Curating.info

I'm proud to announce the (semi-recent) launch of my latest curatorial effort.

In-Site Montreal is a collection of site-specific art presented on the portal pages of five wireless internet hotspots in the Ile Sans Fil network. Artists Nicolas Fleming, Maria Legault, and Virginie Laganiere have created art works that can be viewed simply by logging in to the Ile Sans Fil network at the selected hotspots. Though the project is best viewed in-situ, you can also view the works produced by the artists for the hotspot locations at the In-Site Montreal micro-site.

I have produced a curatorial text for the project, which I would be grateful for your feedback on, my cherished readers.

The concluding paragraphs of the essay include the following statements:

The virtual spaces that In-site Montreal inhabit are amorphous areas around several accepted gathering places such as cafes, galleries, markets, and bars. They are perhaps places where as an internet user, you may intend to use the opportunity of connectivity to the network to look outward, to read news of distant places or connect with friends far away through e-mails and online social networking sites. The art practice of telematics in particular addresses the creative possibilities when two parties are connected over distance to communicate. In some way, the pieces presented on the portal pages of Ile Sans Fil's network as part of the In-Site Montreal project present something that is almost anti-telematic, in that the works look inward rather than outward. In the case of this project, a connection to someone across the globe is not sought, it is shunned in favour of a further examination and rumination on the details of the local environment.

I'm interested in this idea of the inverse-telematic, the inward-looking, the intensely-local, especially using a tool such as Wi-Fi that we are so accustomed to associate with an outward-looking, nearly-anonymous roaming of virtual terrain.

Thanks to Year Zero One for producing the project, the Canada Council for the Arts for funding the project, Ile Sans Fil for hosting the project, and Rita Godlevskis for designing the map and visual identity of In-Site Montreal.

[In these upcoming reviews, I'll be highlighting books, podcasts, exhibitions, periodicals, and other items that I think are of particular interest to curators and those concerned with curatorial issues.]

Ideas is the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's premier radio programme of contemporary thought. Their podcast highlights the best of the Ideas programmes. You can subscribe to the RSS feed for their podcast here. Their latest podcast release is a fascinating lecture by cultural critic Adam Gopnik entitled: To Sit or to Talk?.

Adam Gopnik discusses the future of museums by pondering a question that he recently asked his kids: Do you prefer theatres, where you can sit? Or museums, where you can talk? Gopnik was delivering the 2006 Eva Holtby Lecture at the Royal Ontario Museum.

His lecture discusses the evolution of musuems, from (as he puts it, in his very alliterative way) the mausoleum, to the machine, to the metaphor/mall. The lecture is an easy listen, and the evolution he speaks of is well delineated. My only contention with what he says is that it is all a little too neat, too pat. He is keen to isolate the museum into these stages of development, but it is clear that all three stages he speaks of still exist and share the same environment within which to survive. I would be interested to hear your thoughts on his lecture.

The Ullens Center for the Arts is developing the most comprehensive contemporary art institution in Beijing with exhibitions, screenings, performances, lectures and seminars, an art library and educational program. We are currently recruiting for the following two positions: Curator and Head of Events.

CURATOR
Working with curatorial team and Artistic Director, the Curator will have the opportunity to contribute towards overall exhibition strategy and planning of Beijing’s leading contemporary arts institution, working on an international arts program that features solo shows by leading contemporary masters and thematic group exhibitions. The Curator will work closely with the curatorial team to oversee exhibition budget, logistics management, installation and evaluation of each project, as well as researching and writing catalogue and exhibition texts. S/he will conduct visits to contemporary art institutions around the world, including major art fairs and biennials, to evaluate work / exhibitions for consideration, networking with art world professionals and artists and creating partnerships with the Center through collaborative projects. The Curator will also work with Library & Archive, Education, and Cultural Events teams to extend the impact of the visual arts program.

HEAD OF EVENTS
Working with Artistic Director and the Curatorial Team, the Head of Events will develop and implement a creative and dynamic international events program, taking responsibility for at least 20 events per year out of a total program of 30-50 events annually. These will include lectures, seminars, workshops, film screenings and music performances, targeted for a Chinese audience and presented at Beijing’s leading contemporary arts institution. Working with the Assistant Curator of Events, s/he will take responsibility for budget, partner liaison, promotional material, logistics management, government approvals, program administration, receptions and functions, travel arrangements, maintenance of financial records and evaluation of each project. Expanding his or her existing network of art professionals, the Head of Events will identify and initiate partnerships with cultural organizations in China and abroad.

TO APPLY:
Please email a cover letter, resume, and two reference letters by February 20, 2007 to Colin Chinnery: colin.chinnery -at- ullens-center.org

For more information: The Ullens Center for the Arts website

University of Sunderland - School of Arts, Design, Media & Culture

Curating New Media Art

Since 1993 the School of Arts, Design, Media & Culture has had a special interest in issues for exhibiting new media art (including internet art, and interactive digital media). The CRUMB web resource for curators is now an internationally acclaimed site, which complements the postgraduate work in Fine Art, Curating and Informatics at the University. A recent AHRC Research Grant enables the continued expansion of this research, with research partners Eyebeam (New York) and Lancaster University.

RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Fixed-term 3 years
£20,119 - £23,187 pa
To undertake research outputs, and assist the research of the CRUMB team, and to undertake research outputs in the field of curating new media art. You will hold special responsibility for online/print research outputs, and collaborative networking.

