Site Gallery in Sheffield is an essential part of the UK’s contemporary arts infrastructure, and has always sought to be at the cutting edge. Through skilful and imaginative curation, productive relationships and the creative use of limited resources it has forged an international reputation.

Site seeks a visionary leader who can build on the gallery’s distinctive artistic identity, establish a vibrant public engagement programme, and develop a sustainable business model. If you have strong curatorial flair and can articulate an artistic vision, possess demonstrable entrepreneurial skills and know how to engage audiences, then we would like to hear from you.

For more information about the post, visit our micro-site www.leadthesite.co.uk or www.artsintelligence.co.uk

For an informal and confidential discussion please contact Arts Intelligence and speak to Pam Henderson on 01223 200200 or 07814 970154

Salary: £35,000 - £41,000
Closing date for applications: 1st October
Selection day: Sheffield, 19th October

Site Gallery strives to be an equal opportunities employer

CALL FOR PROPOSALS: EMERGING CURATOR SERIES

Toronto Free Gallery is accepting proposals for our Emerging Curator Series. Proposals are currently being accepted for a curated exhibition by an emerging curator/s to be held during the months of June and July 2011.

The curator will have the opportunity to work within a fully supported process from development through to the exhibition. As stated in our mandate Toronto Free Gallery is meant to be a creative laboratory and we encourage proposals that push the limits of what an exhibition can be. Past exhibitions include Mark Campbell’s T-Dot Pioneers, which showcased the history of hip hop culture in Toronto; and collaborative curators Sarah Todd and Maiko Tanaka’s Toronto Free Library which transformed the gallery into a library to explore ideas of exchange and collaboration between the space and the surrounding neighbourhood.

Proposals for exhibitions must meet the mandate of Toronto Free Gallery which is to support work that engages with issues of social justice, cultural, urban/suburban environments, environmental issues and issues on gentrification. Toronto Free Gallery is intended to be a creative laboratory. We aim to provide artists with a space to experiment, explore new ideas, question norms and challenge both themselves and their audiences.

Toronto Free Gallery is supported by the Ontario Arts Council, the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Trillium Foundation

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS SEPTEMBER 10, 2010

Please send the following materials:
1 page proposal outlining the project description
CV
Bio
5-7 images of either previous work or proposed work to be included in exhibition

Proposals can be sent via post to:
Toronto Free Gallery
1277 Bloor Street West
Toronto, ON M6H 1N7

Or by email to:
heather @torontofreegallery.org
Subject Header: EMERGING CURATOR SERIES

If you have any questions please contact us at 416-913-0461

The Netherlands Media Art Institute has developed an online survey specifically designed for professional curators and programmers of exhibitions, screenings and festivals. The questionnaire was developed by the distribution department of the Netherlands Media Art Institute, in which they seek to learn about ways to improve their services.

The questions are good and got me thinking about how I search for new work and artists. It takes just a few minutes, follow this link: www.thesistools.com/web/?id=149485 to give your point of view to NIMk.

AIR CELEIA International Curatorial Residency Program

Celje, Slovenia

Deadline for applications: 29nd August, 2010

CCA CELEIA (Center for Contemporary Arts Celeia Celje) offers an opportunity for an individual curator to visit Celje to research contemporary visual art produced in Slovenia and to build contacts with local artists/curators and galleries. The selected individual will develop an international curatorial project with the CCA CELEIA being the host venue for the show in 2011. It is envisaged that the resulting project would involve a minimum of 50% participants working in Slovenia. In addition the selected individual would be requested to give a lecture or workshops during one of the research visits.

The residency is an opportunity for curators to structure their own time within a supportive and nurturing creative environment. Participants will be introduced to the other activities at CCA CELEIA. This residency program creates opportunities for creative collaborations resulting from direct interaction with professional artists or professionals in other disciplines. Experimentation and collaboration across media is encouraged and use of other facilities can be negotiated.

The selected curator will receive a monthly stipend up to 600 eur and a curator’s fee up to 1000 eur- after the completion of the proposed. project/exhibition.The travel cost are not covered.

Residency Timeframe:

August 29, 2010: Deadline for expressions of interest

Sept 10, 2010: Notification of selected Curator

Oct/Nov 2010: Research residency (up to 2 months)

Jan 31, 2011 A completed outline for a proposed exhibition/project

mid-late 2011: Presentation/exhibition of proposed exhibition/project


Expressions of interest are accepted by email to:

nevenka.sivavec -at- celje.si2 , senior curator

sabina.decman -at- celje.si3, curatorial assistant

Please include your expression of interest (max 1000 words). Curriculum Vitae, a curatorial statement/bio and examples of previous work – please mark the subject box of the email - Curatorial Residency.

For more information please contact Nevenka Šivavec, senior curator at CCA CELEIA

nevenka.sivavec -at- celje.si2

http://www.celeia.info/center_sodobnih_umetnosti

upArt Call for Interest

Thursday October 28 to Sunday October 31, 2010 (Event Coincides with Toronto International Art Fair)

Deadline for Proposals: August 13th, 2010

The Gladstone Hotel in Toronto, Ontario, Canada is seeking innovative creative thinkers to participate in this second annual exhibition. Not your traditional salon style art fair, upArt focuses on the diversity and vitality of contemporary installation art today. upArt brings together artists, curators, collectives, artist-run centres, galleries, and institutions to transform the entire second floor of the hotel with site specific new installations produced specifically for this event. We are looking for participants who approach or support contemporary art with radical personal vision to participate in our 2010 exhibition For What It's Worth: Curios, Collections and Counterfeits.

For What It's Worth explores ideas around collecting and the value we place on the objects we covet. What is real, what is worthy and how do we attribute value to our artwork? This year’s art fair invites galleries and artists to propose site-specific installations and/or collections for show and sale. Playing with themes of authenticity and value, galleries and artists are free to propose models of exchange or new ways of collecting, appraising and sharing artwork.

upArt is a chance for you as an artist, curator, gallery, or institution to showcase an installation project produced by an individual or in collective collaboration. Artists may apply on their own behalf, or curators, galleries, collectives, or institutions may host one project. upArt is unique in that we invite innovative thinkers to create or facilitate a site-specific installation following their own vision based on the themes of collections, curios and counterfeits.

For more information, visit the Gladstone Hotel website.

Starting Point

An Opportunity for two new curators

The Contemporary Art Society, with Southampton City Art Gallery, are inviting proposals from curating and museum studies students from across the UK (must have graduated between 2008 - 2011). Starting Point will offer two curators the opportunity to select a small cluster of works from the collection to be installed as pasrt of Southampton City Art Gallery's public programme in 2011.

Arguably the most outstanding collection of modern and contemporary art outside of London, Southampton City Art Gallery have generously offered their support in provinding access to the collection for this great opportunity for new curators.

As a way of responding we are asking that proposals take the collection of artist film at Southampton as an initial Starting Point. We are looking for proposals that demonstrate a dynamic and new approach to thinking about the collection at Southampton City Art Gallery and should be clear in their approach, while being sensitive to the conditions of the collection.

To apply for the opportunity, please submit a CV and short proposal (around 300 words) outlining your project to: robert -at- contemporaryartsociety.org

Application deadline 6th September 2010

For more information, including details on the collections, visit the CAS website.

apexart: Soliciting Unsolicited Proposals: accepting submissions January 14 - February 14, 2011.

