15 May 2014

OPEN CALL: Curatorial Residency Program | Rio de Janeiro

Largo das Artes is pleased to invite curators for an intensive program lasting eight weeks designed for emerging professionals wishing to gain a comprehensive insight and network in Rio de Janeiro, explore contemporary curatorial issues and practices, expand their own research project and to develop an exhibition project while receiving professional feedback and support.

During the program, four selected resident curators participate in weekly activities such as talks, studio visits, exhibition tours and workshops with experts and practitioners. A range of curatorial contexts and thinking are explored on the Residency Programme, which culminates with an exhibition to be collaboratively developed by the curators in residence.

For this final exhibition, we would like to invite curators to send a proposal with some ideas, personal notes and interpretations taking the theme 'To Rebel!' as a starting point, along with the suggestion of artists and works that fit into the concept and that have been previously contacted and whose participation in the final show would be feasible.

More on the theme: Whether it is romantic, political or aesthetic; the reaction to the current system of acceleration of time, responsible for shaping a world marked by extreme instability in all possible levels of public and private life, happens not exclusively because of the fights for individual or collective rights, of gender or race, but mostly due to the relativity of dogmas sedimented in the past over the process of constant historical revision. Once we identify that the future is what is critical and necessary for the reconstruction of the present, we are searching for the genuine essence of the human condition: to rebel! Every creation carries the responsibility of destruction of what came before.

The selected curators will then discuss during the first month of the residency their proposals and a collaborative project will be developed for the final exhibition. The idea is to add to the initial suggested works and artists some local practitioners that will be selected in an intense agenda of studio visits.

Along the development of the exhibition project, contemporary subjects related to the curatorial practice will be discussed in talks and workshops.

Please note that working collaboratively is essential to the development of the final show but we also expect curators to be developing their own research projects. The idea is that each participant is involved in their own research and also in the development of a collaborative exhibition.

To support participants in this quest, the program offers them a unique chance to have a concentrated time for research and for writing, to develop project ideas, conduct in-depth investigations and to make connections forging new networks internationally. Participants are also encouraged to propose and run public talks and workshops.

In brief, three main lines are going to be explored during the Residency:
- Development of a collaborative final exhibition project in Largo das Artes gallery
- Immersion in Rio's contemporary art scene, its artists, galleries and institutions, forging networking
- Support and time for curators to develop their own lines of inquiry

Through this curatorial residency programme, Largo das Artes aims to foster interesting dialogues on issues surrounding curating among local and international arts practitioners.

The Curatorial Residency Programme is organised by Largo das Artes and for this first edition we are collaborating with the curators Bernardo José de Souza and Bernardo Mosqueira. Please find biographies in Largo das Artes Residency page on our website, where you can also download the work plan and the application pack with the full description of the proposed theme.

Fee:
EUR 3,000
(EUR 1,000 registration fee to be paid upon acceptance + EUR 2,000 to be paid prior to arrival)
The fee includes the use of office facilities and of the meeting room, production costs of the final show, professional support and workshops. Accommodation can be arranged at an extra cost, please contact us for details. Travel and living expenses are not included.

How to apply:
Applications should be emailed to largodasartes.res@gmail.com with the subject 'Curatorial Residency Application' and the following information in a PDF file:
- A cover letter with name, email, address, phone number and nationality.
- Proposal and notes taking the theme 'To Rebel!' as a starting point along with the suggestion of artworks and artists whose works relate to the proposed theme and whose participation in the final show would be feasible (logistically and financially).
- A statement outlining your motivation, what you expect from the residency and what you hope to achieve (300 word max)
- A statement describing your practice and areas of interest in your work (300 word max)
- A CV

Criteria:
Prospective Curators will be selected by a committee of curators and Largo das Artes team. The selection will be based on the curator's proposal, statement and CV. Largo das Artes will take into consideration originality, quality and conceptual relevance.