Proposal

Narrative

FAU University Galleries (UG) requests in priority order: 1. computers, 2. A/V equipment, and 3. software to be used by and for students in a practicum setting in which they will develop, produce, and market art exhibits and programs under the direction of UG leadership. UG’s 2020 Tech Fee Request was denied. FAU students play an integral part in UG operations. Each year, at least 30 Visual Arts and other College of Arts & Letters students enrolled in the Museum Studies & Gallery Practices course (ARH 4974) participate in the required UG Lab Program that includes hands-on experience in gallery practices, graphic/exhibit design, marketing, museum education, and arts mgmt. for enrolled students. The UG also engages 2 Directed Individual Study and 4 Volunteer Intern students annually with meaningful projects within a professional museum/gallery setting. UG regularly hires FAU students and recent graduates as a planned result of these programs. The UG staff currently consists of 6 FAU alumni (2 full-time and 4 part-time employees), as well as 6 student employees (3 part-time museum educators and 3 part-time graphic designers). Through these internships and employment, students gain skills and experience needed to compete in today's arts industry job market. Many graduated UG interns and student employees have gained full-time employment in South Florida museums, galleries and private collections. UG also uses the requested software and hardware to organize and present MFA, BFA (in Visual Arts and Graphic Design), and Faculty exhibits, which directly benefit 80+ FAU students and 10+ FAU faculty members annually. Through this strong student engagement, UG presents regionally recognized exhibitions and related public programs that include cross-disciplinary perspectives through collaboration with academic departments at FAU and community organizations. These programs attract 15,000+ visitors annually, consisting of FAU students and South Florida community audiences.

Facilities

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Hardware Requirements

PRIORITY #1: COMPUTERS UG requests 4 new computers to replace old Tech Fee-provided 2012/2015 desktop computers that are used daily by students enrolled in Museum Studies & Gallery Practices course, student volunteer interns and employees. While UG is currently using the 2021 Adobe updates, UG has trouble running these programs efficiently, as the older computers struggle to keep up with the processing needs. It is crucial that UG offers a Learning Laboratory equipped with the latest hardware, especially when training students in graphic design, exhibit design and production, social media marketing, virtual public programming, the creation of museum educational materials, and the UG’s general administrative support tasks. (4) 24’-inch iMac with Retina 4.5k display; Apple M1 chip w/ 8-core CPU and 8-core CPU-Silver - $1,989 ea (4) 4-Year AppleCare+ for Schools- iMac. - $169.00 ea PRIORITY #2: A/V EQUIPMENT UG requests 3 projectors with corresponding ceiling mounts and 2 display monitors with compatible tilt wall mounts to replace outdated/broken equipment dated 2009/2014. The hardware will be used by and for students for visual art display needs in UG exhibit productions. UG produces highly professional exhibitions featuring established artists, many whose video, animation and web-based works require current high-quality projectors and flat screen monitors. Resolution, brightness, and contrast ratio, have improved significantly in recent years. Part of excellence in Visual Arts education means seeing first-hand examples of contemporary art on equally contemporary technology. Interns and student employees will learn how they function; students participating in art exhibits will use them to display their artwork; and thousands of student spectators will benefit. (3) Nec P605UL WUXGA DLP ProJ 6000L - $3,438.10 ea (3) Nec PA600CM Ceiling MNT F/PROJS - $156.17 ea (2) Nec C861Q 86IN 3840X2160 4k UHD Disp - $5,396.67 ea (2) Nec Tilt Wall MNT F/32-98IN Disp - $171.05 ea

Software Requirements

PRIORITY #3: SOFTWARE UG requests 4 Adobe Creative Cloud shared device licenses to be used by volunteers, interns, student employees. Students use this software on a daily basis to design exhibit promotional flyers, exhibit layouts, catalogs and educational brochures to support basic functions of gallery operations. The licenses need to be repurchased each year if we are to stay current, and UG took this cost on last year to ensure students had the software they needed--it is not within our general budget. (4) Adobe Creative Cloud 12 month All apps VIP subscription - $255 ea (to be renewed every 12 months)

Personnel Costs

N/A

Other Costs

N/A

Timeline

If awarded, UG staff will purchase and install the approved hardware and software within three months of award notification. The software, Adobe Creative Cloud 12 month subscriptions will be renewed again when they expire during FY22-23 and FY-23-24.

Sustainability

N/A

Resource Matching

The University Galleries at FAU, like other non-profit visual arts organizations or other centers on campus, succeed in their mission in part by successfully seeking and winning a variety of outside funding sources to fill its mission. That mission, presenting highly professional exhibition programs involving professional, regional, national and international artists and curators in a learning laboratory context that engages FAU students in a class, as interns and as employees. Student jobs are made possible in large part by outside funds matching University allocations. The students we engage through this matching funding receive important career training by participating in planning and producing diverse professional exhibitions and community service through arts education programs serving school-age youth in schools and Palm Beach County Boys and Girls Clubs. Current University Galleries recurring matching funding/grant sources: • The Isadore and Kelly Friedman University Galleries Fund, an annual grant (since 2014) supporting FAU student employment and exhibition programs • The Kaye Arts Integration Fund, an endowment providing the Galleries Museum Education program that regularly employs a recent MFA grad ½ time Coordinator, and two to four undergrad arts educators in training • The State of Florida Division of Arts and Culture, an annual General Program Support grant (2001 – 2009; 2013 – present) • Cultural Council of Palm Beach County, annual grant for Professional Artists Services and Marketing Selected other grants to UG • Florida Humanities Council, 3 major grants since 2001 • Community Foundation of Palm Beach County, grants for an exhibition project and a 3-year grant for the Artists Mentorship Program (AMP) funding more FAU student employees as arts education mentors. • Ritter Family Foundation, general program grants, Namesake of Ritter Art Gallery • Beatrice Cummings Mayer Foundation, student employment, exhibition and arts education programs

Implementing Organization

FAU University Galleries (UG) is the organization that will implement the project. No outside contractors will be required.