Important information about your Annual Exhibition prints

With three years gone since we were last able to hold our Annual Exhibition, many new members have not yet had a chance to take part. They will not know about setting up or how the Preview Evening runs. For quite a few others, we could do with a memory refresh too! So here’s some notes on what to expect.

On Friday 5^th August, we will be setting up the exhibition in the morning. The ‘strong-arm crew’ (we will need volunteers) will have collected all the stands and display boards, and all the other paraphernalia we need for the week and the display boards will be erected in the hall.

• Print exhibitors should arrive between 10am and 11am and set up their own prints
• If you are not able to attend it is your responsibility to find someone to put up your prints for you
• Bring along if you can a steel tape measure and a small level – some are available at the hall
• You will find the display boards – panels – are numbered and there will be a plan available that shows you which panel number your prints are to go on. Some exhibitors’ prints will be split across two panels – these are always immediately next to each other – and you might be sharing a panel with another exhibitor
• Your prints will be packed (wrapped in cling film) along with a note of how they are to be displayed using the ‘sticker numbers’ you will find on the top right corner on the back of the mount (this might not accord with any hanging plan you submitted)
• The sorted prints are arranged in boxes marked up with the panels the prints are to go on, so you will find the right box near your designated panel
• Each panel will also have a small photo pinned to it showing the prints to be attached to it and in the order in which they are to are to be arranged
• Mounts are attached to the panels using Velcro dots – these are supplied
• There are also sheets showing the measurements to be used in attaching the mounts – how far from the top of the board a landscape mount should be for instance, and how far in from the side. This is to ensure consistency throughout the exhibition
• There will be plenty of help available!
• Once the exhibition is completely set up every print will have an exhibition number set beside it and the trophy winners will be labelled
• The exhibition print numbers correspond with the listings in the catalogue – this shows every print title along with the author’s name and any awards including Certificates of Merit
• The Projected Images will be shown on a TV screen next the refreshment area
• On Saturday 13^th August at 5pm you must take your prints down – again if you can’t attend, please arrange for someone else to collect them for you.

The Preview is held on Friday 5^th August at 7pm. This is for all Club Members and your guests. You will find the Assembly Room has been reset since the morning with chairs and speakers’ tables, as well as a table holding all the Club trophies and cups. Our judge, Chris Palmer FRPS, is our guest for the evening and will be presenting the awards.

There will also be a short version of the PDI presentation. After the presentations, there is a buffet downstairs, during which the strong-arm crew reset the hall for the exhibition.  Once that is done, we have the opportunity to see everything in place, as it will remain throughout the week.

There has been a tremendous amount of backroom work to bring the exhibition together and once we get to this point, we are dependent you for stewarding, encouraging attendance and general help. Please do support the event even if you aren’t exhibiting this year in what is widely regarded as one of the very best photographic exhibitions in the region and provides a very enjoyable social occasion.

The featured image shows how the finished panels will look at the Annual Exhibition