2027 Exhibitions - Falkirk Cultural Center & San Rafael Library

The City of San Rafael Library & Recreation Department is seeking artists to exhibit in 2027 at the Falkirk Cultural Center and the San Rafael Library. The Falkirk Cultural Center is a beautiful 1888 Victorian Mansion that features three 2nd Floor art galleries.  The newly renovated, historic San Rafael Library features a second floor exhibit space of adjustable shelving located between a seating/entrance area and book display area.  Individuals, groups and organizations are encouraged to apply.  

Open to all media except AI created images or videography. Only digitally uploaded images will be accepted. Submit up to 20 images for evaluation. Entries, must be received on or before midnight PDT, Sun., 9/27/26. 

Notifications of acceptance will be made via email at the end of October 2026.

Artists chosen to exhibit are responsible for installation and de-installation of artwork. All artwork must be hand delivered and installed by the artist/organization.  Artwork is not accepted by mail.

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Falkirk Cultural Center/San Rafael Library Art Exhibition Guidelines

Artists must have sufficient amount of work to create an exhibit that fills one gallery space.

VENUE(S) DESCRIPTION

• The Falkirk Cultural Center (Falkirk), a California Victorian, was built in 1888 in the Mission city of San Rafael. An excellent example of the Queen Anne style, it captures the spirit of early California. It has a complex, picturesque roofline of gables and chimneys, variously shaped bays and decorative details that relate playfully to the different levels as was common of the style. A celebration of country living with seventeen rooms, three floors, and a large porch with oversized turned posts, Falkirk’s open floor plan was not common in Victorians. The home and the history of its occupants reflect both the emergence of San Rafael as a fashionable suburb of San Francisco and the growth of rail and shipping industries in the west. Falkirk Cultural Center - San Rafael
• The San Rafael Downtown Library, located at 1100 E Street, first opened its doors on January 9, 1909. One of California's many Carnegie libraries, the building has long served as a civic and cultural anchor for downtown San Rafael, standing alongside City Hall at the corner of E Street and Mission Avenue. In 2024, the Library closed for a significant renovation aimed at preserving the historic character of the Carnegie building while modernizing it to meet the needs of today's community. Library reopened to the public in August 2025. Art proposals for this call are intended for display in the Carnegie wing of the building, the original historic heart of the Library, where more than a century of community history meets a newly revitalized space.

FACILITY SPACES(S)

Falkirk: There are three rooms at Falkirk used to display artwork, all of which are located on the second floor of the facility (no elevator). The East Room is approximately 71 square feet, the Tamalpais Room is approximately 123 square feet, and the West Room is approximately 60 square feet. The size of these rooms is approximate as there is a fireplace in each room, multiple windows, and the rooms are irregularly shaped. Falkirk has pedestals of various sizes for exhibition use.

Falkirk Cultural Center hosts five to six art exhibits a year, and each exhibit runs approximately 6 weeks. Open hours for tours of the facility and art exhibits are Tuesday-Friday from 1:00pm-4:30pm and Saturdays from 10:00am-2:00pm, depending on scheduled private events. Exhibits are also open during the Downtown San Rafael Second Friday Art Walks. Hours may be modified due to holidays, staffing and/or private events. When necessary, modified hours are posted.

Additionally, most art exhibits at Falkirk include an opening reception that coincides with Downtown San Rafael Second Friday Art Walks.

Library: Art displayed at the Downtown Library is best suited for three-dimensional work. Pieces are displayed on adjustable wooden shelves within five embedded shelving units, each containing three adjustable and removable shelves. Shelf space measures 34 inches wide by 19 inches deep, and each shelving unit stands 48 inches high. Each shelf can support up to 100 pounds. The Downtown Library is open to the public seven days a week, and artwork is viewable during regular library open hours. Please note that the Library is a public space. Artists are responsible for taking any steps they feel are necessary to protect their work. 

