05 May 2017

kunstraum lakeside - Call for Curator

The kunstraum lakeside is a place for the production and presentation of international modern art with the aim of provoking critical discussion about aspects of the economy relevant to society. Based at the Lakeside Science & Technology Park close to the University of Klagenfurt, the art space operates at the interface between economic, scientific and cultural research, practical input and forms of discourse. In October 2005, the art space was opened between the management of Lakeside Park and curators Christian Kravagna and Hedwig Saxenhuber, in 2015 Hemma Schmutz followed as a curator. The permanent installation of the art space has reinforced the public nature of the art programme and extended and enriched the region’s art institutes with a new and unique location which promotes critical art theory discussion at an international level.

The aim of the art space is to convey and confront divergent perspectives on shared social relations. Through its various exhibitions, public art projects, talks, discussions, film evenings, publications and cooperation with individual institutes at the university, the art space aims to trigger an interdisciplinary debate around the issues of the day and generate suitably comprehensive publicity. Implementing such a programme should do justice to the close-knit ties in spatial terms which exist between the worlds of finance, university life and the artistic environment.

Open call
The art space was designed by the artist Josef Dabernig as an exhibition, project and events area and sees itself as a place for open communication and discussion. The curator should devise in acceptance of this requirement a programme for the art space which focuses on the links between science, technology and art and highlights the crossovers between contemporary art production, scientific methods and technological innovation. The curator is required to stick to a budget but is otherwise free to organise programmes as he/she feels is appropriate. We are looking for curators with experience in the field of interdisciplinary art and art in connection with technological and scientific fields and in particular would like to hear from those who work in a cross and interdisciplinary way in this respect.

Thanks to its location at a science and technology park close to the university, the art space offers the advantage of having direct contact with both university and business institutions and therefore being able to operate as a link between these fields. In the setting of the technology park and with the park’s support, theme-based projects can be implemented which adopt a critical, reflective and perceptive approach to setting of the Lakeside Park and beyond. The curators and artists can collaborate with individuals from the worlds of cultural science, research and natural science to investigate and reflect the influence of modern technology and forms of communication on society, economics and the individual.

Tasks for the kunstraum lakeside
Responsible development of a diverse and international-level art programme for the kunstraum lakeside based on interdisciplinary art and taking account of the budgetary specifications in cooperation with the curatorial assistance.

- Design, planning and implementation of programmes based on annual budgets
- Implementing promotions, sponsorship or other financial support schemes and participation in competitions
- Press and PR work and representation of the kunstraum lakeside to the outside world
- Communicating and maintaining contact with artists and creative artists, interested parties from the surrounding area and partners as well as focusing on the location and its audience and attracting new target groups
- Designing, planning and compiling publications and communication and documentary material etc.

Requirements
- Comprehensive experience in curating exhibitions or devising and implementing challenging cultural projects
- Familiarity with contemporary discourse in art
- Network of international contacts
- Degree and/or appropriate professional experience or comparable expertise
- Languages: German and English
- Ability to communicate and write at a high level
- Administrative and organisational abilities

Framework conditions
The curator will be appointed based on a service agreement (Werkvertrag).

A curatorial assistance works with the curator and takes care in consultation with him | her of coordination, communication and networking for 20 hours per week. The team at the Lakeside Park and external parties may also be approached in the event of special needs or requirements.

The kunstraum lakeside can open to the public for max. 15 hours per week.

Duration
Curatorship at the kunstraum lakeside for a period of 3 years with the possibility of extension.
Start of activity: directly after decision has been made
Start of programme implementation: January 2018

Procedures
Anyone interested in applying should send their documents to us by 18 June 2017 (24:00) by email to office@lakeside-kunstraum.at

- CV, emphasising particular qualities
- Description (and documentation material, where available) relating to at one and max. three projects which you have completed and consider to be of exceptional standard. Please describe what you think was so special about them and what led you to mention them here
- Short description of your motivation and your ideas for the kunstraum lakeside programme (max. 1 page)

Additional material can be sent to us by post at the kunstraum lakeside, Lakeside B02, 9020 Klagenfurt.

Jury
The assessment will be made by a jury appointed by the kunstraum lakeside.

Timescale
Submission deadline: 18 June 2017, 24.00
Possible queries by the end of June 2017
Jury meeting: July 2017
Conception for 2018: start of August 2017
kunstraum lakeside: January 2018 to December 2020

If you have any further questions, please contact Nora Leitgeb, coordinator at the kunstraum lakeside, at office@lakeside-kunstraum.at or on 0043 463 228822-20

Applications will handled in confidence.