For the 14th year running, apexart accepts 600-word, idea-based proposals
for exhibitions in New York City. Reviewed independently, anonymously and
without support materials, submissions are evaluated solely on the strength
of the idea. More information: www.apexart.org/unsolicited.htm

The Henry Moore Foundation seeks to appoint an Assistant Curator for their headquarters in Perry Green, home to the largest collection of Moore’s work, with over 12,000 sculptures, drawings, graphics, textiles and tapestries.

This full time position will involve assisting the Head of Collections and Exhibitions in the development of exhibitions for the Foundation’s gallery, displays of Moore’s sculpture in the grounds and maintenance of the artist’s studios. The successful candidate will research the collection and contribute text for catalogues and educational materials; administer loans to institutions worldwide, update records and courier works of art as necessary.

A degree in art history, an interest in modern sculpture and a willingness to travel are essential.

Salary £22-24,000 depending on experience.

Interested candidates should submit their CV and a sample of their writing with a covering letter and the names of three referees to: The Henry Moore Foundation, Perry Green SG10 6EE: please mark the envelope ‘Assistant Curator’ or by email to pru -at- henry-moore.org.

Closing date 9am Monday 19 July.

Interviews Thursday 5 August.

Living Room 2011 – An Auckland City Council Public Art Event

"Living Room" is a key annual public art event for Auckland City, which aims to bring high quality art to the streets of the CBD over a weeklong period. Living Room has been running for four years and has evolved and grown over that time. The event takes place in variety of public spaces, and includes a range of visual and performing arts projects – both static and moving. The Living Room 2011 programme will have strong performative aspects, and include performances, performative installations, ephemeral art projects, and video programming.

We are currently seeking expressions of interest from curators to develop and curate the Living Room 2011 programme. Council also appoints a project manager as part of the Living Room team who will work closely with the curator, and will manage the delivery of the event.

Our ideal candidate for curator will have a proven track record of innovative curatorial practice, be Auckland based, and be able to work as part of a high performing team to deliver an outstanding event.

The deadline for expressions of interest is Friday 30 July 2010, 5pm

For more information visit the Auckland City Council website.

- David Barrie recently gave a thought-provoking lecture entitled "A Bigger Picture: why contemporary art curators need to get out more". He describes why a heritage-oriented mindset can result in constrained collections, noting that: "Despite our long colonial history and our rich links with countries in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean [...] visitors to museums and galleries in the UK have remarkably few opportunities to see art that is being produced in countries that lie outside the narrow confines of the so-called 'international contemporary art world'." He also skewers the myopic tendencies of some curators who "... neglect art that does not fit comfortably into their intellectual categories". He calls for curators to "get out more", escape the bonds of insularity, and be brave by broadening their own horizons. The text is simultaneously a call to action and an examination of conscience.

- A great interview with Carolee Thea by Richard J. Goldstein that reveals some of her thoughts on the biennial ("an exhibition structure beyond itself, an event that allows for very difficult subject matter"; "Its function, as defined by planners and curators, is to add intellectual capital"; "a component in spreading visual literacy"; etc) and the art market ("artists and curators are unavoidably affected by the onslaught of art fairs and consumerism"). (Thea's recent book of interviews with prominent curators, On Curating: Interviews with Ten International Curators also looks quite good.)

- "I'm not against the market. It's just that I'm against the way the market is overdetermining the art complex at the moment," Vasif Kortun says. "At the same time, we know full well that we provide almost a recruitment ground or a research and progress for the market at the same time. It would be quite ridiculous to say that the biennale is completely alien and independent of the market and its interests."

- Francesco Bonami once said "In theory now you could curate a whole Venice Biennale using only the Internet". The Guggenheim takes a few steps in that direction with YouTube Play, a contest to find the best online video works. Submitted videos will be assessed by a jury and the winners will be exhibited at Guggenheim Museums around the world, and of course, on YouTube.

- An article by Janine Armin on the New York Times articulates the current precarious position freelance curators find themselves in, and identifies the growth of biennials as a particular bright spot in opportunities for freelancers. I found Nicola Trezzi's article describing the growth of artist-curated exhibitions in FlashArt a good complement to Armin's article. While Armin's article quoted established curators explaining why freelancers are still very much necessary (even if it is difficult to be one), Trezzi's article can be viewed as taking those statements even further, reminding us of the multiplicity of reasons why or how someone would curate an exhibition, how it's a creative act in itself, and the value of the artist-curator viewpoint.

Art on the Underground provides a world-class programme of contemporary art that enriches the Tube environment and our customers’ journey experience; and continues the long-standing tradition that excellent art and design is at the core of London Underground's identity and services.

The role

This is an opportunity for a dynamic curator to join the team to devise and produce high quality commissions and exhibitions. You will be responsible for the day-to-day management and delivery of the contemporary programme and its online presence. You will implement planned projects and devise and deliver new projects and liaise with stakeholders to ensure strategic objectives are met. You will be the main point of contact between the London Underground, Transport for London and artistic collaborators.

What you’ll need

You will have excellent curatorial and project management skills, a proven track record of delivering exhibitions and installations by high calibre artists to a range of audiences and a specific interest in a non-gallery context. You will have an excellent understanding of contemporary artistic practice, good contacts and excellent negotiations skills. You will need to budget realistically, fundraise where necessary, and write lively customer –focused copy for all publicity. Experience of managing and liaising with relevant agencies and senior management will be crucial. You will be a team player that inspires those around you.

Excellent benefits include:

- 29 days’ annual holiday plus public and bank holidays
- Final salary pension
- Free Tube travel and travel concessions including discounted Eurostar travel
- Performance Award
- Health club and gym discounts
- Private medical insurance

Please apply at tfl.gov.uk/jobs quoting reference TfL11414 in the keyword search.

Closing date: 16th July 2010

We want to be as diverse as the city we represent and welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability.

About us
Founded in 1977, Open Eye Gallery is one of the UK’s leading spaces for photography. Following a period of closure we’re preparing to reopen early next year in new premises on Liverpool’s historic waterfront. As well as larger galleries for our cutting-edge exhibitions, we’ll have expanded engagement programmes and a dedicated space for displays from our print collection. We’re raising our ambition on every level, to share what we do with more people and to make a much bigger impact - locally, nationally and internationally.

About the role
Working closely with the Director, you will research, develop and deliver the gallery’s ambitious programme of exhibitions, commissions and public events. You will be responsible for managing the gallery spaces and print collection. As a key member of a small, senior team you’ll make a big contribution to our new strategic and creative vision. Responsibilities include fundraising and budget management, evaluation, writing and editing texts, managing exhibition installations. Salary range £23-27K, Full time, with 25 days annual leave and pension benefits.

About you
You will have substantial experience of organising exhibitions and events in a visual arts context. You will have extensive, demonstrable knowledge of contemporary photography and visual arts. You will have strong management skills and will inspire confidence and respect in colleagues at all levels. You’ll be dynamic, practical and prepared to lead from the front. You’ll have outstanding communication and negotiation skills. You’ll be a team player and a creative, collaborative worker; you’ll be tuned in to the big picture as well as the fine detail.

For further information and to download an application pack, visit our website www.openeye.org.uk.