APPLICATION PROCESS

All exhibits hosted at Falkirk and the Library undergo an evaluation process before approval. Organizations/Groups/Individuals seeking to partner on an exhibition must complete the steps below to be considered:

Proposal
To initiate the proposal/partnership process, interested persons/organizations must complete the Exhibition Proposal via Café, an online call for entry site, during the “Call for Artists”.  Once received, the application will be reviewed by City staff and Art Review Board.

Proposals for the 2027 Exhibit Calendar are due SEPTEMBER 27, 2026, midnight pdt.

City Approval /Contract
Proposals will first be reviewed by City Staff. If additional questions are needed, staff will contact the artists for additional information. Proposals will then be reviewed by the Public Art Review Board in October. If your proposal is selected, the proposal will go into the contract phase, and the agreement will be finalized based upon the terms and conditions. If terms cannot be agreed upon by both parties, the proposal will be denied.

• Eligibility
  Proposals are evaluated based on the following criteria:
• Community Interest
  The exhibition’s subject matter is determined to be of specific interest to the San Rafael community.
• Quality of Work
  The City strives to partner with artist(s) and/or organization that offer the opportunity to exhibit artwork of the highest possible caliber.
• Track Record of Achievement
  Prospective artist(s) and/or organization are asked to demonstrate a history of achievement via promotional materials, letters from previous partners, etc. Prospective organizations/artists must demonstrate the ability to curate an exhibit of the size and scope required to fill one gallery at Falkirk or the Library’s display shelves.

Approved exhibitions are overseen by City Staff. City staff reserves the right to finalize all installation decisions including final curatorial decisions, exhibit layout, displays, labeling, determining insurance coverage, appropriate security, lighting, staffing during hours of operation, artwork sales, and marketing plans.

RESPONSIBILITIES
Responsibilities of the artist(s)/group/organization include:

1. All transportation, set up, installation, and take down of Artists' exhibit and display. All set up, installation, and take down of Artists' exhibit and display must be performed during the City of San Rafael regular business hours. The artist(s) and/or organization will also be responsible for providing title card information for each displayed work and will install said cards next to displayed works.
2. Providing the City with a digital excel file with an alphabetized list of selected artists and artworks. The list must include the following: artist’s or lender ’s first and last name, street address, city, state, zip, phone number, email address, website information, social media contact information, artwork title, medium, size, selling price, provenance, and insurance values.  The artist(s) and/or organization must provide digital pictures (jpeg or png format required) of each selected work to be exhibited that correlate with the excel list of information.
3. To ensure ADA access, all exhibits must be available virtually as well as in person. If the artist(s) and/or organization does not have the ability to provide a virtual exhibit, the digital images provided must be of a high enough quality that the City can use them to create a virtual exhibit on the City’s website.
4. Organizing the opening reception, including creating invitations, promoting the event, organizing any entertainment, and providing any refreshments. The date of the opening reception (generally Friday evenings), along with the specific entertainment, food, and beverage plans, must be approved by City staff.
5. Artist(s) and/or organizations should inform City Staff if the exhibiting group would like the galleries to be open or closed during private events (wedding, memorials, etc.). There is also the option to have select galleries open.
6. Any requests to extend Falkirk’s exhibit hours must be requested in writing and must receive approval from the City in advance. Artist(s) and/or organization will be required to reimburse the City of San Rafael for any associated costs.

Responsibilities of the City for a Falkirk show include:

1. Artist(s) and/or organizations will need to provide City Staff with an image or images to be used for showcards. City staff will be responsible for designing show card. Printing marketing showcards for City use and distribution, any additional postcards must be printed at the artist(s) and/or organization’s expense. Promoting the exhibit through the City’s print and digital marketing platforms, including the website, social media, and email.
2. Provide staff during Falkirk’s open hours, as well as during the Second Friday Art Walks, to ensure that the galleries are open to the public.
3. Working with the artist(s) and/or organization to provide a complimentary opening reception at the commencement of each exhibit. The City will support with promotion and will provide staff for the event. The City will also provide a water dispenser, cups, napkins, and flowers. The City will retain all donations grossed during the reception. All other coordination and planning of the event are the responsibility of the artist(s) and/or organization.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The artist(s) and/or organization seeking to host an exhibit with the Falkirk Cultural Center or San Rafael Library will be required to execute an agreement to and abide by the following terms and conditions:

