Curating.info

Contemporary art curating news and views from Michelle Kasprzak and team

Pick 'N Mix #35

Posted by Michelle Kasprzak • Thursday, February 25. 2010 • Category: Pick 'N Mix
Welcome to another edition of Pick 'N Mix, my collections of links and news relevant to curators.

- There are two events coming up in March that I'd like to highlight. Friends and compatriots CRUMB are launching three books on Friday March 5 in Gateshead, UK. CRUMB's co-founders, Sarah Cook and Beryl Graham, are launching their new book Rethinking Curating: Art After New Media, published by MIT Press, and two new volumes of CRUMB dialogues published by The Green Box, Berlin. Find out more on their Facebook event page. A few time zones over in Philadelphia, USA, on Saturday March 13, a symposium entitled "Curating and Risk" will be held at Moore College. The event is the fifth in a series of public conversations about issues and ideas in contemporary curatorial practice. Admission is free but RSVPs are requested, find out more on Moore's website.

- Two new must-reads: The Exhibitionist is a new journal on exhibition making that looks like essential reading, especially as it is made by curators for curators. Also Independent Curators International has just launched Dispatch, which will host a range of curators around the world on a monthly basis. This month, the host is Sofía Olascoaga, an educational curator based in Mexico City.

- Whitney Biennial curator Francesco Bonami was recently profiled in New York Magazine. A quick read, and interesting merely to see the slightly lazy "curator as failed artist" trope trotted out. The quote from Bonami I liked best was: "It’s a myth that curators change the career of an artist. The work of an artist changes the career of an artist."
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Job: Director of Exhibitions, Gladstone Hotel

Posted by Michelle Kasprzak • Tuesday, February 23. 2010 • Category: Jobs & Opportunities

Director of Exhibitions - Gladstone Hotel
Toronto, Canada

Position available immediately This job posting is closed.

Salary range: based on credentials and experience

Only interview candidates will be contacted. No phone calls please.

The Director of Exhibitions is accountable to maintain the artistic fabric of the Gladstone as set out in the vision of the property ensuring a connection to the art community locally and internationally; while proactively building the business of exhibitions and curatorial space; positioning Gladstone as the pre-eminent Art Hotel worldwide.

Reporting directly to the General Manager:

Role Responsibilities:

- Provide leadership and guidance to the property team providing a clear understanding of the Gladstone art culture
- Responsible to sell overall property with a specific focus on:
- Exhibitions
- Studio Space
- All Gallery Space
- Photo and Film Shoots
- Develops and deliver on annual business plan for exhibition and curatorial services
- Development and implementation of all sales strategies for exhibition and curatorial services and other revenue streams within the property.
- Drive and monitor sales initiatives including personal sales calls, site tours, meetings, training and monitoring of such sales.
- Exhaust all avenues to sell space, attract new clients and position hotel within local, Canadian and international markets
- Produces Gladstone sponsored events.
- Accountable for marketing the Gladstone exhibition and curatorial space
- Develop Client Relationships and partnerships with sense of liveliness, authenticity and passion for our arts business and the people we serve.
- Attend networking events to promote venue
- Attend and participate in related associations, committees and juries.
- Constant evaluation of competition
- Connect exhibitions to other sales opportunities with the Hotel, explicitly food & beverage sales and hotel room sales.
- Act as press liaison, ensuring “messaging” and “branding” of Hotel as it relates to our exhibitions mandate. Ensure all press receives appropriate materials in promotion of hotel. Ensure updated photos and press kits are available. Helps to promote the exhibitions of clients of the Hotel through appropriate messaging and listings.
- Promote and Encourage inter-departmental co-operation and communication to improve customer service, over-all guest satisfaction and proper promotion of Hotel’s mandate and services through:
- Directs design, lighting, production, space planning and audio visual needs of all exhibitions within Hotel.
- Regular Analysis and Reporting on events: building on successes and correcting shortfalls
- Expectation of Time allocation:
+ 50% Prospecting/Closing Business
+ 20% Curatorial
+ 10% Production Management/Scheduling
+ 10% Marketing
+ 10% Strategy & Developing Partnerships

Job Requirements: Qualified candidates will have the following experiences (Knowledge, Skills and Ability)
- Operate with high integrity in delivering exceptional service to our guests.
- Demonstrates a Passion for the Sales as well as a passion for Arts Programming Successful experience in proactive sales and the ability to effectively close.
- Possesses analytical ability to quantify success of exhibition based on sales generated, cultural-social value or “buzz” factor.
- Creative thinker with ability to come to decision quickly
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Keeps current with competitive environment.
- Ability to work both independently and in a team environment.
- Outstanding customer service skills as well as strong oral and written skills.
- Ability to network and build relationships.
- Have strong organizational skills and drive towards achievement of goals /objectives.
- Must be able to convey information and ideas clearly and concisely.
- Must be able to work with and understand financial information and data.
- Ability to work extended hours to meet requirements on business volumes.
- Experience in Delphi an asset.
- Proficient in Windows O/S and Microsoft office applications.
- Education and Experience:
- Minimum 5 years working in the arts community in similar role
- Minimum 2 years experience in sales
- Bilingualism an asset.
- Salary Range: based on credentials and experience

Please email your resume to Celina to apply: celina at gladstone hotel dot com This job posting is closed.
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Job: Director/Curator, University of Waterloo Art Galleries

Posted by Michelle Kasprzak • Wednesday, February 10. 2010 • Category: Jobs & Opportunities

Applications are invited for the position of Director/Curator of the University of Waterloo Art Galleries. The UW Art Gallery was established in 1965 to serve the University and the region of Waterloo and is dedicated to the collection, development and exhibition of visual art.

The Gallery Director/Curator provides a leadership role in highlighting contemporary visual art as a significant area of creative, innovative research and a vital component of the cultural fabric of the University of Waterloo community. The Gallery Director/Curator is responsible for all day-to-day operations of two galleries: the main space in East Campus Hall, and a satellite operation in the Modern Languages Building across campus. Duties include conception and organization of an annual exhibition schedule; financial management and planning; program administration; promotion of events; supervision of temporary staff and volunteers; communication with artists and media; solicitation of outside funding from government, foundations and private sources; and the development and maintenance of links with regional, provincial and national arts communities.

The Gallery Director/Curator will work on all aspects of exhibition development and production including interpretation, presentation, documentation and care of the University’s permanent collection, and ensure the maintenance, development and promotion of the Gallery website.

The Director/Curator is responsible for teaching a course relating to curatorial practice one semester during the academic year. Further responsibilities include overseeing the planning of the 4th Year Honours Studio Exhibition and Graduate Thesis Exhibitions, as well as other periodic projects deemed appropriate by the Department Chair.

This position requires a Masters level degree or equivalent experience in one of the following fields: Art History, Museum Studies, Curatorial Studies, Communication Studies, Cultural Studies or Visual Art. The successful candidate must be capable of working both independently as well as in a team-oriented environment, and should have excellent communication skills, strong interpersonal abilities, a solid record of writing in the visual arts, and several years experience in gallery administration.

The hiring committee will begin reviewing applications on February 19th, 2010, and will continue to accept applications until the position is filled.

Qualified candidates should send a resume and covering letter to: [email protected] , University of Waterloo, Human Resources, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, by February 12, 2010. Quote Job # 4651. For more information, please visit the web-site: http://www.hr.uwaterloo.ca/.jd/00001826.html

We thank you for your interest, but due to the number of applications received, we regret that only those candidates that will be interviewed will be contacted.


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