An exhibition announcement should make it easy for an arts editor to identify the work, the people behind it, and the practical details for visitors. A beautiful description is useful, but it cannot replace dates, a venue, media access, and a real contact. The sample below is fictional and should be replaced with verified facts before publication.
What the release must answer
An editor may need a short caption and approved image as much as a polished paragraph. Clarify which visuals may be reproduced and how the artist, photographer, and gallery should be credited.
- Exhibition title, artist or group, venue, city, opening and closing dates.
- The work's medium and the specific idea or question it explores.
- Opening reception, artist talk, or other public event details if confirmed.
- Admission, accessibility, hours, and visitor or ticket link.
- Press contact, image access, credits, and reproduction permissions.
Fill-in exhibition template
Headline: [Artist or organization] presents [exhibition title] at [venue] from [start date] to [end date]. Subheadline: [One concrete reason this exhibition matters now].
Dateline and lead: [City, date] — [Venue] will present [title], an exhibition of [medium and scale] by [artist or group], from [dates]. The work explores [specific theme] through [concrete visual or process detail]. [Opening or visitor information].
Body: Explain two or three works, the artistic approach, and any relevant context that can be verified. Quote: Add a real, approved comment from the artist or curator that contributes insight rather than restating the headline. Close with visitor details, a short factual venue description, and a named media contact.
Illustrative lead, not a real event
'PORTLAND, Ore., [release date] — [Gallery Name] will present [Exhibition Title], a collection of 12 textile works by [Artist Name], from [opening date] through [closing date]. The exhibition examines how neighborhood maps preserve personal memory through stitched routes and archival materials. An opening conversation with the artist is planned for [confirmed time].' Every bracketed fact must be replaced and verified before this can be issued.
Pitching and publishing
Send a concise, relevant note to arts, culture, and local editors with the release, image-use information, and a reason the exhibition fits their audience. Do not promise coverage. Publish the same verified details on the venue's own site so a reader who discovers the article later can find current hours and access information.
The National Gallery of Art's exhibition releases illustrate the value of clear dates, exhibition context, images, and a press contact. Use such examples for structure, not to borrow claims or artwork descriptions.