Curatorial Residency
The Visual Arts Center of Richmond (VisArts) extends an invitation for emerging curators to apply for the organization’s new 11-month curatorial fellowship, funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
The curatorial fellow will be invited to spend the year (August 1, 2019-June 30, 2020) developing and installing an exhibition, under the direction of VisArts’ executive director, which will run June 26-July 26, 2020 at the Visual Arts Center of Richmond. The curatorial fellow will also be responsible for curating an exhibition of work by VisArts’ three emerging artists-in-residence. That exhibition will run from May 15-June 14, 2020.
The curatorial fellow will:
- Research and develop both exhibitions, with the support and approval of the executive director and senior-level staff
- Write didactic material
- Write a catalog essay for both exhibitions and coordinating the production of the catalogs with VisArts’ graphic designer
- Give a curatorial talk in conjunction with both exhibitions
- Coordinate with VisArts’ marketing department to ensure both exhibitions are being effectively communicated
VisArts will provide the curatorial fellow with:
- $5,000 honorarium ($1,500 payable August 15, 2019; $1,500 payable January 1, 2020; and $2,000 payable June 1, 2020)
- $1,500 materials budget for the curatorial fellow’s exhibition and $1,500 materials budget ($500 per artist) for the emerging artist-in-residence exhibition
- Professional video documenting the artists/making of the exhibition
- Professional photography of both exhibitions
- Professional headshot of the curatorial fellow
- 10 print copies of each exhibition catalog
- One-year membership to the Visual Arts Center of Richmond
- One-year membership to Association of Art Museum Curators
The curatorial fellow is not required to live in Richmond but must be able to travel to Richmond regularly for meetings and events. A travel stipend is not provided. They cannot be currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program. A travel stipend is not provided, and at this time, we cannot accept international applicants.
About the Visual Arts Center of Richmond
The Visual Arts Center of Richmond has helped adults and children explore their creativity and make art since 1963. Each year, the organization touches the lives of more than 40,000 people through its classes, exhibitions, community outreach programs, camps, workshops and special events.
Founded in Church Hill as the Hand Workshop, the organization moved to the historic Virginia Dairy building at 1812 West Main Street, where it leased space for 17 years before purchasing and later renovating the building. Completed in 2007, the renovation transformed the facility into an inviting and inspiring 30,000-square-foot arts center, which includes the 1,800-square-foot True F. Luck Gallery. The gallery’s focus is on materials and processes of contemporary artists and has featured the work of artists such as Elizabeth King, Hoss Haley, Anna Hepler, Natasha Bowdoin, Nate Young and Sanford Biggers.
Each year, VisArts offers more than 1,000 visual and creative arts classes in clay, wood, fiber, painting, photography, printmaking, glass, metal, drawing, writing, decorative arts and other visual media. More than 150 instructors teach for the organization.
About Richmond, Virginia
Richmond gets regular shout-outs from top travel publications for its riverfront, bike trails and restaurants but the city’s real draw is its arts scene. A world-class art museum, the best public art college in the country, and more than 45 galleries contribute to the vibe. In March of 2020, Richmond will host the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts’ conference, which will bring 8,000+ ceramics artists and educators to the city. VisArts is set to co-host the NCECA Annual exhibition.
Application Process
Please submit a C.V., two writing samples and personal statement (up to 500 words) on VisArts’ SlideRoom account. The application deadline is May 15. Please note we will accept reference letters on SlideRoom through May 17.
Questions?
Questions about VisArts’ emerging artist residency program? Email residencies@visarts.org.