"Springbrett" - OPEN CALL for young curators
January 23, 2024
Kistefos invites young curators, based in Norway, to develop and realise an exhibition in collaboration with the museum's curatorial team. The exhibition will be shown in Nybruket Gallery in the 2024 season.
Curators aged 21-35 are invited to submit an exhibition proposal taking it’s starting point in works from Christen Sveaas Art Foundation. The successful curator(s) will be selected by a jury consisting of highly regarded art professionals. The exhibitions will form the basis for an exciting and dynamic education programme that aims to attract a young museum audience. The goal of “Springbrett” is to raise the profile of young curators, artists and art educators in the Norwegian art field. The project is supported by funding from Sparebankstiftelsen DNB.
Kistefos's work spans Norwegian industrial history, cultural heritage and contemporary art, and has been widely acclaimed both nationally and internationally. This season's program includes British artist Hurvin Anderson's 'Salon Paintings’, as well as a new addition to the sculpture landscape by Tatiana Trouvé. Common to this season’s projects are the themes of “community, belonging and sense of place”; the jury invites the curators to be inspired by these themes in their approach and development of the exhibition concept.
"Springbrett" 2024
Important Information
- Exhibition venue: Nybruket Gallery, Kistefos
- Research and planning period – April/May 2024
- Exhibition Opening Date: 14th June 2024
- We welcome proposals from curatorial-collectives
- The inclusion of works from outside the collection is also permitted providing the focus is offering a platform for young or emerging artists
Themes:
"Community, belonging and sense of place"
Objective:
- Support and promote new talent within the curatorial field
- Create unique and meaningful art experiences by and for young people in an internationally recognised arena
- Develop individual skills, professional networks and interdisciplinary expertise
- Create a dynamic outreach program to engage a young museum audience
What we offer:
- Stipend: The curator will receive a stipend for their work to the value of NOK 75 000
- Masterclass: Professional development through dedicated masterclass sessions
- Skills development: Professional experience at an internationally recognised museum of contemporary art
- Experience collection curating: Valuable experience of curating from an art collection of international caliber.
- Travel grant: Financial support for travelling expenses
- Exhibition budget to cover: Transport, production, installation, printed materials and wall texts. The total budget will need to be agreed in dialogue with Kistefos
- Production and technical assistance: Technical assistance to realise the project
- New international networks
The jury:
The jury is comprised of key figures from the Norwegian and international art and culture scene:
Dr Isabella Maidment - Curator, ARoS Aarhus Art Museum
William Flatmo - Director, Christen Sveaas' Art Collection
Ruben Steinum - Director, Office for Contemporary Art Norway
Apachiya Wanthiang - Artist
How to apply:
This OPEN CALL is open to Norwegian curators or curators living in Norway.
Submit your exhibition proposal, with a starting point in works from the Christen Sveaas Art Foundation, based on the themes "Community, belonging and sense of place" to post@kistefosmuseum.com.
The jury is looking for a curator who demonstrates originality and insight in their approach to the project, as well as demonstrating the ability to think outside the established framework of curatorial practice. Projects directed towards younger audiences, through concept, presentation and mediation program, will be prioritized.
Christen Sveaas Art Foundation
Christen Sveaas Art Foundation was established by Christen Sveaas in October 2019. The goal of the foundation is to manage, protect, convey and lend artworks from the foundation’s collection to promote Norwegian and international art from the last 100 years.
Around 800 artworks were donated to the foundation from Christen Sveaas’ private collection on 24 May 2020. The donation was marked by the exhibition Come Out! at the Kistefos Museum.
Increasing access to the collection for a wider audience is an important goal for the foundation. To achieve this, the foundation collaborates closely with Norwegian and international institutions on temporary exhibitions, long-term loans and collection displays. Reproducing the works in exhibition catalogues and creating new text material are important parts of this work and help keep the works alive and relevant for new generations.
About Kistefos
Kistefos is a unique cultural destination located in the beautiful surroundings of Jevnaker. The museum is established on the former factory site of AS Kistefos Træsliberi and consists of an impressive sculpture park with 52 sculptures, two art galleries with changing exhibitions, as well as an industrial museum.
Since the 1990s, Kistefos has been working purposefully to promote Norwegian and international contemporary art. The museum operates at the intersection of Norwegian industrial history, cultural heritage, and art and has received high recognition both domestically and internationally. Kistefos is frequently visited by renowned art institutions from around the world.
In parallel, Kistefos has developed a sculpture park that is today considered among the most important in Europe. The focus on Norwegian and international contemporary art is also reflected in the sculpture park. The opening of the new building, The Twist, in 2019 has further anchored the museum's position as a world-class art and cultural destination.
