Call Out for Exhibitions at John Muir’s Birthplace

Deadline: 2nd December 2025

John Muir’s Birthplace would like to invite exhibitors from across the UK to be part of a ‘Climate Call to Action.’

Combining the best in visual art with a passion for the environment, John Muir’s Birthplace plans to hold a series of exhibitions from April 2026 to March 2027 that encourages climate action.

We welcome entries from amateurs or professionals working across a diversity of art forms, including artists, photographers, makers, crafters and community groups.

Interested? Find out more below!

If you are reading this and wondering if it is for you, please do read on – and if you have any questions or need some assistance with your application, please contact the Museums Service team on museumseast@eastlothian.gov.uk.

What the exhibition opportunity provides:

The selected artists will receive exhibition space at John Muir’s Birthplace for up to 1-3 months (including installation and takedown time) in the temporary exhibition space to the rear of the museum with just over 10 metres of linear wall space, a case and optional use of the ceiling mounted projector.

In addition to the space each artist will also receive:

• A point of contact from the Museums Team who can give you a tour of the gallery and provide advice on the hanging system, technical arrangements and answer any queries prior to installation;
• Front of house staffing to welcome people to the building and direct them to the exhibition space during opening hours;
• Inclusion in a digital marketing campaign by the East Lothian Council Museums Service. This would include web listings, social media posts and a press release.
• Support to take sales during the exhibition with a 25% commission provided to the Dunbar Town House Museum & Gallery/East Lothian Council Museums Service. This is used to support the staffing and running costs of the exhibition space and will be managed by the Museum team;
• Access to the exhibition space for an opening event during opening hours;
• Access to an additional space within Dunbar Town House Museum & Gallery during opening hours to provide workshops/talks related to the exhibition.

Please note that access to the building outside of opening hours for a reception or event can be arranged but this will incur room hire costs to cover staffing and running costs.

In return the artists agree to:

• Work with the Museums Service to brief the Front of House team about their exhibition so that the team can talk confidently about the work to the public;
• Provide valuation information about the works in their exhibition for insurance purposes;
• Work with Museums Team to risk assess the exhibition which must meet health and safety guidance;
• Credit East Lothian Council Museum Service and the John Muir Birthplace Charitable Trust in all marketing materials.

A floor plan of the space can be found at the end of this post.

Who this opportunity is for:

The exhibition space is available for artists and crafters who:

• Work in visual arts or craft including but not limited to painting, pottery, sculpture, photography, textile design, etc;
• Are based in Dunbar and district, or have created work directly in response to Dunbar and district as a location;
• Are able to manage the installation of their work into the exhibition space with support from 1 member of staff;
• Are able to take a lead in managing the promotion of the exhibition with support from the Museums Service team;
• Are happy with the technical specifications of the gallery space and the facilities that can be provided.
• Are interested in providing workshops/talks/drop-in activities related to the exhibition.

We are committed to increasing the diversity of artists working in our sector and especially welcome applications from those who identify as having characteristics currently under-represented in visual art and crafts in Scotland.

How to apply:

To apply artists are invited to submit the following items by email to museumseast@eastlothian.gov.uk:

• An artistic statement on the planned exhibition detailing:
  • what the exhibition will focus on
  • the themes being explored
  • what visitors to the space will see
  • any notes required on installation
  • which exhibition slot(s) you would like considered for.

This statement should be no more than 500 words / 4 minutes and can be submitted in a written form or as a video/audio recording. Please note that your grammar or spelling/quality of your filming will not be judged – we want to hear about your ideas!

• A copy of your artist CV
• 6 examples of your work, ideally of the work you plan to exhibit

These images should be provided as a jpeg, or saved in a Word file or PDF and attached to the email.

Please give an indication of which months you could be available.

Timeline:

• Deadline: 2 December 2025
• Panel Meet: 11 December 2025
• Artists informed: 15 December 2025
• Marketing live: 1 month prior to exhibition opening

Selection Criteria:

All submissions will be read by Kate Maynard, Team Manager Museums, Jo Moulin, Museums Officer (Promotions) and Eleanor Affleck, Visitor Services Officer all from East Lothian Council Museums Service. The panel will base their decision on a range of factors including:

• The information provided in the artistic statement and the quality of work presented;
• Whether the scope of the exhibition is realistic and manageable in the time frame and resources available;
• The diversity of voices represented through the exhibition season across the East Lothian Council galleries;
• The diversity of art forms represented through the exhibition season across the East Lothian Council galleries;
• Sustainability and Environmental Impact – materials, artwork, process and content have been developed with consideration for environmental impact.

Have any questions or need some assistance with your application?

Our team is here to help!

Please also contact us if you require this information in an alternative format or have access requirements, we need to meet to support you in making an application. museumseast@eastlothian.gov.uk.