Blue Sky Opens Call for 2019 Curatorial Prize Submissions
Shikeith, Nobody Knows My Name, 2017, from the 2018 Curatorial Prize exhibition Ultra Vivid Dreaming curated by Ashley Stull Meyers
Call opens: August 9, 2018
Call closes: September 17, 2018
Decisions announced: November 2, 2018
Exhibition held: May 2–June 2, 2019
This second annual Curatorial Prize provides an opportunity for curators to present an exhibition of photo-based work, along with related programming and publications at one of the nation’s most highly regarded photography galleries. The program seeks exhibitions of 2–5 artists who use photography in traditional or experimental ways. Video/film are welcome. Our inaugural Curatorial Prize winner was curator Ashley Stull Meyer’s exhibition Ultra Vivid Dreaming.
Blue Sky Gallery’s ambitious exhibition schedule does naturally limit the extent of work possible (we only have 1–2 days for installation and 1 day for de-install). Within those parameters, we commonly hang shows of approximately 20–30 images, generally either framed or hung with magnets. If your work is installation based, or is otherwise rigorous to install, please be sure to directly address a manageable approach to installation/de-installation within our fast-paced schedule.
Scope of Work
Solicit and select 2–5 artists for a May 2019 exhibition, working with Blue Sky’s Exhibition Manager to confirm artists, contracts, etc.
In collaboration with Blue Sky staff, oversee exhibition planning, shipping of work, and coordination of artists’ schedules for events. Artist schedules and events will be finalized 3 months in advance of the exhibition.
Write about the artists’ work/your vision for various venues including: an exhibition catalog, press release, and the Blue Sky blog.
Present a talk about the artists’ work/your vision at Blue Sky to the public during the opening weekend of the exhibition (or at another mutually agreed upon time, decided 3 months in advance of the exhibition). Attend the opening night if possible.
Align with the mission and goals of Blue Sky Gallery while bringing a unique curatorial vision to the Gallery.
Prepare exhibition models and sketches as required.
Qualifications
Awareness of contemporary photography issues, practices, and artists.
Ability to work responsively and collaboratively with Blue Sky staff.
Ability to organize and communicate messages effectively through writing and public presentation to different audiences.
Ability to manage an exhibition, stay within budget, and meet deadlines.
Financial Considerations
Curatorial stipend is $750. An additional total pool of up to $4,000 for artist stipends, travel/housing (artists and curator), honorariums for writing, printing, and shipping will be available. Blue Sky will work with selected curator to establish budget for programs and publications and all budget allocations are subject to Blue Sky approval, in keeping with our normal fees for other exhibitions. Blue Sky can provide black frames for photography at no cost if the photos are of a standard size. Other alternatives to framing include magnets or mirror clips.
Submission Requirements
Proposals are due to Blue Sky Gallery by September 17, 2018. Please submit to exhibitions@blueskygallery.org, and be sure to put the write “CURATORIAL PRIZE” in the subject line. Applications will be reviewed and a curator chosen by Blue Sky’s staff and Exhibition Committee. Applications should include the following documents merged into a single PDF:
Curatorial statement and vision for the Curatorial Prize, including estimated costs.
Professional resume/CV, including a link to your website if applicable.
Examples of past curatorial work, including images and critical reviews.
Samples of work the artists you have chosen for your exhibition (and/or links to the websites of the work selected).
A writing sample of previous curatorial statements or published writing.
Note: The Exhibition Committee reviews proposals projected onto a screen; keep this in mind when formatting examples of past curatorial work. The preferred format for viewing images in a PDF is with one image per page on a black background with no borders. All images should be free of watermarks. Please be sure that the total size of your emailed file does not exceed 25MB. For videos, please include a link to view video(s) online in your PDF.
For questions, please email exhibitions@blueskygallery.org. Please note that Blue Sky is unable to give feedback on your application or the application process.
For more information about Blue Sky Gallery, please see www.blueskygallery.org.