Kilkenny County Council Arts Office -Emerging Curator in Residence

Kilkenny County Council Arts Office invites applications from Emerging Curators for their 2020 emerging curators programme. The programme will enable curators to gain direct experience in the field of curating exhibitions for the Arts Office Gallery. This wonderful opportunity will also support the successful candidate in many ways beyond the financial value of the project.

The successful applicant will:

- gain experience and professional development in curating three exhibitions
- gain experience and professional development in managing exhibitions
- develop and expand their artistic and creative networks
- develop and expand their relationships in the culture sector and
- participate in the artistic programming within the city and county of Kilkenny enhancing the cultural offer in Kilkenny to local and national audiences alike
- be mentored by Eamon Maxwell (see biog below*)

All of the above will support the development and enhancement of their career. The successful candidate will also benefit from working alongside a long established Arts Department within Kilkenny County Council. They will benefit from the years of experience and expertise of the Arts Officer and her staff

Quote from Leah Corbett, our 2019 Curator in residence
'The Emerging Curator in Residence Programme was a valuable opportunity which gave me the freedom to explore and develop my own curatorial identity. Throughout the residency I was given a platform to realise my ideas in a supportive environment with the help of the Arts Office team. The varied role allowed me to gain experience in all areas of curation and exhibition management and the skills I learned continue to benefit my practice'

Who we are looking for / Personal specification

The successful applicant should:
- Have a degree in fine art or an associated field
- Knowledge and experience of contemporary visual arts in Ireland and beyond
- Existing artist's networks OR knowledge and contacts with emerging visual artists across the county and country
- An understanding of the issues facing visual artists in developing their practice
- Have demonstrable curatorial experience (albeit limited experience)
- have proven project management skills (albeit limited experience)
- Proven ability to build relationships with artists, communities and existing and new audiences
- Knowledge of the artistic vitality of Kilkenny

How to apply:
- Maximum 500-word statement / letter of interest outlining your curatorial rationale / approach and how your programming will
o benefit Kilkenny artists
o benefit Kilkenny and its creative sector and wider community
o engage with and build audiences
- 250 words statement outlining
o how the opportunity would benefit their own career path as an emerging curator
- Up to date CV Max two pages, please include details / images of previously curated exhibitions
- Two professional referees

For full brief/description of residency see Emerging Curator in Residence Brief.doc (size 153.6 KB)

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 9am on Monday 20th January 2020

- Applications will be accepted by post
- or email PDF format only. The file must not exceed 15MB
- Please send completed application to: deirdre.southey@kilkennycoco.ie
- You will receive an acknowledgement of receipt for your application. If you do not receive this e mail within 24 hours of the deadline, please contact the Arts Office on 056 779 4547

Eamonn Maxwell is a Curator and Cultural Consultant. Since graduating from Camberwell College of Arts, (UK) Maxwell has been involved in over 60 exhibitions in UK, Ireland and Europe, including curating the Irish Pavilion at 2011 Venice Biennale.
Whilst Curator at University of the Arts, London Eamonn founded the Emerging Artists Programme which helped to give many artists important exposure and he continues to mentor emerging artists in Ireland and internationally.
From 2009 - 2016 he was Director of Lismore Castle Arts, Waterford, one of the most important contemporary art organisations in Ireland, where he curated, exhibited and commissioned work by more than 150 artists. Aside from working with international artists, he has also advised some of the leading contemporary art collectors and has expertise as a board member for not-for-profit organisations