The Art Encounters Foundation (Timișoara) and Cluj Cultural Centre (Cluj-Napoca) have opened the registration for the Autumn School of Curating, an innovative, intensive, international and necessary programme, the only one of its kind in Romania, now in its sixth edition, designed for young curatorial professionals with at least 3 years of experience, from Romania and other Central and Eastern European countries. Participation is free of charge.
Taking place in Cluj and Timișoara, from October 20 – 27, 2024, the Autumn School of Curating is an eight-day seminar led by renowned curator Kate Fowle, which offers emerging curators an international platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange and learning. Over 30 years, Kate Fowle has developed an international practice as a writer, curator, educator and director. She is currently a curatorial director at Hauser & Wirth in New York and a regional collaborator for the Kadist Foundation (Paris/San Francisco). She was the director of MoMA PS1 in New York and an external director at Independent Curators International (ICI). She also worked in China as the first international curator for UCCA in Beijing and co-founded the first MFA program in Curatorial Practice on the West Coast, at California College of the Arts in San Francisco.
The Autumn School of Curating was initiated in 2019 as a collaborative project, a point of connection between two institutions (Cluj Cultural Centre and Art Encounters Foundation), two cities (Cluj and Timișoara) and two events (online and offline). From its very beginning, the School aimed to offer young curators access to an international platform for dialogue, exchange of ideas and learning (from the course leader, guests, but also from each other). Looking back, we are convinced that the School has also followed an insight that we both shared, that the curatorial profession is in constant transition, said Diana Marincu, Artistic Director of Art Encounters and Corina Bucea, Cultural Development Director of the CCC.
The course encourages the exploration of diverse perspectives, helping participants to develop curatorial practices that are inclusive and reflect multiple worldviews. Throughout the program, participants will discover the artistic context that both cities offer, exploring concepts and conversations around the theme “Worlding: What does it mean to be international today?”. During the course days, there will be special guests: national and international speakers, curators and artists.
Kate Fowle will guide the program and structure the events. Guests Cosmin Costinaș, Sofía Hernández Chong Cuy, Ioana Leca, Raimundas Malašauskas and Marie Hélène Pereira will give presentations and organize specific events for trainees. Also, the program includes visits to workshops, independent cultural spaces and public events.
The organizers will cover the accommodation costs for the sessions in Cluj-Napoca and Timișoara from October 20 to 27, 2024, as well as transportation costs from Cluj-Napoca to Timisoara on October 23, 2024. The courses will be conducted in English. Physical presence is required for the entire duration of the course, both in Cluj and Timisoara.
Who can apply and how
Young professionals in the field of curating and/or art criticism, from Romania or abroad, with at least 3 years of experience can apply to the Autumn School of Curating.
Applications can be submitted until August 20, 2024 through this link, and selected applicants will will be announced by August 30, 2024. Evaluation of applications will be conducted by the application leader Kate Fowle, together with representatives from the Clujean Cultural Center and the Art Encounters Foundation.
