Applications Now Open: 2022 Black Box Curatorial Fellowship
Supporting curators of time-based artwork and performance practices
Applications Due: Sunday, February 27, 2022
Join Us for a Fellowship Info Session
Have questions about this opportunity or are you interested to learn more?
Join members of the Black Box Committee for an Info Session on Saturday, February 19th, at 11am EST on Zoom! To register for the Info Session and to receive log-in info to the Zoom Room, please email blackbox@voxpopuligallery.org with your interest!
About the Opportunity
Since 2013, Vox Populi has supported the work of curators focusing on time-based arts and performance practices through the Black Box Curatorial Fellowship (previously known as AUX Curatorial Fellowship). The Fellowship offers financial, administrative, and programming support, as well as exhibition space, to one curator, artist-curator, or curatorial collective located in the greater Philadelphia region focusing on the research, development and presentation of live or durational forms – including performance, dance, music, poetry, film/video and new or emergent genres.
The Fellowship consists of several months of research and development, followed by two months of programming within Vox Populi’s 1000 sq.ft. Black Box performing arts space, and concludes with an exhibition in Black Box and a conjoining gallery space. Artists are given creative power to configure the space based on the available technologies: multiple high-def digital projects, surround-sound system, and multiple monitors.
There are four walls in the Black Box space that can be bent to your will and vision. The main projection wall is 14ft. wide x 7.5ft tall. Exhibitions in Black Box are intended to be primarily film/video/audio based, although the addition of 2-dimensional wall-bound pieces is also possible. Free-standing or 3-dimensional sculptural or installation pieces must be easily movable (for example, on wheels or generally small) within Black Box so as to allow for other usage of the space (rehearsals, performances, etc.). Larger or fixed installation pieces are eligible to be installed in the other gallery Fellows will be provided for their final exhibition. Fellows are also encouraged to use the Black Box space for producing and documenting new work.
In their programming window, Fellows are expected to produce 2 to 4 programs, including at least one presentation of their curatorial vision and research findings that acts as a foundation for subsequent programming. Upon completion of the fellowship, the fellow will curate a two month exhibit that will run through November/December 2022 – showcasing documentation, evidence, and ephemera from the programs. This exhibit would be held in the Black Box space and one of Vox’s conjoining galleries.
For a better visual aid of the space, review the Vox Populi floorplan or view short walk-through videos of the space with a previous exhibition turned off, or turned on.
Vox Populi’s 2022 Curatorial Fellow is supported with a self-designed budget of $2,500.00, intended to cover all artist, publication, exhibition and material fees associated with programs and out of which Fellows are encouraged to pay themselves (a speculative budget must be submitted as part of application).
Fellows can also add to their budget by charging a ticket-price for their events or selling other merchandise. In addition, Fellows will receive administrative, promotional, programming and creative support from Vox Populi’s Black Box Committee, Exhibitions Committee, and Executive Director, including access to office space, supplies and equipment.
This Fellowship opportunity is open to those with or without previous curatorial experience. Applicants should possess an interest in engaging with time-based artists, ideas and audiences, and be willing to share their experiences from their respective field. Please note that this opportunity is intended for curators or collectives local to Philadelphia or surrounding areas, as it does not offer funds to cover travel, housing or meals.
Previous Fellows include Marissa Perel, Jamillah James, Whitney Kimball, Anthony Romero, Katya Grokhovsky, Sage Adams, Malachi Lily, and Sarah Kim.
Fellowship Timeline
Application Deadline: 11:59pm February 19th 2022
Notifications: Late March 2022
Research & Development: April through August 2022
Programming: Fall 2022 (though programming can start whenever the fellow feels ready)
Exhibition: November/December 2022
How to Apply
Please send the following documents as one PDF attachment to blackbox@voxpopuligallery.org with the subject line “Black Box Fellowship”:
*Name, Pronouns, Address, Phone, Email & Website – include information for all members if applying as duo/group/collective
*Curatorial Statement of Intent – include description of the research themes and possible programming types (up to 500 words)
*Statement of Curatorial Process – describe how you will conduct your process for going about your work and how you will conduct your relationships with the artists and ideas you work with. (i.e. How do you plan to translate your research into programming?)
*Description of Exhibition – describe your ideas around the concluding exhibition, how do you envision displaying the documentation, evidence, and ephemera from your programs in the Front Space of the gallery. (i.e. Would there be video, photos, audio recordings, or any physical artwork by the artists? How would you translate your more, ephemeral, time based events into work that would occupy a gallery setting? *CV for Applicant
*Documentation of (or links to) up to 5 previous projects, writing or curatorial samples
*Sample Budget – how would you allocate your $2,500.00 budget? Include all artist honorariums, materials and program fees. Fellows are encouraged, but not required, to pay themselves a stipend.
Questions?
Email: blackbox@voxpopuligallery.org