‘curator in residence’ – research phase • 13 June – 02 July 2011

Participants: Ben Crothers, Charlotte Bosanquet, Rowan Sexton, Sinead O’Donnell, Lydia Holmes, Yvonne Kennan, Siraj Izhar, Susan Lynch, Tonya McMullan & Colm Clarke.

Thursday, 23 June, 11am – late

In the current contemporary art scene, the role of the curator as selector of art and constructor of meaning is often more in the foreground than the work of the artists. But this statement already implies a critique which presumes that art and artists can speak for themselves. Yet the relationship between artist, art object and audience is continuously changing, challenged by cultural producers, social contexts and engaged publics.

As part of the ‘curator in residence’ project, PS² invited curators to an open and critical forum about their understanding and praxis of curating.

Unlike more traditional formats of a concentrated session, >ABOUT CURATING< will take the form of open conversations, presentations, chance encounters, in between discussions and missed opportunities; a loosely structured continuum, starting in the morning with talks and presentations, either in person or via Skype.

11.45- Colin Darke – Manifesta X bid

The nine curators in residence have put together a list of ‘Questions for curators‘:

-How do you describe your practice?

-Do you consider your practice administrative or creative?

-How do you design your projects and where do your ideas stem from? What is your curatorial strategy?

-Do you have a specific area of research?

-How pivotal is funding to the design of the projects?

-What is the best curated show you have seen recently?

-What techniques do you use to exhibiting outside the white cube and have exposure to other audiences?

-How do you approach the documentation and archive of the shows curated?

-What do you think the future of curation is?

-Theoretical – practical?

-Speculative – operational?

-Conceptual – logistical?

>ABOUT CURATING< is supported by Visual Artist Ireland.