Lots of groups make use of Villa Lila e.g. the local branch of the national federation for gays and lesbians, the COC, the Lesbian Archives, the choir Cantus Obliquus, dancing-school 22Tango Step, youth-group Pinkeltje, the city´s committee for advice on gay and lesbian policies, several projects of the Aids council, theater-groups Voorheen 080, Merano, Augustus, etc. All these groups organize lots of activities for the regional gay/les and bi community. Villa Lila also has some groups that specialize in programming activities: exhibitions, lectures, parties, etc. One of these is the one that programs the art-shows: 6-7 shows a year.

Exhibition policies

The aim of this art-show is not only to nicely decorate our building, or to enable artists (f/m) to present their work to our public, but also to contribute to the arts debate on the representation of femininity/masculinity, homosexuality and Queer Art. We prefer to show work by gay/les/bi artists but only slightly and have gladly presented work by others. We sincerely try to involve female and male artists equally. Which doesn’t exclude all male or female-only activities, e.g. an international group-exhibition of women-photography "Heavenly Creatures", or "The Newest/The Best, male photography" in which only male artists participated. Only during the summer-exhibition are we able to show three-dimensional works.

The "Foyer" is the main hall of Villa Lila. In this room of some 100 m2 there is a bar, piano, etc. and most of the social and cultural activities take place in this room. Though the walls are brightly painted it’s a relatively dark space and we use artificial light here. Several other parts of the building are used to exhibit too. The entrance-hall, staircase, corridors, the Toon-zaal (a meeting room) and the Mirror Hall (60 m2).

Solo-exhibitions are possible and we still organize them, but we tend to prefer exhibitions of a small group of artists (preferably three, with one from abroad: every artist can show at least 12 to 15 works -more, if smaller-). And then there are our special projects, usually a group-exhibition in which more artists can participate. E.g. the summer-exhibitions since 1999.

Every art-show starts with a festive opening with a small cultural program. Participating artists have a say in the program of course. There are lots of possibilities: a reading, performance, dance, video, etc.

Details

Villa Lila takes care of a publicity-campaign. Press-releases are send to all of the country´s gay/les/bi press, the regional general media (press, radio, tv) and some of the art-magazines in Holland and Germany. We send invitations to all regional galleries and to people on our mailing list. An e-mail version too. If participating artists would wish so, we’ll send invitations to their private relations. Some 70 posters are distributed in libraries, cultural centers, bookshops, gay/les bars and galleries. And we publish a new webpage at www.villalila.nl. On that you canb find our webgallery.

We conclude a contract with every artist in which all procedures are explained. When you sell work in the Villa we charge a fee of 35 %. We’ll take care of payment and administrative procedures.

Open

The exhibition can be visited monday to friday from 1 to 5 o’clock pm. During evenings and weekends there are a lot of activities and most participants do visit the exhibition. And we provide the possibility for people to make an appointment to visit the exhibition.

More info?

Would you like to exhibi your work in Villa Lila do contact us. You can send us a portfolio with pictures of your work. We’ll send it back a.s.a.p. If you want more information you can call us monday to friday from 1 to 5 pm: 31/24/3820444. Or fax: 31/24/3233717. Or e-mail us: info@villalila.nl.

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