Curatorial Fellow

Description

CHARLOTTE STREET SEEKS 2023 CURATORIAL FELLOW

This is a 1-year fellowship with the possibility of renewal for a 2nd year, beginning in the fall of 2023. Time will be divided between developing 3-4 exhibitions for Charlotte Street’s Exhibitions program and general administrative duties within the Programming Department at Charlotte Street, including giving presentations and lectures as a representative of Charlotte Street, concepting and writing didactics/text panels/exhibition related publications, engaging with and collaborating with the Programming Advisory Board and Charlotte Street Board of Directors, and participating in group/staff discussions and problem solving as an integrated and engaged member of the Charlotte Street Team.

We are seeking a high-energy programmatic visionary and creative problem solver, as well as a strong communicator and connector to artist communities and partners locally, regionally, and nationally. They will have strong working knowledge of contemporary art, artists, and curatorial practices. They will be detail-oriented, organized, and have the ability to develop, refine, and execute exhibitions and programming intended to engage and support the Kansas City Arts Community. They will be excited about working to support contemporary artists in Kansas City, and value the input of and collaboration with teammates at Charlotte Street and partner organizations that we work with closely to execute exhibitions and programs.

On Equity:
Charlotte Street values an equitable, diverse, and inclusive art community, which we interpret as all artists having fair access to the tools and resources they need to realize their artistic endeavors. We acknowledge structural inequities that have excluded individuals and communities from opportunity based on race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, class, age, and geography, and strive to counter those inequities in our work and in representation on our board, staff, and constituent groups.

Technology Environment:
Charlotte Street utilizes Apple computers and Microsoft Office 365.

Classification & Pay:
Temporary Full-time (for up to 2 years from date of hire), Exempt (FTE benefits including health insurance, flex scheduling, paid vacation, sick time, paid federal holidays), Pay: $40k annually

Working Conditions:
Open space office environment. This position requires some evening and weekend work; hours are flexible in order to accommodate these situations. Charlotte Street has recently moved all of its internal operations, as well as our programming venues, to a brand new 20,000 sq. ft. facility at 3333 Wyoming in the Volker Neighborhood of Kansas City, MO. For more information about that facility here.

*Flexible work environment//covid

Organizational Background:
Charlotte Street centers Kansas City’s most forward-thinking visual artists, writers, and performers—acting as the primary incubator, provocateur, and connector for the region’s contemporary arts community, and its leading advocate on the national stage. We cultivate the values of risk, collaboration, openness, and excellence in the practice of artists working in and engaging with the Kansas City art community. Charlotte Street provides annual cash awards, project-based grants, studio residencies, and provides exhibition/performance opportunities for visual and generative performing artists. For more information, go to www.charlottestreet.org.

Responsibilities

• Fully responsible for the generation and implementation of 3-4 exhibitions/programs and ancillary public programming
• Develop and produce didactic materials for exhibitions and programs
• Brainstorming with Programming Team and Charlotte Street staff on any new programmatic concepts in development
• Engage thoughtfully with partners, community, and media as a representative of Charlotte Street
• Develop and deliver lectures, presentations, and outreach sessions to inform and engage students, artists, and general public in Charlotte Street exhibitions and public programming
• Maintain active presence and participation in Kansas City Art Community
• Conduct studio visits with and engage meaningfully with artists in the Kansas City community
• Commit to curatorial strategy that incorporates and develops Kansas City artists alongside regional and national artists
• Collaborate with Studio Residency Manager to develop meaningful engagements with studio residents that might include studio visits/critiques, development of programming or exhibition
• Serve on panels, juries, or as a guest critic or lecturer when invited, internally at Charlotte Street or externally within the Kansas City community as a Charlotte Street representative
• Partner with Development staff to generate narrative content for grant requests, and engage with potential funders when appropriate

Requirements

• Candidates should have interest in exploring the unique character of a regional arts ecosystem, and have a history of outreach and community engagement
• Established history of collaboration, experimentation, and learning through doing
• Demonstrated commitment to developing programming responsive/relevant to the community and context in which it is presented
• Strong written and oral communications skills, organizational skills, and capacity to work cooperatively and in close coordination with others toward shared goals
• Candidates need to have demonstrated a track record producing compelling and innovative contemporary art exhibitions, projects, and public programs. Degree in Art History/Curatorial Studies/Museum Studies or similar academic training is ideal (but not required).

How to apply

Charlotte Street is seeking to fill this position with a start date in August of 2023. Submission of applications by May 31st is encouraged, though the application will remain open until an appropriate candidate is hired. All candidates will be contacted and notified of status by email. Candidates who are most competitive will be invited to a phone interview and subsequent zoom and in-person interviews, and will be notified of their status by phone as it is decided. Please do not call with questions about application status.

Please send the following in an email to info@charlottestreet.org (preferably as one packaged PDF attachment with an email cover letter). The email subject line should read 2023 Curatorial Fellow.

• Cover letter of interest
• CV/resume (Resume should include contact information for 3 references who can speak to working directly with you professionally – best if it could include a mix of folks working in different capacities, as artists/peer administrators/manager, etc.)
• Demonstration/portfolio of your curatorial work – could include any links to websites of your work or exhibition portfolio, images and descriptions of exhibitions including all participating artists, articles published about your exhibitions or programs
• Demonstration of your writing capabilities – didactics, art criticism, articles/essays/publications, artwork labels, etc.