Call for Curatorial Proposals

Visual AIDS invites curators to submit a proposal for our annual one-month exhibition, to take place Summer 2020. Visual AIDS utilizes art to fight AIDS by provoking dialogue, supporting HIV+ artists, and preserving a legacy, because AIDS is not over.

Deadline: April 1, 2019

Visual AIDS is looking for proposals that use art to examine the relationship between HIV and contemporary culture, contemplate the deep cultural history of AIDS, art and activism, and highlight the work of artists living with HIV. Previous exhibitions have explored notions such as HIV criminalization, everyday art practices, the intersection of nightlife and HIV/AIDS activism, love as activism, believing in the unknown, measuring the undetectable, and using text as image to contemplate mixed messages. Proposals should focus on contemporary issues with an eye towards both ideas of the past and possible futures. Curators are strongly encouraged to consider the work of artists in Visual AIDS’ online Artist+ Registry.

Visual AIDS will provide an exhibition venue in a gallery space in NYC, honorarium and administrative support, along with connection to Visual AIDS artist members, and information about HIV/AIDS and related contemporary issues. Curators need not be based in New York, however they will need to be easily accessible. Organizing, planning and installation are expected to be “hands-on.”

Proposals should be a 1-2 page description of the exhibition that includes a list of possible artists; a working timeline for the exhibition to open Summer 2020; general budget considerations for shipping and/or art production, and a C.V.

Successful proposals will illustrate an eye for detail, and an ability to communicate and understand workload management. Curators are expected to be involved in all aspects of exhibition planning, including contacting artists, organizing artwork shipment, installing and deinstalling exhibition, and coordinating the publication. Previous experience curating exhibitions is a plus but not mandatory. A successful proposal will engage contemporary artists and art in innovative ways, while ensuring underrepresented issues and communities are involved. Ideas for related programming are welcomed but not mandatory.

Writers, artists, community leaders and other cultural workers who can demonstrate an ability to curate an exhibition are welcome to apply. We are open to accepting applications from individuals as well as teams and pairs.

Previous curators include Conrad Ventur (2019), Kyle Croft and Asher Mones (Cell Count, 2018), Claudia Maria Carrera and Adrian Geraldo Saldaña (VOICE = SURVIVAL, 2017), Sam Gordon (Persons of Interest, 2016), Jean Carlomusto, Alexandra Juhasz and Hugh Ryan (EVERYDAY, 2016), Emily Colucci and Osman Can Yerebakan (Party Out Of Bounds: Nightlife as Activism Since 1980, 2015), Ricardo Montez and Joshua Lubin-Levy (Ephemera As Evidence, 2014), Risa Puleo (For The Record, 2013), Kris Nuzzi and Sur Rodney (Sur) (NOT OVER, 2013), Andrew Blackley (Not only this, but ‘New language beckons us.’, 2013), John Chaich (Re/Mixed Messages, 2011/2012), Nathan Lee and Rachel Cook, (Undetectable, 2011), Patrick Webb (The Sword of Damocles, 2011), Jeffrey Walkowiak (To Believe, 2010), Steven Lam and Virginia Solomon (Tainted Love, 2009), Dean Daderko (Side x Side, 2008), Sasha Archibald, Tania Duvergne, Sally Block, Barbara Hunt McLanahan, and Ernesto Pujol. 

Visual AIDS is the only contemporary arts organization fully committed to HIV prevention and AIDS awareness through producing and presenting visual art projects, while assisting artists living with HIV/AIDS. We are committed to preserving and honoring the work of artists with HIV/AIDS and the artistic contributions of the AIDS movement. We embrace diversity and difference in our staff, leadership, artists and audiences.

Deadline: April 15, 2019

Successful applicant(s) will be notified by May 2019.