New Zealand curators sought for Korea and China tour

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Monday, 16 May 2011

New Zealand curators sought for Korea and China tour

China and Korea are both at the cutting edge of the global contemporary art scene.

As the Chinese economy booms, so do Chinese art and art sales – and in the past few years foreign galleries have begun to seriously court China’s art vanguard, with curators from Europe, the US and Asia flocking to set up operations or seek to export exhibitions. South Korean artists have been prolific too, exhibiting both at home and overseas – the 2009 “Moon Generation” exhibition in London attracted a quarter of a million visitors.

After a successful inaugural year, the partnership between Creative New Zealand and Asia New Zealand Foundation has been renewed to support three emerging to mid-career curators to visit Korea and China between 1-24 October 2011, with an optional add-on to the Yokohama Triennale in Japan.

The curators will visit centres in China and Korea, including Seoul, Shanghai and Beijing. Asia New Zealand Foundation will arrange formal programmes in each city in collaboration with contracted arts experts. The programme will include meetings, ground transport and translation services, and the participating curators will have the opportunity to discuss the itinerary prior to the tour.

“This is a brilliant opportunity for a complete immersion in the art scene of each country on the tour. The curators will be able to visit leading museums, galleries and artist spaces, build their professional networks and explore possible future collaborations and artist exchanges,” says Asia New Zealand Foundation culture director Jennifer King. The city of Shanghai alone boasts several museums devoted to modern art.

The curators may have the opportunity to give a short presentation on their institution and its perspective on contemporary New Zealand/Pacific art at one or more arts institutions during the trip.

They will also be expected to disseminate and share information on their return to New Zealand. Creative New Zealand and Asia New Zealand Foundation plan to organise a public panel discussion with the successful candidates on their return.

Purpose of the tour

This trip is designed to assist curators to:

• Develop and share market knowledge of the contemporary art of Korea and China and its relevance for a New Zealand audience
• Explore opportunities for NZ artists to have work exhibited in China and Korea
• Explore opportunities for exchange and/or joint exhibitions/projects
• Develop their own curatorial practice

Funding

• We will offer (up to a total value of NZ$12,000 per curator):
• Return economy class airfares
• Professional guides
• Accommodation
• Per diems
• Ground transport

Selected curators may need to contribute an additional amount to cover all costs.

Curators may add on an optional visit to the Yokohama Triennale in Japan at the end of the three week tour to Korea and China. Any additional costs beyond the allotted grant will need to be met by the curator.

Eligibility

To apply, curators must:

• Show a desire to work with artists from Asia, learn about Asian art and explore opportunities for collaboration
• Have support from their gallery director, or, in the case of independent curators, an expression of interest from a gallery in a specific project area
• Demonstrate a track record in terms of knowledge of New Zealand arts and curatorial practice
• Demonstrate how the trip will impact on the New Zealand arts Community and art form
• Be prepared to share information from the tour on their return to New Zealand
• Be prepared to make a short presentation with images on their institution/curatorial practice/perspectives on contemporary New Zealand art
• Be available to complete the tour and have no date restrictions (leaving New Zealand on around September 30 and returning on around October 24, unless they continue on to Yokohama).
• Have a current passport

How to apply

To apply, you need to complete the application form below and attach all relevant documentation and materials.

Return your application and attached materials by 12pm on Tuesday June 7 to:

Monica Turner
Asia New Zealand Foundation,
Level 16, 141 The Terrace,
PO Box 10144, Wellington 6143
Phone 04-470 8708
Email: mturner@asianz.org.nz

ENDS

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