For further information please contact Gallery Director Patrick Henry patrick -at- openeye.org.uk

Our jobs are open to all.

Closing date: Monday 19 July 2010.

Interview date: Thursday 5 August 2010.

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation is seeking an Assistant Curator for the Abu Dhabi Project team. This position is responsible for assisting with the curatorial needs for the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Project. They include assisting with research and development of exhibitions for the program of Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Museum, providing support on the future museum's site-specific commissioning program; conducting research and compiling materials for acquisitions for Guggenheim Abu Dhabi; managing curatorial records for exhibitions and collection artworks and artists; administration and coordination of loan requests and exhibition checklists; providing support as needed for exhibitions, museum publications and publicly accessible content in written and electronic form; acting as a curatorial ambassador for the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi project.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

There are no direct reports associated with this position.

Key Responsibilities:

- Assist with the research, development and successful delivery of the exhibitions and commissioning program for Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
- Conduct research on artists and artworks as needed for exhibitions, commissions, acquisitions and publications.
- Maintain research database on artists and works of interest for exhibitions, commissions.
- Develop and maintain curatorial object and artist file including records for exhibitions activity, correspondence with artists and their representatives, museums, galleries and collectors
- Maintain curatorial data in computerized collections management system (TMS) and initiate data entry for exhibitions.
- Assist in all aspects of the exhibitions process including administration of loan requests and negotiations; maintain planning timelines for exhibitions and liaison with exhibitions management, technical and installation teams.
- Assist in budget preparation and management for exhibitions and exhibition-related projects.
- Work with Curator of Exhibitions, Associate Curator for Collections and Exhibitions, Curatorial Assistant and Researcher and other members of the broader Curatorial team, in the preparation of acquisition proposals and acquisition meetings including compiling of dossiers and writing texts on artists and works.
- Participate in regular Guggenheim Abu Dhabi curatorial meetings and Guggenheim departmental meetings.
- Assist the Exhibitions Curator in the preparation of PowerPoint presentations for curatorial, scholarly and external stakeholder meetings.
- Liaise with Education teams on public programs and interpretation materials.
- Assist with preparation and management of catalogue production.
- Compile exhibition catalogue bibliographies and chronologies as directed on a project-by-project basis.
- Work with Publications department to assemble images and texts, and confirm reproduction and copyright permissions for all published material.
- Write short texts on artworks for exhibition wall texts, catalogue entries, and other print and electronic media as called upon.
- Confirm label copy for all works for exhibitions, loans, publications, and educational materials.
- Respond to internal requests for information about exhibitions and commissions.
- General fact checking for the Development department and the Media and Public Relations Department.
- Assist in the supervision of Guggenheim Abu Dhabi project interns
- Other projects as assigned.

Qualifications and Requirements:

- M.A. in Art History or the equivalent (defined as at least 3 years prior museum work experience). Majors in other relevant disciplines will also be considered on a case-by-case basis.
- Background in modern and contemporary art with an interest in art from the Middle East
- Previous experience of working in a curatorial department.
- Interest and ability in curatorial research.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Professional demeanor and diplomatic approach.
- Ability to successfully interact with a wide variety of internal and external individuals, including artists, galleries, donors, and colleagues in the museum field.
- Proficiency in Arabic and one European language desired.
- Knowledge of computer databases and MS Office software
- Writing sample to be provided upon request.

The Guggenheim offers a competitive salary and excellent medical, dental, life insurance, disability and pension plan coverage. Our staff also enjoys generous vacation, sick leave and personal days, access to a variety of cultural institutions, discounts to museum stores and a stimulating and collegial work environment.

Qualified applicants please send your resume and cover letter, including salary expectations, to employment -at- guggenheim.org. Indicate the job title “Assistant Curator, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Project” in the subject line. Only those applicants who meet our requirements for this position will be contacted.

Contextual information:
The new Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will be located in the Cultural District of Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Designed by internationally renowned architect Frank Gehry, the 450,000-square-foot museum will house its own major modern and contemporary art collection and present special exhibitions that will include works from the Guggenheim Foundation’s extensive collection. The museum, the largest Guggenheim in the world, will have global art, exhibitions, and education programs with particular focus on Middle Eastern contemporary art. The Guggenheim Abu Dhabi joins other leading international cultural institutions in the unprecedented creation of a vibrant cultural destination for visitors from around the world.

Suzanne Cotter, Curator of Exhibitions, Abu Dhabi Project, and Reem Fadda, Associate Curator for Middle Eastern Art, Abu Dhabi Project, will join members of the Abu Dhabi Project team to develop future exhibition programming for the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and to advise on the creation of its art collection focused on international postwar art.

The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey in Summit, the state's pre-eminent Studio School and center for the exhibition of contemporary art seeks a Curator of Contemporary Art, one of four senior managers reporting to the Executive Director. The Curator's primary responsibility is to provide leadership and vision for the Art Center's continued curatorial excellence. Specifically, the curator will develop innovative and diverse thematic and solo scholarly exhibitions for this non-collecting institution that will engage existing and new audiences. The Curator will collaborate with the Director of Programs to integrate exhibitions with education programs and activities in order to fulfill the Art Center's mission of "Bringing Art and People Together." The Curator will be responsible for implementing curatorial policies, preparing and overseeing the exhibition budgets and, with the assistance of the Exhibitions Coordinator, managing all day-to-day activities of the department.

The successful candidate will hold an MA in art history or related field, a minimum of 3-5 years curatorial experience engaged in the field of contemporary art, demonstrated research and writing skills and a record of publications. In addition, candidates must have gallery presentation experience and excellent speaking skills.

The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey is an equal opportunity employer and offers a competitive salary and benefits package.

Send cover letter, vitae, curatorial record, list of 3 references and examples of critical writings on contemporary art or related topics to: Executive Director, Visual Arts Center of NJ, 68 Elm Street, Summit, NJ 07901 USA or marion -at- artcenternj.org.

No phone calls.

Haus der Kulturen der Welt invites up-and-coming curators to enter their proposals for site-specific art projects in public space for Meridian | Urban. Curatorial Projects on Health.

Meridians – imaginary lines running from pole to pole, connecting one region with another – help us map the world. In traditional Asian medicine, the meridian system is an invisible network that provides the body with vital energy. Although Western science has not yet acknowledged its existence, the meridian is our starting point for targeting questions of balance and imbalance.

Curators are invited to propose artworks for the city center of Berlin. The projects should address the relationship between art and health, referring to its implications for contemporary urban life and challenging our idea of human nature. Creating a map of the city and detecting its pulse, the projects of Meridian | Urban will be presented in public spaces in Berlin during the 8th Asia-Pacific Weeks (September 6-17, 2011). Selected participants will be invited to a workshop in the framework of Synapse, the international network for up-and-coming curators at Haus der Kulturen der Welt.

Organization and partners:
Haus der Kulturen der Welt is a place for international contemporary arts and a forum for current developments and discourse. It presents artistic productions from around the world, with a special focus on non-European cultures and societies. Visual arts, music, literature, performing arts, film, academic discussions and digital media are all linked in an interdisciplinary program that is unique in Europe. Haus der Kulturen der Welt plans and coordinates the cultural section of the Asia-Pacific Weeks Berlin in cooperation with the Berlin Senate Chancellery and local and international partners.

