As the first iteration of our Curatorial Seminar program to take place in Chicago, the 2022 Curatorial Seminar brought together six early-career curators based in Chicago as part of ICI's growing slate of initiatives in the Mississippi River Basin Region. In this eight-session professional development program, emerging curators worked closely with expert faculty to develop the tools necessary to establish a robust first-person approach to curating, support overlooked artists, and engage with local art communities. They engaged in seminars led by ICI staff, guest curators, artists, and other art professionals; shared readings and in-person site visits; and development of a project or exhibition proposal with feedback from the group and faculty members. The cohort was invited to share work and resources, forming a supportive network based on shared values, reducing the need for institutional validation, and enabling diverse perspectives and curatorial models. Sessions included an on-site discussion of institutionality at 6018 North, led by Tricia Van Eck, and a wide-ranging talk and conversation with multidisciplinary artist, curator, and educator Arnold J. Kemp.
About the Curatorial Seminar
ICI's Curatorial Seminar is a free professional development program that supports emerging curators to advance their practice. It centers a first-person approach to curating, and focuses on strengthening curatorial practices that support overlooked artists and engage with local art communities while working outside of a large institution. This unique program offers opportunities to gain knowledge and resources through ICI’s network, share ideas, and think through developments in one's own curatorial practice. Through this process, the Seminar seeks to build an affirming network of peers who connect around common values, and support the sharing of knowledge among early-career curators.
The Curatorial Seminar, Chicago, is made possible by a grant from the Joyce Foundation, and with the support of ICI's Board of Trustees.