Ref No: ADR017/1362
Closing date: 2 March 2007

An application form and Role Profile can be obtained by contacting Human Resources on 0191 515 2057 or http://www.sunderland.ac.uk/jobs

RESEARCH STUDENTSHIPS x 2 posts
Curating New Media Art, and New Media Art & Programming
Fixed-term 3 years
AHRC grant of - £12,300 pa
PhD proposals including practice-led artist/curator research are invited. Applicants should meet AHRC UK/EU residency regulations.

Closing date: 2 March 2007

Further details can be found on http://www.crumbweb.org An application form and further details on the Research Studentships can be obtained by contracting Valerie Cornell on 0191 515 3725 or email:
valerie.cornell -at- sunderland.ac.uk

Laboral Art and Industrial Creation Centre, which is being developed at the refurbished Universidad Laboral de Gijón, is seeking to appoint a Chief Curator to implement the vision of the Founders of the Foundation. This is an exciting and ambitious project which is creating within the former vocational training schools, a new centre for art and creativity, focused on exploring the links between art, science and technology. It is proposed that the Centre, based in Asturias, will provide a focal point for the creative industries and will act as a driving force for the future City of Culture based at the Universidad Laboral de Gijón.

The Chief Curator will be expected to contribute to the development of the programme of the new Centre in accordance with its mission, vision and objectives, as established by the Director; he or she will be required to establish the framework and the infrastructure to encourage the development of creative industries, developing workshops and laboratories and attracting leading experts in the field, the curator will propose exhibition concepts to be developed in accordance with the Centre’s areas of interest (art and technology), and will ensure that the mechanism for storage, restoration, conservation and registration of exhibits are in place.

A University degree with major in art and technology or equivalent. Experience of at least five years in a similar post (conception and organization of exhibitions and/or festivals). Good working knowledge of emerging art and optimal contacts in Spain and abroad. Proven experience in the development of interdisciplinary projects, as well as of installations within the realm of interaction and telecommunications. Other skills considered are experience in the conception of radio, television and Internet projects, as well as in the organisation of laboratories and workshops for advanced production and training in any of the following specialities: robotics, artificial intelligence, experimental television, audiovisual image and experimental video, animation, virtual reality, game art or similar disciplines. Capacity to liaise between the Centre and artists and institutions in Spain and abroad. Demonstrated capacity to formulate concepts and ideas in writing. Given that English w ill be the working language, mastery of it will be required. However, knowledge of Spanish will also be positively valued. In the event of lacking necessary fluency, the applicant shall commit him/herself to learning it. Working knowledge of any other language will also be considered.

For an application pack and more information please contact: [email protected]

Closing date: March 1st, 2007

Job offer at Studio XX: Programming Coordinator

Application Deadline: 1 March, 2007
Position Start Date: 19 March, 2007
Send in your c.v. and cover letter to: administration -at- studioxx.org

Description of the position: Programming Coordinator

The person who takes on this position is responsible of programming, promotion, and the supervision and organisation of regular public events at Studio XX, including the salons Femmes Br@nchées, the Journées de la culture and Art's Birthday. The coordinator supervises both the regular programming committee and the special events committee (except for the HTMlles Festival). She is also responsible, alongside the technical director, of the selection committee of artist residencies and coproductions. With the collaboration of the general director, she is in charge of grant writing with regards to the programming of regular and special events. The person who takes on this position agrees to work 21 hours weekly.

More specifically:

The ideal person has a good knowledge of current artistic trends in network arts, emerging media and sound art. She should also be very aware of questions related to gender studies, as well as feminist and activist practices. In order to be selected for the position, it is necessary to have organisational, technical and administrative skills, but mostly, abilities to develop a marketing strategy and visibility of our activities to a larger public.

Description of tasks
1- Coordinating Public Events and Collaborations
The programming coordinator must: Coordinate the event logistics (equipment rental, venue booking) and their production schedules by collaborating with the team, especially the technician; Create links between the artists and the speakers, the curators, team members (technician, translators, webmaster) and the volunteers in the organisation of events; Create and work with a programming committee; Coordinate the promotion of events as well as communications; See with the team members that events are documented; Coordinate the production of critical articles and promotional material, and the development of audiences.

2- Programming
The programming coordinator must: Supervise the programming committee; Articulate, with the help of the members of the team and of the Board of directors, the main aspects of the annual program which should follow the priorities of Studio XX; Develop an event calendar; Contact artists and speakers for Femmes Br@nchées.

3- Artist Residencies
The programming coordinator must: Come up with the pluriannual theme; Select the artist residencies with the programming committee; Facilitate links between the artists, the technician, the workshop coordinator and the rest of the team.

4- Public Image of the Studio and Website
The programming coordinator is responsible for the online content related to Studio XX's programming. She is in charge of updating the information on recent events and the archiving of past events (artist biographies, description of projects and of salons Femmes br@nchées); The programming coordinator should underline the critical interests of the Studio via her participation in the committee of the online journal, .dpi

5- Grant Writing
The programming coordinator is responsible for writing grants for regular annual activities. This responsibility is fulfilled in conjunction with the general director.

STUDIO XX
Centre d'artiste féministe engagé dans l'exploration, la création et la critique en art technologique.
Feminist art centre for technological exploration, creation, and critique.
338 Terrasse Saint-Denis . Montréal . Québec. H2X 1E8
tél: 514-845-7934 . fax: 514.845.4941 . www.studioxx.org . [email protected]