1. Falkirk/Library reserves the right to approve all installation decisions including final curatorial decisions, exhibit layout, displays, labeling, fine art, insurance, security, lighting, staffing during hours of operation, artwork sales, and marketing plans. City staff reserve the right not to accept the loan of work(s) that arrive in non-display condition (missing hanging wire, unstable, damaged, over size limits, or otherwise not ready for display).
2. All damage to City facilities, including, but not limited to, walls, carpeting, trim, lighting, furniture, that may occur during art installation, exhibition, or removal, will be the responsibility of the artist(s) and/or organization to cover the costs of repairs or replacement related to the exhibit.
3. The artist(s) and/or organization will grant the City the right to use images from the Exhibition for publicity purposes in Exhibition announcements, the City's internal publications (including but not limited to its newsletter), the City's Website, and other media. The artist(s) and/or organization will indemnify and hold the City harmless from any liability arising out of the City's use of such images for publicity purposes.
4. The artist(s) and/or organization will agree and ensure that no glass, other sharp edges, or hazardous materials will be exposed that may cause injury to City of San Rafael staff and the public.
5. The City will agree that no alteration, restoration, or repair to Artists’ work will be undertaken without the artist(s) and/or organization’s permission.
6. The City will agree that the artist(s) and/or organization will retain ownership of Artists' work during the duration of the exhibit and display.
7. The artist(s) and/or organization whose work is on display understand and agree that their work is provided for display at their own risk of loss, vandalism, theft, damage, and destruction. Artist(s) and/or organizations acknowledge and understand that the Falkirk Cultural Center/San Rafael Library is open to the public and the City does not employ security personnel or staff to manage or supervise the galleries where the art is on display. Artists further understand that the City's insurance carriers will not cover loss, vandalism, theft, damage, or destruction to his or her work while on display at the Falkirk Cultural Center/San Rafael Library and acknowledge that he or she has been advised to purchase insurance coverage to protect against the risk of loss, vandalism, theft, damage, and destruction of his or her work while on display at the Falkirk Cultural Center/San Rafael Library.
8. The City requires that each artist(s) and/or organization sign an acknowledgment that he or she understands these conditions and will hold the City of San Rafael and its officers, officials, employees and volunteers harmless for any loss, vandalism, theft, damage, or destruction that occurs to the artwork, regardless of cause.
9. All sales of Artists' work on display at the Falkirk Cultural Center/San Rafael Library shall be handled through the City. The City will retain a list of the artists’ works and sales prices, along with artist contact information to share with the public and interested buyers. The City will collect and retain gross sales price per piece on display and retain 30% of the gross sales price. The City will remit 70% of the gross sale price per each piece to the artist(s) and/or organization. The artist(s) and/or organization will be responsible for paying the artist's individual commissions from artist(s) and/or organization’s percentage of the gross sale price and is responsible for any sales tax collecting and reporting, retaining a business license, if required, and adhering to all State and Federal laws.
10. If the artist(s) and/or organization does not remove materials at designated date and time, or within 24 hours of request to remove work, the City reserves the right to remove the material. If the exhibit materials remain unclaimed for more than thirty days after removal, the City may sell or dispose of them without further obligation to the artist and/or organization.
11. Indemnification. The artist(s) and/or organization will, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify, release, defend with counsel approved by the City, and hold harmless the City, its officers, agents, employees and volunteers, from and against any claim, demand, suit, judgment, loss, liability or expense of any kind, including but not limited to attorney's fees, expert fees and all other costs and fees of litigation, arising out of the artist(s) and/or organization ‘s performance of its obligations or conduct of its operations. The artist(s) and/or organization’s obligations will apply regardless of whether a liability is caused or contributed to by the active or passive negligence of the City Indemnitees. However, to the extent that liability is caused by the active negligence or willful misconduct of the City Indemnitees, the artist(s) and/or organization’s indemnification obligation shall be reduced in proportion to the City Indemnitees’ share of liability for the active negligence or willful misconduct. In addition, the acceptance or approval of the artist(s) and/or organization’s work or work product by the City or any of its directors, officers or employees shall not relieve or reduce the artist(s) and/or organization’s indemnification obligations. In the event the City Indemnitees are made a party to any action, lawsuit, or other adversarial proceeding arising from the artist(s) and/or organization’s performance of or operations under, the artist(s) and/or organization will provide a defense to the City Indemnitees or at the City’s option reimburse the City Indemnitees their costs of defense, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, incurred in defense of such claims.