Application requirements:
The call is open to curators with initial curatorial experience in the field of public art. At least one member of each project/group (curator or artist) must be Berlin-based, and at least one member must be able to demonstrate a link to the Asia-Pacific region.

Deadline for entries: September 17, 2010
Please submit your application digitally (pdf file of max. 9 MB) to meridian.urban -at- hkw.de
Only electronic applications in English will be accepted.
In order to apply, please send the components of your project proposal as listed below.

Components of project proposals
1. Application form with personal details
2. Detailed concept of the project with visualization in the form of sketches, photos, plans, etc.
3. Suggested venue in the Berlin city center and a sketch of the site
4. List of participating artist(s) and curator(s) including brief CVs
5. Report of previous curatorial projects
6. Schedule for development and realization
7. Financial plan

Selection procedure:
An international jury of curators will review the project proposals and announce up to five selected projects by October 2010. Each selected project will receive a financial subsidy for production costs of up to EUR 20,000 as well as logistic support. The selected participants will be invited to a preparatory production meeting in Berlin (up to one week) between late October and December 2010. Groups will be asked to send a single representative.

Jury members: Katja Blomberg (art historian, Berlin) | Yu Yeon Kim (curator, NYC and Seoul) (tbc) | Osvaldo Sánchez (curator, Mexico City) | Adele Tan (art historian, Singapore)

Contact: If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact meridian.urban -at- hkw.de

Meridian l Urban. Curatorial Projects on Health takes place in the framework of the 8th Asia-Pacific Weeks, September 6-17, 2011. The Asia-Pacific Weeks are supported by the Stiftung Deutsche Klassenlotterie Berlin.

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (New York, USA) is seeking a Curatorial Assistant for Collections.

This position is responsible for assisting with various curatorial needs for the Guggenheim’s permanent collection, including facilitating and processing new acquisitions, managing curatorial paper and electronic records for collection artworks and artists, responding to various internal and external queries about artworks in the collection, and providing support as needed for collection exhibitions, outgoing loans, and museum publications, including the Guggenheim’s Web site.

For more information, please visit the jobs section of the Guggenheim's website.

Curatorial Bursary at Cubitt (London, UK)

Time frame: 18 months
Dates: December 2010 – May 2012
Value of bursary: £10,000

The Curatorial Bursary at Cubitt is an exciting opportunity to develop an exhibition and events programme in one of the UK's most established artist-run spaces.

In 2011, Cubitt Gallery and Studios will celebrate twenty years of creative dialogue with its diverse audience, and the holder of the bursary will play an important role in the development of our future activities.

Please visit www.cubittartists.org.uk for more information and details about how to apply.

Deadline for applications: Friday 25 June, 5pm

Cubitt is an equal opportunities employer. We promote cultural diversity and welcome applications from all sectors of the community.

The Curatorial Bursary at Cubitt is generously supported by Arts Council England and Outset Contemporary Art Fund.

This city wide celebration of Irish and International art is intended to shine a light on Ireland as a cultural centre, attracting large numbers of domestic and international visitors over its twelve week programme.

Championed by the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport with the support of artistic organisations throughout the city, major tourism and cultural agencies and educational partners, Dublin Contemporary will be the most exciting and dynamic cultural event ever seen on the island.

We are looking to fill a number of key positions for Dublin Contemporary; vibrant individuals with expertise and passion who will play a part in making Dublin Contemporary an exceptional experience for all.

Associate Curators:

The curatorial team for Dublin Contemporary will comprise of the Artistic Director, Project Curator and two experienced Associate Curators. Reporting to the Artistic Director, the right candidates will research and deliver the artistic programme and the publications, seminars, talks and discussions associated with it.

The associate curators will work with the project curator to ensure the timely and successful implementation of all aspects of the artists’ projects and installation of works. By necessity, the associate curators will work closely with production, technical, and where appropriate marketing and promotions.

Financial management and a keen knowledge of project delivery is essential, as is a comprehensive understanding of contemporary arts practice and a dynamic approach to the requirements of an artistic event on a major scale.

Apply online via the Guardian Jobs website.

Senior Curator - firstsite

£32,000 - £35,000

Based in Colchester, firstsite is a leading visual arts organisation for the East of England, building a reputation over the last 15 years for presenting new work to new audiences through its integrated artistic, artists' support and learning programmes. In 2011 firstsite will take occupancy of its new purpose-built venue.

We are inviting applications to join our Senior Management Team to manage and drive the organisation's artistic and artists' support programme. You will be joining firstsite at an exciting time, as the new building nears completion, and will play a major role in developing its ambitious programme, partnerships, and local and international profile. You will have demonstrable leadership and managerial experience within a curatorial context and have the ability to manage and oversee complex projects. You will possess excellent communication and administrative skills.

To apply, please send a copy of your CV and covering letter to: Recruitment @ firstsite, 4 - 6 Short Wyre Street, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1LN

Closing Date: Friday 9 July 2010

Registered charity no 1031800

For further information please visit: http://www.firstsite.uk.net

Location: Labor (1053 Budapest, Képíró u. 6.)

Residency dates: July, August, 2010

LABOR announces a competition for artists and curators for the use of the space of LABOR as a studio or an art space for a two- or four-week time in July and August 2010. Successful applicants can use the space of LABOR for realizing projects related to visual culture. The aim of the residency is to provide a possibility for artists and curators for individual (or collective) work, introduction, and to meet the members of Hungarian contemporary art scene. During the residency participants can use the spatial and technical facilities of LABOR (internet access, laptop); the library and the exhibition spaces.

The residency project covers the use of the art space, however, upon request we can help in finding accommodation, seeking and building professional relationships.

Application should contain:

- detailed professional CV

- motivation letter and working plan (max. 2 pages), where the applicant states whether s/he would like to use the space for two or four weeks

Applications should be e-mailed to labor -at- c3.hu.

New deadline for applications: June 13, 2010

The City of Peterborough is currently seeking: Art Gallery Curator
Community Services Department/Art Gallery of Peterborough

The Art Gallery of Peterborough seeks a Curator with experience in exhibition development, collection management, publication history and a strong commitment to community. Reporting to the Director, the Curator is responsible for the research, planning, administration and interpretation of the exhibition program and the permanent collection within the context of the gallery mandate. The successful candidate possesses a thorough knowledge of contemporary art practice, as well as familiarity with curatorial, education, and museum practices. They will supervise education program staff, volunteers and interns to ensure the Art Gallery services are provided effectively and efficiently. The successful candidate will also coordinate the City's Public Art Program in partnership with the City's Arts, Culture and Heritage Division. The City of Peterborough is a diversified and active community with a population of approximately 75,000 people, offers excellent opportunities for growth, as well as higher learning at Trent University and Fleming College.

Qualifications:

- A Masters degree in Visual Art or Art History or equivalent
- A minimum two (2) years curatorial experience. Previous supervisory experience an asset.
- Must be current with the broader trends, issues and concerns within the arts community and engaged in the development of related programs and special events.
- Experienced in managing acquisitions, a Permanent Collection and familiarity with collection software is essential.
- Experienced with Public Art policy and practices.
- Excellent leadership and team building skills; the ability to effectively coach, motivate, and coordinate the work of others
- The ability to support and facilitate positive work relationships; good public and employee relation skills with a focus on customer service and continuous improvement.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- A respect for the diversity of opinions, perspective and ideas; and be comfortable with changing priorities and demands.

