Latitudes CuratorLab is an online practice-based curatorial residency for emerging curators in Africa. They are inviting 10 aspiring curators to apply to the 2023 residency programme. These 10 curators will be guided through a facilitated online residency designed to offer practical industry experience and to hone their curatorial skills. The residency will run for 6 weeks from January to April 2023 and participants will plan and conceptualise their own show to be hosted on Latitudes Online, an online marketplace for art from Africa.
As there are few programs in Africa that focus on developing professional practice skills for young curators, Latitudes CuratorLab is extending its reach outside South Africa to include emerging curators from Botswana, Ghana, Nigeria, Namibia, and Mozambique in the second iteration of CuratorLab. No formal training is needed and practical curatorial experience is preferred.
As one of the ten curators selected for the RMB Latitudes CuratorLab, you will be offered the following opportunities:
- Planning and conceptualising your own show, which will be centred on artists from your community, and then hosted on Latitudes Online
- One-on-one mentorship by a highly recognised curator in the industry as well as with Latitudes curators
- A curator profile on Latitudes where participants may promote, exhibit and sell their own selection of works
- Networking and peer-review sessions with curators from the continent
- Curatorial professional practice sessions and handbook
All of the above will be conducted in 7 online sessions hosted weekly.
As part of the residency programme, participants will be offered the following professional practice skills while curating their show:
- Understand the industry on the continent and the diaspora
- Curatorial professional practice; including proposal writing, the conceptualisation of curatorial statements, catalogue and pricing structures and managing relationships
- Marketing yourself as a curator
- Digital curation development
- Key administrative skills
For the programme, Latitudes will provide:
- Free curators profile on Latitudes Online
- Comprehensive marketing campaign and exposure to their database of over 15,000 newsletter readers
- Commission on all artworks sold as well as logistic and administrative support
- R1500 stipend to cover data costs
Applications close on 12 January 2023. Mentorship and show planning will run from 26 January to 5 April. The curated shows will run for 6 weeks starting from 5 April on Latitudes Online.
To apply, fill out the RMB Latitudes CuratorLab 2023 Application form. You need to prepare a project at the end of the form.
