ensure that exhibitions meet the Library’s educational mission, uphold professional standards, and provide meaningful engagement for the community. The Community Galleries Manager is generally the project manager and operational lead for each exhibition. A Library Liaison will be assigned as the Exhibition Curator, often in partnership with the campus partner proposing the exhibition. For some exhibitions, an individual with the campus unit sponsoring the exhibition may fill several roles (e.g., curator, project manager, and designer). For other exhibits, the library liaison may be able to do the project management and design, or additional staff and student assistants might be available to assist the team.
Since available resources and expertise will vary from year to year, and depending on the campus partner sponsoring the exhibition, it is important to clarify roles and responsibilities at the outset of the exhibition planning process.
See Appendix C: Roles and Responsibilities in Library Exhibitions for more details
Timeline and Checklist
As noted in the Roles and Responsibilities in Library Exhibitions section, planning and executing successful, high-quality exhibitions takes considerable time and effort. The library’s production team is limited; therefore, exhibition sponsors will be required to support all aspects of the exhibition, including curation, installation, promotion, and celebration.
See the Community Exhibitions Checklist template for details about the tasks and duties required from the team.
Liability
The Georgetown University Libraries does not assume responsibility for theft, loss, or damage to items on display. Library staff involved in exhibition planning and installation will take all reasonable measures to protect displayed and loaned materials from potential loss or damage, whether caused by people or natural events such as fire or flood. The Library encourages the use of reproductions rather than original works whenever possible. Applicants proposing the display of original items are asked to disclose the specific requirements, including loan agreements and licenses, during the proposal process. The Library requires signed loan agreements for all original artworks or materials displayed in community galleries.
Installation and Removal
Exhibitors must coordinate installation and removal schedules with Library staff to ensure smooth setup and takedown of exhibition materials.
Exhibitors are responsible for funding all costs associated with the exhibit, including printing artwork and labels, and repairing any damage done to the walls during the installation and de-installation process.
Storage
The Library cannot provide storage for exhibitors’ personal or loaned materials before, during, or after the exhibition.
Commercial Activity
The Library does not engage in or facilitate commercial sales of exhibited items. Prices may not be displayed. With prior approval, the exhibitor’s name and contact information may be shared with the public upon request.
Exhibition marketing (social media, website, etc.)
Online exhibition
The Library’s digital exhibitions are created using our Drupal Web Development platform to provide sites that are visually pleasing, easy to navigate, and comply with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and the Americans with Disabilities Act Section 508.
The digital exhibition generally includes the same content as the physical exhibition. The curator and sponsoring unit will be responsible for providing the digitized images and exhibition text for the online exhibition.
Promotional materials
The Library will promote the exhibition in our newsletter and social media channels. Exhibitors are encouraged to do their own marketing as well. Depending on the human resources available in the Library, we might be able to partner with the sponsor on the creation of a flyer and physical signage.
A communications plan will be developed for each exhibition using this Community Exhibitions Checklist.
Events
The Library encourages events that foster engagement with exhibitions and welcomes the Georgetown and broader community to experience the creative and scholarly work on display. Opening receptions, gallery talks, and related programs provide valuable opportunities to connect artists, curators, and visitors, deepen understanding of the exhibition themes, and strengthen the Library’s role as a vibrant cultural and intellectual hub on campus.
To ensure that these events enhance the academic environment, all receptions or exhibition-related gatherings must be planned in consultation with Library staff, with the following guidelines:
- Dates and times for exhibition events must be approved at least 60 days in advance.
- Receptions are normally scheduled during business hours, Monday through Friday, and at times that cause minimal disruption to students and others using the Library for study and research.
Funding receptions
The library does not have funding for receptions; therefore, the campus partner proposing the exhibition and the reception will be responsible for covering the cost of the reception. Events often require special funding and are carried out in partnership with other campus departments.
The sponsor of the exhibition and the reception is responsible for:
- Setting up the reception and cleaning up after the event.
- Purchasing the food and drinks
- Providing graphics to promote the event
The library will help coordinate:
- delivery of food and drinks, and the setup for the reception.
- The location for the reception (either close to the exhibition space, in the Murray Room, or in the Pierce Reading Room Digital Lab)
- Signage about the event
Contact
For more information about the Library’s community galleries, please contact Beth Marhanka (beth.marhanka@georgetown.edu).