This is permanent full-time position (35 hours/week) with a salary range of $64,594 - $70,593

Qualified applicants are invited to submit a résumé and cover letter, quoting file number no later than 4:30 p.m. on Monday, June 7, 2010, to: City of Peterborough, Human Resources Division, City Hall, 500 George Street North, Peterborough, Ontario K9H 3R9 Canada. Fax: (705) 742-7021.

The Art Gallery of Peterborough, incorporated in 1974, is a non-profit public gallery dedicated to exhibiting and collecting visual works of art. Information about artists and exhibitions is offered through educational programmes and publications. Funds generated from memberships, private and corporate sources, government grants and volunteer hours sustain all art gallery activities.
Our goal is to present contemporary visual art by artists from the immediate area, region and nation. Some historical and international work is also shown. The exhibitions are augmented with programmes of films, lectures, workshops, art history studies, extended labels and publications. We make curatorial choices in selecting the work for each particular exhibition whether it is featured in the main gallery or in the smaller exhibition areas. For more information, please visit www.agp.on.ca, www.peterborough.ca/jobs

The personal information submitted for employment is collected under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and will be used to determine eligibility for employment. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. An Equal Opportunity Employer.

Director/Curator, Dunlop Art Gallery

Reporting to the Library Director, and as a member of the management team, the Director/Curator, Dunlop Art Gallery (DAG) is responsible for the overall operations of the gallery and for the creative management of this unit within the mandate and policies approved by the Regina Public Library Board. The position’s areas of responsibility include exhibitions, public programs and education (such as lectures, workshops and film presentations), touring exhibitions, promotion and collection management of the RPL permanent collection, DAG Art Rental Collection and DAG Research Centre.

Located within the Regina Public Library, the Dunlop Art Gallery presents a wide and varied program which includes exhibitions, residencies, interpretive programs, community collaborations and scholarly publications. The DAG exhibits in two gallery spaces in two locations and actively participates with the vibrant and engaged Regina arts community.

More than half of the gallery’s programming is curated by the Dunlop staff. The DAG also includes a bibliographic resource centre, an art rental service and a permanent collection representing Saskatchewan Artists. More information about the Dunlop can be found at www.dunlopartgallery.org.

This position requires a Master of Fine Arts degree from an accredited university program, or the equivalent combination of arts education and experience, and formal training in arts/culture management, as well as five to seven years of progressive experience in the field of arts management, preferably in gallery administration, and experience in the fields of Visual Arts, Art History, Communication Studies, Cultural Studies, Studio Art or a related discipline.

Salary is negotiable based on the qualifications and experience of the successful applicant. The Library does offer a highly competitive salary starting in the mid to high seventies.

Regina is a dynamic, progressive community, with a strong, diversified economy and a quality of life that is exceptional. It’s a city with a population of approximately 200,000 that celebrates its cultural diversity and is known for its generous, friendly people. Where else in Canada can you enjoy top-notch big city attractions while taking only 20 minutes to get from one end of the city to another?

Review of applications will begin on June 29, 2010. Please forward résumé and cover letter to:
Human Resources
Regina Public Library, P.O. Box 2311
Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 3Z5
Fax: 949-7273
Email: resumes -at- reginalibrary.ca

A job description and additional information about the position is available in the careers section of the RPL Web site at: http://www.reginalibrary.ca/about/jobs.html

- Robert Manchester, curator at the Yellowstone Art Museum, was recently fired. Some tensions: "Manchester said he was asked by Peterson [the Executive Director] to have Apfelbaum [the current artist exhibiting] change her installation and he refused. "You don’t tell an international artist to make something else. I just said I wouldn’t do it. Because I defied Robyn, I had to go. I hadn’t abdicated my curatorial responsibilities," he said. Manchester said he hung 44 shows during his tenure at the museum while he watched the number of staff members decline. Peterson said the YAM currently employs the equivalent of 17 full-time employees. She said the past year has been a financial challenge for the museum, which closed its café and museum store in the past year." Reading between the lines, and extrapolating this situation (a closed cafe and store, alleged increased demands/stringencies on curatorial action), I wonder how many similar situations are unfolding at institutions worldwide: curators asked to trim in the face of dismissed cafe staff, a shuttered store; curators asked what they are doing (still working the old-fashioned way?) personally with artists to commission new work? I don't envy anyone's position (ambitious curator; financially-pressured director) in this situation, though I sympathise most with the curator trying to defend the artist. We are all just trying to make something remarkable happen, for artists, for ourselves, for the public.

- A power couple (Art historian Libby Lumpkin and art critic Dave Hickey) are leaving Las Vegas, and the article detailing their departure is an interesting short study in what makes an art scene. In this case we are talking about an art historian and a critic, but curators are often expected to be this force. In a recent edition of the Edinburgh Salon I used to co-produce with curator Kirsten Lloyd, we discussed "art scenes", and this sounds like a frivolous topic, but as the article about Lumpkin and Hickey details, it is deadly serious when the intellectual centre of gravity leaves town. What makes or breaks places, "scenes", is the people, and curators are in a particularly prime place to shape dialogue and provide leadership.

- Issue 05 of On Curating is out, and this edition, The Making of... focuses on development processes and production conditions of exhibitions. Central issues are: collaborative processes, expectations by artists / curators and working conditions, with contributions by: Sabeth Buchmann, Marina Coelho, Sønke Gau, Juan Francisco Gonzalez-Martinez, and many more.

- Independent Curators International (ICI) are doing a really interesting series of talks at the New Museum, and independent curator Bisi Silva is one of their most recent guests. In the podcast of the talk, Silva discusses the mission and history of the Centre, her career as a curator, and the various political, social, cultural and artistic notions that CCA, Lagos' exhibitions have examined.

As part of the China-UK: Connections through Culture programme the Architecture, Design, Fashion team at the British Council are running a ten-day study tour for curators to China which will take place in October 2010 and the British Council is looking to recruit delegates. This study tour will include museums, galleries and festivals with current design programmes as well as organisations that are seeking to develop their programme in design (including architecture, fashion, graphics, product, furniture, digital). All organisations are interested in collaboration and partnership with UK curators and organisations.

For further information please contact Evonne Mackenzie on 0207 389 3152 or Evonne.mackenzie -at- britishcouncil.org.

Please note that the deadline for applications is 5pm Friday 25 June 2010.

Evonne Mackenzie, Project Manager, Architecture, Design, Fashion, Arts Group, British Council, 10 Spring Gardens, London SW1A 2BN

The aim of Tate is to increase public awareness, understanding and appreciation of British art from the 16th century to the present day, and of international modern and contemporary art.

Tate Britain’s Curatorial Department is responsible for building Tate’s British Collections and developing an exemplary programme of changing displays and exhibitions which embodies Tate Britain’s role as the world centre for British art from 1500 to the present day.

With proven work experience in a relevant field, a degree in a relevant subject and a broad knowledge of nineteenth, twentieth century and contemporary art, this is an excellent opportunity for you to join us in contributing to the management of exhibitions and displays projects.

As Assistant Curator your main responsibility will be to co-ordinate the delivery of major exhibitions and displays at Tate Britain, using your excellent administrative and organisational skills to communicate effectively between departments ensuring projects are delivered successfully, on time and to budget. As well as managing loan requests and providing research for the larger exhibitions, your role will be to maintain documentation and administration, liaising between many different colleagues and contractors. Your ability to build effective working relationships will make you a valuable team member.

Contact details/How to apply:

For further information and to download an application pack, please visit www.tate.org.uk Closing date: 28 June 2010.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CONTEMPORARY ART GALLERY (VANCOUVER)

The Board of Directors of the Contemporary Art Gallery is seeking an Executive Director to lead and manage the internationally acclaimed, Vancouver based, Contemporary Art Gallery. The new Executive Director will steer the Gallery into the next phase of its now-40-year history of engagement with international and local art practices and communities.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director is responsible for setting the overall artistic vision for the Gallery; for guiding and implementing its strategic plans; for representing the Gallery to the public, funders and other stakeholders; and for planning and overseeing the Gallery's operations, which are currently executed by a team of 7 employees.

Housed in a street-level, purpose-built facility and uniquely positioned as the only independent public art gallery in downtown Vancouver, the Contemporary Art Gallery strives to be deeply connected to its place and time while delivering programs that explore the fluid transformations of artistic practices as they are shaped by social forces. The ideal candidate will have an inspiring curatorial vision that fosters connections with international and diverse local communities. S/he will equally be capable of strategically orienting the Gallery's approach to ongoing fundraising needs, as well as managing the Gallery's outreach and operational requirements.

For more information and to receive a Candidate Briefing document by email, please contact resumes -at- watsoninc.ca. Information about the Gallery is also available at www.contemporaryartgallery.ca. Review of applications will begin on Monday, 31 May 2010

Cambridge Galleries seek a dynamic individual to join their team as Curator for an ongoing program of exhibitions in two gallery spaces within the City of Cambridge: at the main gallery, 1 North Square, and their Preston gallery, 432 King Street East.

Reporting to the Director, this curatorial position is responsible for the production of exhibitions from concept through to realization, including research, planning, organization, set-up coordination and interpretation; budget preparation and management.

The Curator must be familiar with local, provincial and national visual arts communities; have excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to work both independently and in a team oriented environment. The successful candidate will have a demonstrated knowledge of the theoretical, historical and intellectual contexts of contemporary art practices and an ability to communicate this knowledge to both specialized and general audiences.

Applicants require a fine art degree and 3 to 5 years experience in a public art gallery, preferably in contemporary curatorial work.

CONTACT:
Mary Misner, Director
Cambridge Galleries
1 North Square
Cambridge ON N1S 2K6
www.cambridgegalleries.ca

Please send a personalized cover letter and curriculum vitae by May 25, 2010.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY - SENIOR CURATOR PROGRAMMES The Power Plant

The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery in Toronto is seeking a Senior Curator. Applications (resume and letter of interest) must be received by May 25, 2010.

The Power Plant at Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, is Canada’s leading public gallery devoted exclusively to the art of our time and is a high profile centre for contemporary art in North America. Over the past 23 years, it has forged an enviable reputation for presenting influential exhibitions, superior catalogues and editions, and challenging projects, public programmes and special events.

An employment opportunity exists in The Power Plant for a Senior Curator Programmes. Reporting to the Director, this position is responsible for implementing art and audience development programmes for The Power Plant, including exhibitions, publications, public projects and audience engagement and education programmes. As part of the management team, the incumbent will also participate in business and strategic planning for The Power Plant.

The Senior Curator will contribute to the research, development and presentation of new exhibitions and projects that interpret the response of artists to developments in contemporary culture and that respond to the global flow of information, emerging discourses, new artists, new geographies, new media and changing contexts that underpin developments in contemporary art. He/she will also implement a programme aimed at engaging new and diverse audiences for The Power Plant, through a dynamic mix of exhibition, education, interpretation, visitor support and community programmes that develop audience understanding of contemporary art and awareness of its significance as a vital social and cultural force.

The ideal candidate will hold a post graduate qualification in Art History, Fine Arts, Art Education or a related discipline and have a minimum of 5 years programming and management experience in a contemporary art organization. Proven experience in the organization of contemporary art projects and interpretive programmes and exceptional knowledge of the international contexts for contemporary art is a must, as is proven fundraising and budget management experience. He/she must have exceptional interpersonal and relationship management skills with the ability to develop effective partnerships as well as to persuade and negotiate.

DEADLINE for application: MAY 25, 2010

Qualified applicants please send your resume quoting Job Ref.#10F12-AKI to:
Human Resources, 235 Queens Quay West
Toronto, ON M5J 2G8
Fax (416) 973-1003
E-mail: jobs -at- harbourfrontcentre.com

Harbourfront Centre is committed to building a diverse workforce and strongly encourages qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply.

For more information on the gallery please visit http://www.thepowerplant.org

Location:
231 Queens Quay West
Toronto, Ontario
M5J 2G8 CANADA
Tel: (416) 973-4949
Fax: 416) 973-4933

Position Type: Full-time contract, 35 hours/week
Date of Posting: April 20, 2010
Application Deadline: May 17, 2010
Years Experience: 2+
Salary: $31,000/year

DESCRIPTION

The Western Front Society seeks an outstanding, highly motivated arts professional to step into the role of Media Arts Curator.

The Western Front was founded in 1973 by a small group of interdisciplinary artists, and has developed into an exemplary multi-disciplinary environment for experimental art practice and research. With a staff of ten plus interns and volunteers, the Society collectively produces over fifty events a year.

The Media Arts Program has a mandate to support production, research, experimentation and critical discourse by Canadian artists and arts professionals in media arts practices. The two major components of Western Front Media Arts are the Artist-in-Residence program and the archive of video art and performance documentation. In keeping with the Western Front’s historical emphasis on creative exchange and interdisciplinary practice, this program supports the creation and dissemination of new work in mediums including, but not limited to, video, internet art and sound art.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Media Arts Curator reports directly to the Executive Director and will assume the leadership and responsibility for:
•Curating artist production residencies
•Facilitating access to the Western Front’s archival holdings
•Curating screenings and public presentations of work generated through both the residency program and the archive
•Ensuring the effective development, operation and sustainability of the Media Arts program
•Overseeing the implementation of programs, policies and operations on a day-to-day basis
•Editing publications
• Assuming responsibility for the media production studio/space

QUALIFICATIONS
As our ideal candidate, you possess:

•Knowledge of audio/video systems, new media and new technologies
•Exemplary knowledge and understanding of contemporary art practices
•Knowledge and understanding of moving image archive practices
•A clear understanding of the philosophy and history of the Canadian artist-run centre movement
•Excellent written and verbal communications skills
•Proven financial management experience
•Ability to effectively delegate and supervise staff, volunteers, interns and external contractors
•Forward-thinking project management and organizational skills
• Knowledge of the principle funding agencies and prior grant writing experience
• Knowledge of managing publications and print projects
•Mac OS, Microsoft Office and Filemaker Pro

BENEFITS

A competitive benefits package is available after the three months probation period is complete. After eight months of employment, four weeks paid vacation may be taken during the period when programs are recessed. An additional ten days paid holiday time may be taken during the December/January holiday period.

