European course for contemporary art curators

The Province of Milan, the Fondazione Antonio Ratti, and the Delegation of the European Commission in Milan promote the second edition of the European Course of Contemporary Art Curators (CECAC). The course gives the opportunity to young curators of the European Union, to work side by side with an internationally renowned Visiting Professor, approaching a critical analysis of theoretical and practical aspects of curatorship and of the contemporary art scene. In the European Year of Intercultural Diaogue, the course also represents an occasion to establish new connections between young operators from different European countries.

Objectives

The course has a seminar structure, and every year contents are planned according to the Visiting Professor’s guidelines. The course lasts ten days, with an intensive schedule of theoretical and practical lessons held by the Visiting Professor, presentations of the participants’ projects and experiences, visits to exhibition spaces and institutions of the territory. The students also spend one day with a Visiting Artist invited by the Visiting Professor, whose work is related to the course issues. Classes are full time, attendance is compulsory. A catalogue/ essay collection with texts by all the participants will be published following the course.

Course structure

The course aims to:

- promote reflections questioning the role of the curator, and research projects on contemporary art.

- set up a working platform that may enable participants to develop further curatorial projects.

- offer young curators the opportunity to work side by side with one of the leading experts of the European contemporary art scene.

- support contacts between young operators of the European contemporary art scene.

- encourage international circulation of cultural projects and competences.

- promote the publication of a catalogue documenting the course activities of each year.

The course has a seminar structure, and every year contents are planned according to the Visiting Professor’s guidelines. The course lasts ten days, with an intensive schedule of theoretical and practical lessons held by the Visiting Professor, presentations of the participants’ projects and experiences, visits to exhibition spaces and institutions of the territory. The students also spend one day with a Visiting Artist invited by the Visiting Professor, whose work is related to the course issues. Classes are full time, attendance is compulsory. A catalogue/ essay collection with texts by all the participants will be published following the course.

Visiting professor

Charles Esche is the Visiting Professor of the second edition of the course. The programme will address the following issues: how art museums and other art institutions can function within a city and with particular communities; how creative communities in diverse parts of the world can connect, learn from each other and break down nationalistic or regional barriers to a global, but differentiated, cultural sphere; the objectives and purposes of a city art museum in the twenty-first century, in a society where global cultural exchanges, local communities, public identities, singularity and the public sphere become the main questions.

Charles Esche currently directs the Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven and is co-Editor of Afterall Journal and Afterall Books. Among his recent research and curatorial activity: curator, Istanbul Biennial 2005 (with Vasif Kortun, Esra Sarigedik Öktem, November Paynter); director, Rooseum Center for Contemporary Art, Malmö, Sweden (2000-2004); co-curator, Gwangju Biennale 2002 (with Hou Hanru and Song Wan Kyung); curatorial adviser, Foundation for Art and Creative Technology, Liverpool, England (1998-2001). Among other exhibition projects: Nedko Solakov, Rooseum, Casino Luxembourg, OK Centrum, Graz, 2003-2004; Surasi Kusolwong, Rooseum, 2004; Mark Lewis, The Near and Far Real, Rooseum and Sala Rekalde, Bilbao, 2003; Creeping Revolution including Bas Jan Ader, Sture Johannesson, Silke Otto-Knapp, Wilhelm Sasnal and Lily van der Stocker, Rooseum, 2003; Joao Penalva and Matts Leiderstam, Rooseum, 2002; Superflex, Tools, Rooseum and Museum für zeitgenössiche Kunst, Leipzig, 2002; Baltic Babel, independent artist groups and alternative spaces around the Baltic Sea, Rooseum, 2002; Michel Auder, Solo, Rooseum, 2001; Vi- Intentional Communities including Pavel Althamer, Johanna Billing, Oyvind Fahlström, Annika Eriksson, Gordon Matta-Clark, Mike Nelson and Arturas Raila, Rooseum and CAC, Vilnius, 2001.

How to apply

The call is open to citizens of the European Union over 18. No study certificate is required. English essential. The course committee will select the partecipants which will be contacted via email by 1 July 2008.

The applications must be posted by 16 June 2008 to the following address:

European Course for Contemporary Art

Curators (CECAC), Ufficio Arti Visive – Settore Beni Culturali

Arti Visive e Musei - Provincia di Milano, Via Vittorio

Veneto 2, 20124 Milan, Italy.

The applications must include:

- curriculum vitae (with name, surname, nationality, age, postal address, email, phone) illustrating studies and work experiences

- a copy of the most relevant published texts and reports of realized curatorial projects

- a motivational statement of the applicant illustrating his/her research interests and explaining the reason for his/her application (max 4.000 characters)

The material sent for the application will not be returned.

Attendance and accommodation during the course are free.

According to art. 13 del d.l. 196/03, personal data of the applicants will be exclusively used for the course selection procedures and will not be communicated to others.

The application terms are also on-line on:

www.fondazioneratti.org

www.provincia.milano.it/cultura