INSURANCE 

The City highly recommends that artist(s) and/or organization procure and maintain, for the duration of the exhibit and associated installation and removal, the following insurance:

1. General Liability Insurance. Comprehensive General Liability Insurance in the minimum amount of one million dollars ($1,000,000) per occurrence/two million dollars ($2,000,000) aggregate, for death, bodily injury, personal injury, or property damage.
2. Property insurance sufficient to cover the artworks in the exhibit.

Other insurance information. All insurance policies obtained pursuant to this Section shall also meet the following requirements

1. The insurance policies shall be specifically endorsed to include the City of San Rafael, its officers, agents, employees, and volunteers, as additional insureds (for both ongoing and completed operations) under the policies.
2. The additional insured coverage under the artist(s) and/or organization’s insurance policies shall be “primary and non-contributory” with respect to any insurance or coverage maintained by the City.
3. The insurance policies shall include, in their text or by endorsement, coverage for contractual liability and personal injury.

The City will not be responsible to determine the adequacy of the property insurance for the artwork. If the insurance is not sufficient to cover a loss, the City will not be liable for any shortfall in coverage.

Copies of all related insurance coverage shall be provided to the City, and complete copies of any insurance policies obtained pursuant to this Agreement shall be provided to the City if requested at any time.

If the artist(s) and/or organization does not acquire insurance.  The City’s “Artist’s Waiver of Insurance” form must be signed by each artist displaying artwork.

Application Process

All exhibits hosted at Falkirk and the Library undergo an evaluation process before approval. Organizations/Groups/Individuals seeking to partner on an exhibition must complete the steps below to be considered:

Proposal
To initiate the proposal/partnership process, interested persons/organizations must complete the Exhibition Proposal via Café, an online call for entry site.  Once received, the application will be reviewed by City staff and Art Review Board.

Proposals for the 2027 Exhibit Calendar are due SEPTEMBER 27, 2026, midnight pst.

City Approval /Contract
Proposals will first be reviewed by City Staff. If additional questions are needed, staff will contact the artists for additional information. Proposals will then be reviewed by the Public Art Review Board in October. If your proposal is selected, the proposal will go into the contract phase, and the agreement will be finalized based upon the terms and conditions. If terms cannot be agreed upon by both parties, the proposal will be denied.

Eligibility

Proposals are evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Community Interest
  The exhibition’s subject matter is determined to be of specific interest to the San Rafael community.
• Quality of Work
  The City strives to partner with artist(s) and/or organization that offer the opportunity to exhibit artwork of the highest possible caliber.
• Track Record of Achievement
  Prospective artist(s) and/or organization are asked to demonstrate a history of achievement via promotional materials, letters from previous partners, etc. Prospective organizations/artists must demonstrate the ability to curate an exhibit of the size and scope required to fill one gallery rooms at Falkirk or exhibit space at the Library. More than one artist may be chosen to exhibit at the same time.

Approved exhibitions are overseen by City Staff. City staff reserves the right to finalize all installation decisions including final curatorial decisions, exhibit layout, displays, labeling, determining insurance coverage, appropriate security, lighting, staffing during hours of operation, artwork sales, and marketing plans.