The British Council in the United Kingdom and Southern Africa are looking for expressions of interest from creative practitioners with curatorial and mentoring experience from the United Kingdom to work in collaboration with the resident curator at Thapong Visual Arts Centre in Botswana to develop and showcase three multi-disciplinary projects at the centre in June 2019.
Background
British Council Botswana and Thapong Visual Arts Centre have partnered on a project called new Art new Audiences (#nAnAbw) which will be delivered between January and June of 2019. This project seeks to provide an opportunity for emerging artists to create new work which represent of a cross-section of a minimum of, but not limited to, two art disciplines. The projects are expected to be developed between March and June, culminating in an exhibition of the three successful projects.
The successful applicant to this expression of interest will be required to work closely with the resident curator at Thapong Visual Arts Centre, not only in the input of criteria and selection of the three projects, but also to provide mentoring support. This mentoring support will include the curator himself as well as the artists working on the three projects. This will be done both physically and digitally.
Thapong Visual Arts Centre
The centre was established in 1998 with the aim of promoting collaboration and excellence in the visual arts sector in Botswana through sharing skills, enabling personal growth and development and promoting arts locally and internationally through networking. The centre hosts a gallery and studio spaces and has a vibrant exhibitions programme. Since 2002, the centre has offered residencies for international artists to work in Botswana with local artists, including opportunities to conduct outreach workshops and exhibitions.
The aims of the programme
-To create an opportunity for early career artists in Botswana to connect with new audiences
-To create opportunities for engaging with communities
-To support Thapong to become an inclusive space for creatives to gather, connect, collaborate
-To promote co-creation, collaboration, and co-production of new art by early career artists
-To facilitate connections between contemporary African and UK visual arts sector by connecting the artists in Botswana to the UK visual arts sector
-To develop unique and compelling content that is experiential and innovative in delivery and approach
-To support the local curator build confidence working in contemporary visual arts and supporting emerging artists in that space
The Offer
The creative practitioner will travel to Botswana twice, of which the two visits to Botswana are inclusive of flights, accommodation, local travel and not exceeding one week for each trip. One visit should take place before 31 March to meet with the successful project applicants and the second visit will take place in June 2019 to assist with the setting up of the exhibition and public facing event. A total grant of £2,900 will be made available for travel.
In addition, an honorarium of £2,000 will be offered to the successful applicant for their participation in this project.
We are seeking applications from individuals who are interested in:
●working closely with the curator from Thapong Visual Arts Centre
●Working with the successful project applicants to create new projects to be showcased in a public-facing event in June 2019 at Thapong Visual Arts Centre.
How to Apply
Please submit your curriculum vitae along with a 600-800 word statement which will include the following:
●a summary of your experience working in a mentoring capacity
●your experience in working with international artists, especially those interested in working across different art forms
●how you would propose to meet the aims of the project above including being available to support project development between artists
●how you would use communication channels (e.g. website, social media) to promote the project
Applications should be submitted to Ronald Moyo (ronald.moyo@britishcouncil.org.zw) by 15:00 hours GMT on February 19, 2019.
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