fortyfivedownstairs contains two elegant gallery spaces. The large gallery is a blank canvas, open plan space with two pillars in the centre of the room. The small gallery is also an open plan space, with a single pillar in the middle of the space. The walls in both galleries are painted white and are brick and plaster board. The ceiling is white pressed metal. The floor is hard wood with a glossy finish.

We hold exhibitions of either two or four weeks in duration and have a proposal based selection system.

We accept proposals on a rolling basis, however exhibitions are programmed every six months. Proposals are selected by our exhibition committee and are then scheduled by the curator.  Please see the gallery application form below for information on what we require in your proposal.

We have a second round call for exhibition proposals coming up in March 2012.

Please do also read the below ‘rates and inclusions’ document in order to be clear our costs and the way we work. You can also read our FAQ below, do let us know if you have any further questions after reading this information.

  • Gallery Application process:
  • 2012 gallery application form (.doc)
  • 2012 rates and inclusions (.pdf)

  • Gallery technical details:
  • gallery floor plan (.pdf)
  • gallery lighting grid (.pdf)
  • gallery technical specifications (.pdf)

  • Exhibitor’s resources and information:
  • gallery costs and responsibilities (.pdf)
  • gallery publicity (.pdf)
  • exhibitors’ timeline (.pdf)

  • fortyfivedownstairs graphic design outlines:
  • fortyfivedownstairs exhibition invitation design guide (.pdf)
  • fortyfivedownstairs Visual Standards Guide (.pdf)



    • Zero & Not    , an exhibition curated by Helen Hughes and Anusha Kenny

    FAQ
    Frequently asked questions     about using the fortyfivedownstairs galleries:

    Do you take commission on sales?
    No, fortyfivedownstairs does not take any commission on sales.  We do, however, manage sales on your behalf during the exhibition.

    Can I have a one week exhibition?
    No, sorry, fortyfivedownstairs holds two and four week exhibitions only.

    Will fortyfivedownstairs charge me extra costs besides the gallery rental?
    There are other costs involved in exhibiting however we are very transparent about what those costs are.  You can see a guideline of potentially incurred costs here and fortyfivedownstairs gallery staff can give you an estimate based on your choices regarding advertising, refreshments and other variables.

    An example of extra costs incurred by exhibitors is:

    Invitation design: $50
    Invitation printing (1000 invitations): $500
    Gallery signage: $80
    Gallery Mailout: $90
    Photocopying: $10
    Opening night staff: $132
    Opening night drinks: $198

    Total = $1060

    We do our utmost to ensure that all our costs are very clear and we are more than happy to help you put together a budget prior to the exhibition.

    Can I invite someone to open my exhibition for me?
    You most certainly can however we will need to know that you are planning a speech at least two months prior to the opening.  Openings are usually shared between both galleries and so we schedule opening speeches with this in mind. We have a sound system which can amplify within one gallery only for the time of the speech however bear in mind that there will be noise leakage from the guests in the other gallery.

    Can I have a a background soundtrack as part of my exhibition?
    Yes you can, so long as the sound level does not intrude into the other gallery space.

    Can I add more microphones to Gallery sound system?
    Yes, you can add up to five more microphones, however you will need to provide any additional microphones yourself and discuss your requirements with the supervising technician.

    Can I install my exhibition on the Sunday?
    No, sorry, the previous exhibition will be de-installing on Sunday.

    Can I deinstall on the Monday instead of the Sunday?
    No this is not possible as we have back to back exhibitions scheduled and so will have another show installing on the Monday morning. On occasion we will be able to organise storage for your works until the Monday but this is only by prior arrangement and providing we have the space.

    Can I have my artworks delivered before my installation date?
    Occasionally we can facilitate this by arrangement however we have very limited storage space and so it is not always possible. Please ask staff well in advance if you think you will need us to store the artworks prior to your exhibition.

    Why does fortyfivedownstairs schedule one-off events during performance seasons and exhibitions?

    From its inception in 2002 fortyfivedownstairs’ has presented the widest possible range of arts related events with the aim of providing a sympathetic environment for the creation of high quality work in all performance media. In particular our aim has been to develop the widest possible audience for Independent performance and visual arts.

    In accordance with this aim, fortyfivedownstairs curates occasional one-off events during performance seasons and exhibitions. In holding these one-off events, the benefits are far reaching:

    * It brings a new audience to an event they might not otherwise have known about (in some cases resulting in sales of artworks or bookings for shows).
    * It builds and maintains a connection with many target markets, thus strengthening the fortyfivedownstairs’ presence in public and private sectors.
    * It provides an opportunity for events that have limited resources to be held in a professional and stylish CBD venue. Such events include forums or launches for other not-for-profit organisations, and crucial workshops/readings for new play developments.
    * It supports our financial bottom line: fees from corporate events help us to continue to offer subsidised rates to artists.
    * It is a great way to introduce a broad  cross-section of people, who may not normally attend a gallery exhibition, to your work.