Evanston Art Center Call For Curators

The Evanston Art Center (EAC), an artistic hub on the North Shore for over ninety years, knows that some communities are all too rarely represented in the curatorial world. To address this situation, the EAC has created 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 and 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 build new ties to historically underrepresented groups and introduce Evanston and the greater Chicago area to new curatorial and artistic perspectives.

All proposals will be reviewed, discussed, and judged by the members of the Exhibition Committee of the EAC based on the evaluation criteria listed below. Those who receive the highest reviews will be invited for a personal interview with the EAC Exhibition chair, members of the EAC Exhibition Committee, the President & CEO, and EAC staff. A finalist will be chosen following the interviews, and approved by the Exhibition Committee. Following Committee approval the Fellowship will be officially offered to the selected candidate.

Evaluation Criteria:

o The Curator Identifies as BIPOC

o The Curator has a strong connection to Evanston and networks within BIPOC

communities in Evanston and Chicago

o The project plans to connect the EAC to underserved communities in Evanston

and the Chicago metro area, specifically BIPOC communities

o The project is articulated coherently and clearly

o The project presents new perspectives

o The curator has interesting and recent experience presenting contemporary art

o Personal interview

o Communication skills

o Resume and references

Application Process:

All interested curators must submit the following materials for review by EAC staff and its Exhibition Committee. Please submit materials in One PDF Document:

o Exhibition Narrative (limit of 500 words):

o 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.

o Public Programs (limit of 300 words):

o 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.

o 5-10 visual samples of curatorial work

o All visual samples must be clearly labeled.

o May include examples of proposal

o Proposed needs for your exhibition

o Resume / Curriculum Vitae

o Three References

Application Deadline:

December 15, 2024

EAC will notify selected finalists the week of January 22, 2025.

Finalists will be interviewed by the week of January 29, 2025.

Curatorial Fellow will be selected by March 1, 2025.

Proposals should be sent by December 15, 2024, at Midnight to: Emma Rose Gudewicz, Director of Development & Exhibitions: egudewicz@evanstonartcenter.org

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