HOW TO APPLY

The Western Front Society is committed to the principles of Employment Equity and encourages applications from Aboriginal persons, members of a visible minority group or persons with a disability.

Applications containing a cover letter, curriculum vitae, three references, and writing samples, must be received by 4:00 p.m. on May 17, 2010

Please send applications by email only:

Media Arts Curator Hiring Committee
Email:admin -at- front.bc.ca

We apologize that only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Iniva is currently recruiting for the following full-time position: Senior Curator
Salary c.£34,000

This senior post is responsible for contributing to the initiation of Iniva's artistic programme at Rivington Place as well as off-site and virtually, and providing a context for its Education and Public programmes.

Please download full details for this position from the Iniva website, including:

- Job description and person specification
- Further information about Iniva and Rivington Place
- Application form
- Equal opportunities policy statement + monitoring form

Please note that CVs will not be considered unless accompanied by a completed application form.

Deadline: 12noon, Monday 24 May 2010

To apply please complete the application and equal opportunities froms, ensuring that all the information requested is provided. Completed forms should be sent to: Iniva, Rivington Place, London EC2A 3BA, UK.

or emailed to recruitment -at- iniva.org with 'Senior Curator' in the subject line.

Iniva strives to be an Equal Opportunities employer and welcomes applications from people with disabilities. If you are unable to download these forms or require them in large print, please contact Obinna Nwosu on 020 7729 9616.

Iniva is funded by Arts Council England. Registered Charity No 1031721

For its inaugural presentation, and in the spirit of championing emerging talent, the Flash Forward Festival is proud to announce this call for proposals from emerging Canadian curators to program the Outdoor Canadian Exhibition component of the festival. The chosen candidate will be awarded the privilege of mounting a group show featuring the work of emerging Canadian photographers. Full entry details are listed below.

What we are looking for:

We invite exhibition proposals from emerging curators for a group exhibition that features the work of emerging Canadian photographers. In keeping with the vitality and the range of work that Flash Forward showcases every year, we are looking for a thoughtful and dynamic presentation suitable for the outdoor locale. This competition will provide a platform for an ambitious young curator to truly make his or her mark among international peers.
Eligibility

For the purposes of this application, the criteria that The Magenta Foundation will use to define a candidate as an emerging curator is as follows:

- Potential candidates must be under the age of 35 and have been curating projects for no longer than five (5) years.
- In that time, potential candidates must have curated at least two (2) exhibitions at public/regional or university galleries (should the candidate wish, this may include any programming commissioned as a requirement of their graduate or undergraduate studies).

Submission requirements

Candidates who meet the above eligibility requirements should submit, via the online application process, the following materials by 12:01 a.m., June 1, 2010:

1. A current Curriculum Vitae
2. A one- to two-page essay (double-spaced using 12-point type) that outlines the reasons why the candidate wishes to be considered for this curatorial position. The document should describe the applicant’s curatorial philosophy and demonstrate a solid comprehension of the current state of fine art photography and/or photojournalism in Canada and its international context.
3. A sample of previous critical art writing (an exhibition review or a curatorial statement from a previous exhibition).
4. A thesis, no more than one-page (double-spaced using 12-point type), proposing an exhibition that will feature the work of emerging Canadian photographers at the Flash Forward Festival. Candidates may not include their own works of art in the proposed exhibition. NB: The exhibition will be mounted in an outdoor courtyard in Liberty Village. Visit this link for photos of the exhibition venue that the winning candidate will program and should refer to in their thesis.
5. A maximum of 20 images may accompany and support the proposed exhibition. Upload jpegs only, no larger than 1MB per image (around 72-150 dpi and 800 x 600 pixels). For each uploaded image please list its title, name of the artist, date, media, and dimensions. For each artist, please include a brief bio and, if possible, a link to their website.

The submission deadline is 12:01 a.m., June 1, 2010.
Candidate Review Process

Applications will be reviewed by a curatorial panel of industry leaders:

- Sophie Hackett, Curator of Photography, Art Gallery of Ontario
- Jennifer Long, Artist, Curator, Educator
- MaryAnn Camilleri, Founder and Executive Director, The Magenta Foundation

The winning candidate will be publicly announced on June 4, 2010. The Magenta Foundation will work in tandem with the selected emerging curator to implement their vision and carry out the production of the exhibition.

Please note that the curatorial panel has the right to decline any application that is incomplete or does not meet the eligibility requirements as outlined above.

The Winning Emerging Curator Will Receive:

- One return ticket to Toronto to the Flash Forward Festival, plus accommodation (this component has no transferable value should the winning candidate live in the Greater Toronto Area)
- A VIP pass to attend all festival programming
- A speaking opportunity, as part of the official programming at the Flash Forward Festival, to present the Outdoor Canadian Exhibition
- Publication of the winning curatorial proposal in the Flash Forward Festival’s official program

Full details are on how to submit here.


About the Flash Forward Festival

October 6-10, 2010

The Flash Forward Festival is an international five-day bi-annual event launching in Toronto’s Liberty Village in October 2010. The Flash Forward Festival is an extension of The Magenta Foundation’s successful annual emerging photographers competition, Flash Forward. The competition, established as a platform to promote emerging artists from Canada, the US, and the UK, has positioned itself as the critically important vanguard for introducing international emerging talent to a global audience.

The Flash Forward competition receives highly favourable international coverage and is widely considered to be one of the most important emerging art incubators in the world.

The Magenta Foundation’s Flash Forward Emerging Artist Program once again does what its name implies: it freezes a brief moment in time, preserving it for closer inspection and demonstrating the promise of what is to come in the international photography community. (Boston Globe 2008)

Flash Forward’s mission is to showcase the future of photography, focusing on emerging talent that renowned jurors have identified as having great potential. The bi-annual festival will provide an in-depth experience for emerging photographers through educational and networking opportunities including events with collectors/arts enthusiasts and industry professionals (academics, gallerists, media/art directors and photo editors). The festival will include five curated exhibitions (representing the three host countries plus one guest country invited to showcase their best emerging photographers), as well as workshops, a lecture series, nightly events, an art fair and a closing party all taking place within Toronto’s Liberty Village, the host neighbourhood of the Flash Forward Festival.

- A great upcoming event in beautiful Edinburgh for your diaries: Radical Complicities, Curating Art in the 21st Century. Saturday 1st May 2010, speakers include: Beatrice von Bismarck (Academy of Visual Arts, Leipzig), Nav Haq (Arnolfini, Bristol), Maria Lind (Center for Curatorial Studies, Bard College, USA), Sarah Lowndes (Independent Curator, Glasgow), Bojana Pejic (Independent Curator, Berlin). Introduced and chaired by Angela Dimitrakaki and Kirsten Lloyd (The University of Edinburgh). Organised by The University of Edinburgh and presented in partnership with the National Galleries of Scotland, this conference brings together leading figures in the field to consider the potential and limitations of recent and emergent curatorial paradigms in contemporary art.

- Two new issues of "On Curating" are out, featuring interviews with Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev, Paul O’Neill, Simon Sheikh, Mary Anne Staniszewski, Ian White, Katerina Gregos, and many more. The issues are themed around curating film, and the political potential of curating.

