SECTION 1 – PROGRAM OVERVIEW & DESCRIPTION
Name of program:
2025 / 2026 Curatorial Fellowship
Program Overview:
The Evanston Art Center (EAC), an artistic hub on the North Shore for over ninety years, believes that some communities are all too rarely represented in the curatorial world. To address this situation, the EAC is building a recurrent, project-based position for a curator who will work with the EAC to develop an exhibition of their choosing. The EAC is specifically seeking a Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color (BIPOC) curator with ties to communities of color in Evanston and the Chicago Metro area to create an exhibition, along with related materials. The curator will choose the subject, theme, and content of the exhibition with the EAC acting as a facilitator. The EAC intends that such an exhibit will both build new ties to historically underrepresented groups as well as introduce Evanston and the greater Chicago area to new curatorial and artistic perspectives.
Supporting Evanston Art Center’s Mission and Vision:
This program serves as an extension of the Evanston Art Center’s non-profit mission to foster the appreciation and expression of the arts among diverse audiences. It also fulfills its vision to be widely recognized as a dynamic art education and exhibition center that encourages freedom of artistic expression and enriches cultural life. The EAC strives to be a hub of artistic endeavors, a passionate advocate for the arts, and a valuable partner for arts initiatives in the Evanston community.
Application Deadline: December 15, 2024 at Midnight
Proposals should be sent by December 15, 2024, at Midnight to: Emma Rose Gudewicz, Director of Development & Exhibitions: [email protected]
SECTION 2 – SELECTION PROCESS OVERVIEW & EXHIBITION POLICIES
Jury Process:
The winning proposal will be selected by the Exhibition Committee of the EAC, a group comprised of board members and external colleagues and allies in the cultural sector including artists, curators, art historians, collectors, and gallerists among others. A personal interview with some of the EAC Exhibition Committee members, President & CEO, and staff will take place for selected finalists.
Evaluation Criteria:
- The Curator Identifies as BIPOC
- The Curator has a Strong Connection to Evanston and networks within BIPOC Communities in Evanston
- The Project Plans to Connect the EAC to Underserved Communities in Evanston and the Chicago metro area and Specifically BIPOC Communities
- The Project is Articulated Coherently and Clearly
- The Project Presents New Perspectives
- The Curator has Interesting and Recent Experience Presenting Contemporary Art
- Personal Interview
- Communication Skills
- Resume and references
Application Process:
All interested curators must submit the following materials for approval by EAC staff and its Exhibition Committee:
- Exhibition Narrative (limit of 500 words):
- What is your artistic vision / proposed plan for a curated exhibition at the Evanston Art Center?
- The exhibition will be shown in the Main Gallery on the first floor of the Art Center at the end of the curator’s fellowship for a period of roughly 4 weeks.
- Public Programs (limit of 300 words):
- How do you anticipate or wish to plan public programs or engage the Evanston Art Center community in association with your curated exhibition? Please explain. The EAC is eager to support the creation of up to 4 public programs and welcomes the curator’s ideas, introductions and networking assistance.
- 5-10 visual samples of curatorial work
- All visual samples must be clearly labeled.
- May include examples of proposal
- Proposed needs for your exhibition
- Resume / Curriculum Vitae
- 3 References
Application Deadline: December 15, 2023 at Midnight
Proposals should be sent by December 15, 2023 at Midnight to: Emma Rose Gudewicz, Director of Development & Exhibition Manager: [email protected] and Sarah Fagerman, Administrative & Exhibition Assistant: [email protected]
- EAC will notify selected finalists the week of January 22, 2024.
- Finalists will be interviewed by the week of January 29, 2024.
- Curatorial Fellow will be selected by March 1, 2024.
Expectations and Limitations for Use of the Space:
- Exhibition programming, lectures and performances are welcomed and encouraged along with other forms of public programming during the run of the exhibition. The curator may enact 2-3 programs during the exhibition, with 1 additional program taking place prior to the exhibition.
- The curator is encouraged to propose workshops and/or educational offerings that can be enacted by the EAC staff.
- The curator should plan to spend a reasonable amount of time at the EAC to ensure service to the whole community.
- All sculptures exhibited must be able to be moved by two people. As the Evanston Art Center hosts many rentals in the gallery space, for the safety of the artwork, sculptures that require more than two people to move must be placed on wheels or a platform.
- Installation artists are required to meet with EAC staff at least 2 weeks before installation of the work to discuss installation needs.
- All material presented must be suitable for all age groups.
Key Personnel:
- Logistics:
- Emma Rose Gudewicz, Evanston Art Center, Director of Development & Exhibition Manager
- Sarah Fagerman, Evanston Art Center, Administrative & Exhibition Assistant
- Oversight:
- Paula Danoff, Evanston Art Center, Chief Executive Officer
- Exhibition Committee Members
Exhibition Dates:
July 12 - August 10, 2025
Floorplans & Photos:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/yxv4o6kbyt1x0f5/AAAhM56D7d1PkiqTmFl9BmYTa?dl=0
SECTION 3 – CONTRACT
Curatorial Fee: $2,500 payable in full to the curator over 4 installments after quarterly updates to the Exhibition Committee:
- 1st Installment: July 15, 2024
- 2nd Installment: October 15, 2024
- 3rd Installment: January 15, 2025
- 4th Installment: April 15, 2025
Exhibition Expenses: not more than $2,500 payable as reimbursements to the curator for documented expenses.
Curatorial Fellow will perform the following duties related to the development and implementation of this program:
- Write thematic copy to be used in external marketing and in the exhibition.
- Assist with the planning of exhibition-related programming along with participating artists and Evanston Art Center Staff. Program details and marketing materials must be shared with EAC staff 2 months in advance of the exhibition opening.
- Propose and assist in executing events or engagements with the community.
- Provide itemized budget for reimbursement.
- Provide quarterly updates to the Exhibition Committee.
- Meet monthly with EAC staff to discuss exhibition plans. During months where the fellow is required to present a quarterly update to the Exhibition Committee, this update will serve as the meeting for that month.
The Evanston Art Center exhibitions and education staff will:
- Handle and oversee onsite logistics related to installation, de-installation, exhibition signage and lighting.
- Provide onsite assistance as necessary to curator and artists with relation to facility requests and scheduling.
- Support and participate in the curator’s plans for public programming / education.
- In collaboration with the curator, coordinate the design and printing of all exhibition marketing materials including press releases, postcards, and brochures.
Application Deadline: December 15, 2024 at Midnight
Proposals should be sent by December 15, 2024, at Midnight to: Emma Rose Gudewicz, Director of Development & Exhibition Manager: [email protected]
Learn about our past and current Curatorial Fellows: