Artist FAQs

for all other FAQs please click here

Can I have the space for free or at an even lower rate?
Three Rooms is a labour of love - we personally subsidise our artist rates, and we can't go any lower and stay afloat. We do occasionally have last minute cancellations or unbooked slots - join our mailing list to hear about these first and follow @threerooms_e17 for very late discounts.

Can I hire the space for a weekend or a few days?
We only hire in blocks of one week, Tuesday 9am to Monday 5pm, to avoid 'orphan' days.

Can I start my booking on a day other than Tuesday?
Hire blocks start on Tuesday so you can be open on both Saturday and Sunday, then de-install Monday. We can check you in later if you want, but you'll still have to check out on Monday 5pm.

Do you accept proposals or collaborate on shows?
No - currently we're a space for hire with no selection criteria. Our curatorial project Panrucker is also unable to accept proposals.

Rates and bookings

What do you provide for openings/private views?
There’s a fridge to cool drinks and a small table to put them on. You’ll need to provide glasses or paper cups for your guests.
We can provide a blank floorplan for your exhibition handout.

How late can my opening run?
We've committed to an 8pm finish out of respect for our neighbours, but there are lots of places nearby to continue your gathering - just let your IG followers know where the after-party will be.

Openings

Can I use painters' tape, bluetac, glue dots or other sticky products on the walls?
All adhesive products, even 'non-marking' or 'no-stain' ones, leave residue which shows up later as grease or dust marks, and increased finger-marks. We encourage you to use our hanging system to minimise re-decoration costs and keep our rates low, but we understand that some artists want or need to attach work, texts or labels directly to the walls. Our solution is a £30 supplement to use any of these three specific branded adhesive products only:

3M Command Strips™ (no other brand)

Yellow Frogtape™ (no other colour or brand)

Bostik removable glu dots™ (green pack, removable only, no extra strong, no other brand)

You'll still be responsible for ensuring that the walls aren't damaged, so removing the products carefully is important.

IMPORTANT: blu tack or white tack leave permanent recurring stains. Use of these - or any sticky products/tapes not named exactly above - incurs a £150 fixed charge on your damage deposit.

Installing

Is invigilation included in the rate?
No! But we provide two sets of keys so you can share the load. There's a safe place to leave keys if you need to pass them to other invigilators.

Do I need public liability insurance?
Yes - but artists who are members of A-N.co.uk are automatically insured, and if you’re studying you might be insured through your institution.

During your booking

Will you promote my exhibition on your Instagram?
Yes, add @threerooms_e17 as a collaborator to your promotional posts. We post future shows on Mondays only, to avoid clashing with the current show. We’ll post your PV post to our stories too on the Monday before your opening.

Can you help me with other aspects of promotion?
Yes, we have an info sheet about how else to promote your show which we’ll send when you book.

Do you have A-boards?
Yes, one for outside the gallery, another to leave near the busy Orford Rd shops and cafes. Both take A3 posters. See our full kit list here.

Do you provide posters and/or window vinyls?
No, you'll have to provide these yourselves if you want them - we have some good recommendations.

Promoting your show

Why do you have a hanging system?
To keep our hire rates this low, we need to keep maintenance costs to a minimum. A hanging system allows works to be hung from transparent cords from a rail at ceiling height, and easily installed and de-installed.

It can cope with most things including heavy works and wall-hung sculpture. If you’ve had ‘tipping’ issues with hanging systems in the past, don’t worry - this can be completely prevented using command strips and we’ll show you how.

There are 40+ short and medium length cords (<1.5m), and 10 at 3m long. Only bigger works require two cords. Any excess cord is looped and tucked behind works.

Ask for our hanging system info sheet for detailed information about hooks and loads.

What other equipment is provided?
There are six plinths for your use, and two hanging rods for very heavy work.
The hanging caddy contains five types of hook, a tape measure, picture wire, clear nylon cord, adhesive spacers, plus painters' and magic tape for tidying cords.
There are two stepladders, one tall, one short.
There’s also spirit level and a laser level. See our full kit list here.

Do you provide tech help?
We’ll show you how to use the hanging system, but you’ll need to do the install yourself or hire a tech to help you. We can suggest some with expertise.

Heating
Heating is included in the hire rate, but we cap it at £75 per week. This is plenty for normal winter heating, but allows those who want it really warm to pay for that option. We take a gas meter reading at handover and again at checkout - any units used over the value of £75 will be deducted from your deposit. The standing daily charge is covered by us.

What's included in the price?

Can I give a workshop during my hire?
Yes, we’re open to almost anything which won’t cause damage or be loud - please check with us before booking. We can’t accommodate children’s workshops. You'll need to provide tables and chairs if required

Can I give an artist talk in the space during my hire?
Yes, absolutely. You’ll need to provide chairs if you want them, but the floor is fine for sitting (maybe with a quick mop).

Are performances ok?
Yes! But If it's going to be loud, please have a chat with us first.

Wifi
We'll give you the password at check-in

Alarm system
We'll show you how to use it and give you the code at check-in.

Electricity
Lighting and electricity is included.

Can we use the garden?
Yes, for lunch breaks etc, and outside sculpture can be installed in the garden to be viewed from inside. The garden itself isn’t accessible to the public yet.

Can the front area be used?
Yes it can as long as you don't extend onto the pavement itself. Best to bring everything inside when the gallery is closed

Is parking included in the rate?
Street parking is free between 4pm and 10am - after that, you'll need a visitors permit which we can provide at £15 per day.

How much does it cost to hire THREE ROOMS?

Our artist/curator rate is £599 per week. That's around half the average cost of hiring somewhere similar in zone 3, and around 10-20% of zone 1 costs.