Call for Emerging Curator 2020

VisArts Emerging Curator Program 2020
Application Deadline:  February 14, 2020, midnight
http://www.visartscenter.org

VisArts invites applications from emerging curators to work with an experienced mentoring curator to develop and present an exhibition. VisArts Center is located at 155 Gibbs Street, Rockville, MD 20850

The VisArts Emerging Curator Program offers a unique opportunity for an emerging curator to work with an experienced mentoring curator to develop and present an exhibition and to assist in the presentation of the mentor’s exhibition. In an effort to develop expanded education programming/enhanced visitor experiences, the 2020 Emerging Curator and the Mentoring Curator will also focus on developing tools, templates, technological enhancements and funding strategies to support public programming that promotes social interaction, creative exchange and audience engagement.

VisArts will provide the Emerging Curator with an exhibition budget of $10,000. Additional funding and staff support for printing, promotions, and execution of exhibition programming is available. The program is one year and will begin in February 2020.

The selection panel includes the VisArts’ Curator, Artist Advisory Council, Gallery Committee and 2020 Mentoring Curator.

The 2020 Mentoring Curator is Kristen Hileman.  Baltimore-based independent curator Kristen Hileman spent nearly two decades working as a curator at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington DC and more recently as the Head of the Contemporary Department at the Baltimore Museum of Art. Her monographic exhibitions brought new attention to important female artists Anne Truitt and Maren Hassinger, and she has realized major commissions with Mary Reid Kelley and Patrick Kelley, Sarah Oppenheimer, Tomás Saraceno and others. Additionally, Hileman has organized exhibitions of the works of John Baldessari, Cai Guo-Qiang, Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Lizzie Fitch/Ryan Trecartin, Meleko Mokgosi, and John Waters, as well as surveys of contemporary photography and time-based media. She has taught at Johns Hopkins University, George Washington University, and the Corcoran College of Art and Design and is a frequent visiting critic and lecturer at colleges and universities. Upcoming projects include a retrospective exhibition of South African-born, Baltimore-based abstract painter Jo Smail at the Baltimore Museum of Art (March 2020) and the debut solo museum exhibition for figurative painter Theresa Chromati, which also includes a major public art component, at the Delaware Contemporary Museum (June 2020).

Curatorial Collaboration:
During the yearlong program, the Curatorial team (Mentor Curator and Emerging Curator)
will focus on:
·    Developing a cohesive and compelling exhibition proposal;
·    Researching skills and standards of “best” and “current” curatorial practice;
·    Communicating with artists and lending institutions – developing contracts and loan information, collecting images and organizing artist/image information with “best practice” standards;
·    Conducting curatorial research and developing writing skills for catalogs and other printed and online materials using language that is clear and comprehensible for art experts and the general public;
·    Researching and developing a plan for incorporating technology upgrades to gallery programming through website enhancements, use of I Pads and apps, and production of video and audio materials;
·    Designing and implementing educational exhibition programming and outreach activities that engage artists, curators and public audience of all ages;
·     Developing budgets for executing exhibitions and exhibition programming;
·     Developing sponsorship/fundraising initiatives to support the exhibition programming;
·     Overseeing exhibition design and installation; and,
·     Developing marketing and public relations materials – press releases, website presence, social networking and print media supporting the exhibition.

The VisArts Emerging Curator Program provides emerging curators with practical, hands-on experience at a community arts organization. It is designed to support diverse exhibitions presenting a broad spectrum of ideas and curatorial approaches. In addition, it enhances the VisArts exhibition experience by developing educational opportunities, public programming and opportunities for community engagement through expanded use of interactive interpretive media in its gallery program.

Application:
Applicants do not need to have a fully realized curatorial proposal. This will be developed with the support and guidance of the mentoring curator and the VisArts Gallery Department.

To apply online, create an account below and complete the form.

Applicants must supply the following:

1. Application form
2. CV
3. Evidence of past curatorial projects:
·    Up to 10 still images
·    Up to 5 minutes of Audio Tracks (We accept: URL addresses, Soundclouds, or Playable DVDs posted to VisArts.)
·   List of images with artist name, title, year, medium, and descriptive information
·    Supporting PDF documents
4. A statement that addresses the following:
·    What makes presenting an exhibition in a non-profit community arts center with the guidance of a mentor an ideal opportunity?
·    What do you consider your curatorial intentions?
·    How do you envision enriching the audience experience? How would you engage the community? What sorts of programming and content delivery would you like to see paired with exhibitions?
·    What do you hope to achieve with this exhibition and mentoring program? Why would this program be an excellent fit for you?

Timeline:
Application deadline: February 14, 2020
Finalists Notified: February 21, 2020
Finalist Interviews: February 24, 25, 2020
Emerging Curator Notified: February 28, 2020
Length of Program: February 2020 – January 2021 (Detailed Schedule TBD)
Emerging Curator Exhibition:  November 6, 2020 – January 5, 2021
Mentoring Curator Exhibition:  September 4 – October 25, 2020