- If you are based in or happen to be in New York, see if you can catch up with the fine folk of CRUMB as they promote their new Rethinking Curating book with talks and high tea.

- More interviews and news stories I found around the web: a great story about boom and bust times in the art world with Neville Wakefield, one of the three-person curatorial team behind "Greater New York 2010" which opens on May 23rd; an interview with Victoria Lynn, visual arts curator of the Adelaide Arts Festival (click on "Show Transcript"), discussing her favourite artwork and art trends; and a story on Creative Time's plans for expansion and a focus away from "biennialism", with great quotes from both Anne Pasternak and Nato Thompson.

- "Curating as institutional critique?", an event at the Documenta Hallen in Kassel last month, was a symposium to discuss critical curating, how curating can be relevant in a socio-political sense, and how it can change or re-shape structures. This report gives insight into the discussions that happened there.

Symposium: November 12–14, 2010
Banff International Curatorial Institute
The Banff Centre

Deadline: April 23, 2010

Curating contemporary art is, by nature, a field demarcated by flux and change, and thus remains to a great extent - and perhaps by necessity - an improvised and unregulated practice. In recent decades, however, it has experienced an unprecedented turn toward professionalization; the proliferation of curatorial and museum studies programs alone are evidence of this shift. We have also witnessed culture’s turn toward festivalization, of which the worldwide vogue for biennials is an example. In this context the profession and authority of the curator have undergone a simultaneous expansion and diminishment. Twenty years on, after the introduction of the first curatorial studies programs, there now exists an expansive curatorial class, which must contend with this unstable identity that persists between practice and profession.

In November 2010, The Banff Centre will host Are Curators Unprofessional?, the latest in the ongoing series of BICI symposia, which will examine the curator’s complex and changing relationship to notions of professionalism, expertise, ethics and modes of conduct. Developed in collaboration with Scott Watson from the University of British Columbia and Barbara Fischer from the University of Toronto, this symposium will provide a forum for leading international curators, museum professionals, educators, art historians, critics, students and artists to discuss and debate key issues in this area.

The panel Are Curators Unprofessional (Enough)? will analyze moments of crisis in the profession and ask: When is it necessary to be (un)professional? What issues exist within a field that is demarcated by instability? In the following Craftwork session, panelists will analyze the craft of exhibition making, by examining exhibitions that have provoked paradigm shifts. Is curating a trade or craft, rather than a profession? What skills must a curator possess? Which exhibitions have provoked paradigm shifts? The Catalogue is Out! session will scrutinize the emergence of curatorial writing as a genre and question its unique position and function in relation to art criticism and art history. What, if any, is the function of the catalogue? How does it mediate between the work of art and the world? What is the difference between criticism, curatorial writing and art history? Lastly, the Judge and Jury panel will illuminate the politics of taste, consider the ramifications of judgment with respect to curating and identify the continual attempt to re-distribute the power of judgment.

Submit a 200-word abstract and short CV to:

Banff International Curatorial Institute
The Banff Centre
Box 1020, 107 Tunnel Mountain Dr
Banff, AB, T1L 1H5
Email: VA_Admin -at- banffcentre.ca

We encourage submissions from young scholars, including graduate and PhD students. Please submit a 200 abstract and short CV to VA_Admin@banffcentre.ca by April 23, 2010, 5:00 p.m. All contributors should include their name, address, telephone number and email address.

Please note this event is funding dependent.

5th Summer Seminars for Art Curators

Aesthetic Communities and Contextual Translation of Communal Art
August 15-20, 2010, Yerevan and Ijevan, Armenia

Call for Participation

There is always a loss in any work of interpretation, and this does not necessarily refer to the loss of the original meaning (the original historical context or the authenticity of an art work) as such but to the loss of the original conditions of reception. In regard to the Soviet art of Stalinism and beyond, art critic Viktor Tsupitsyn argues in The Museological Unconscious that these works were produced with the collective aspect of reception embedded in the very production and he describes this phenomenon as a “collective museological unconscious.” With the loss of the communal aspects of seeing which came with the demise of communism, these monuments of the times past are inherently deterritorialized and displaced when viewed in the context of Western representational structures, which condition an atomized, isolated and individuated viewer. The question then is, how is it possible to recapture or rather representationally translate communal reception when the embedded specificity of communist community has itself undergone such a radical transformation? What is the role of the curator in the perceptual politics that perpetuates through and around a work of art? Can a work of art intended for a collective optical unconscious in the original context of its production create new forms of undetermined and situational communities when exposed, represented and reinterpreted anew? What happens to the work when both its intended message and its addressee are lost? What becomes of a specific community in which the work is situated? What is the role of the one –the critic, curator, historian and writer, who exposes, reinterprets and repositions the communal work?

Would like to pose the double question of communal art’s function within communities in which these works are physically located as well as the aesthetic communities that come into being temporarily around a work of art.

The program is comprised of two parts. The first part entitled “Aesthetic Communities and Contextual Translation of Communal Art” will take place in Yerevan, in August 15-17th, while the second part “The Communal Function of a Monument” will be held in Ijevan, in August 18-20, a city located in Northern Armenia and close to the Georgian and Azerbaijani borders. For the first part in Yerevan we would like to invite proposals that deal with various theoretical frameworks, historical experiences

and examples of aesthetic communities and contextual aspects of reception in terms of the production of aesthetic experience. The second part takes the artistic forum called “International Symposium for Sculpture” organized in Ijevan in 1985-1991 by art critic Saro Sarukhanian in the context of perestroika politics and dissipation of pressure of the centralised bureaucratic and ideological apparatus of the communist party as a starting point to pose questions related to curatorial practices. Can these practices be connected to community art or it is an artistic prerogative to produce a communally visible and viable art? How can aesthetic objects from the past be engaged in re-evaluation of a site specific public sculpture in ways that this re-evaluation may empower local communities to engage in the striving for cultural and social change? How can we communally re-evaluate the work in ways that might permit escape from oblivion on the one hand and sacralisation on the other?

The Program is structured to accommodate daily lectures by invited specialists, round-table discussions and presentations by the participants. The presentations should focus on curating and aesthetic communities or curating community art.
There is no fee for participation. However, the participants are expected to cover their own travel and accommodation costs. AICA-Armenia does not provide funding for logistics.

To participate, please send us your CV and a 300 word abstract of your proposed presentation by May 15th, 2010.
All materials should be sent to Marianna Hovhannisyan at m.a.hovhannisyan -at- gmail.com

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Summer Seminars for Contemporary Art Curators is an annual initiative organized by AICA-Armenia. It brings together newly practicing art curators from various contexts in a series of seminars, lectures, practical workshops, presentations and visits to art spaces in Yerevan. It started in 2006, and is organized annually during every summer. One of the objectives is to contribute to the development of the education of cultural practitioners, and specifically curators.

During the four years of activity the Summer Seminars for Contemporary Art Curators has fostered a strong partnership with a number of institutions and individuals, and particularly, SCCA-Ljubljana’s World of Art curatorial program, SCCA-Alma-Aty, Beral Madra Centre for Contemporary Art in Istanbul, Townhouse Gallery in Cairo and the University of Plymouth’s Critical Spaces research group in the UK.

Project blog: http://summerschoolforcuratorsyerevan.blogspot.com/ and website: http://naac.am/aica/html/eng/ssc.html