Asymmetry by objectiflondon

Asymmetry

Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry

Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry

Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry

Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry

Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry Asymmetry

Asymmetry

Introduction

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Mission

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Overview

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Activities

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Conclusions

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Introduction

Scope of Delfina Foundation’s Work

In late February 2020, Asymmetry Art Foundation commissioned Delfina Foundation to guide its development as a new organization. Delfina Foundation’s team included Salma Tuqan, Gillean Dickie, and Aaron Cezar, who was also engaged separately by Asymmetry to provide additional support to the Founding Director and the incoming Deputy Director on strategy, programming and profile. This report is the outcome of Delfina Foundation’s teamwork with Asymmetry’s main stakeholders to: — Develop its mission and objectives — Identify benchmarks for excellence — Scope and test out Asymmetry’s activities — Provide a high-level plan for Asymmetry’s first five years with related financial projections

Introduction

Over the period of engagement, Delfina Foundation also supported the: — Management Zian Chen’s fellowship, which was interrupted by COVID-19 — Welcome dinner for Zian Chen, providing an opportunity for ‘soft introductions’ to key art world contacts and future collaborators — Initial execution of partnerships (e. g. Whitechapel, Goldsmiths’ University, Chisenhale Gallery) — Establishment of Asymmetry’s website, email accounts and social media profile — Fostering of preliminary press relations, including to PR agencies who might formally represent Asymmetry The following document encapsulates Asymmetry’s mission and provides a framework for its activities, strategy, and financial planning. This document is written as a directional guide; it is not meant to be definitive or comprehensive but to provide the starting point for establishing and expanding the organisation.

Introduction

Mission

Guiding Objectives

Pioneering curatorial research in and about Asia Re-orientating perspectives and understandings of contemporary art from Asia through a non-Western lens Supporting cultural infrastructure and knowledge production Focusing on UK-China exchanges first, then Europe-Asia, and finally international links Operating cross-regionally yet thinking globally Partnering with radical institutions and thought leaders Documenting and sharing successes widely via its website as a virtual HQ

Mission

Asymmetry Art Foundation recognizes that the advancement of curatorial practices is under-supported yet essential to our global arts eco-system. Curators play a fundamental role in developing cultural institutions, nurturing artistic talent, and expanding audiences. They also help to shape art history as well as contemporary movements through scholarly research. In Asia, there is a significant gap in opportunities for curators to develop their practice and further their careers. This lack of access therefore limits the full potential of art from Asia to be recognised on the global stage, and this is further problematised by the dominance of Western art history, which often frames art in and about Asia through its own narrow lens and perspective. Asymmetry is envisioned as a hub for curatorial practices in and about Asia, provoking cultural dialogue, facilitating bold ideas, decolonising pedagogical approaches, and advancing the career development of curators and thinkers. Asymmetry seeks to re-orientate how art from Asia is understood by fostering a generation of curators who can shift between cultures, articulating how these contexts open up new varied ways of interpreting the world around us. Asymmetry aims to harness the power of its alumni network to inform its work and continually influence global discourse. Mission

Asymmetry’s ambition is to work regionally and internationally by developing its geographic remit over time. Initially, Asymmetry will focus on exchange between the UK and China and then widen to Europe and Asia, and beyond. Asymmetry aims to be a bridge between Asia and the rest of the world through pioneering curatorial initiatives that enable research, collaboration, production, and participation. Asymmetry provides career-defining opportunities and progression for curators through academic scholarships, institutional fellowships and professional development activities, which in turn helps to sustain and strengthen institutions. Through public programming, curatorial forums, and widespread engagement, Asymmetry develops and disseminates cultural knowledge in the form of publications, exhibitions, events and online activities. Partnership is central to Asymmetry’s ethos. By proactively building strategic alliances with leading global museums, art spaces, and biennales, Asymmetry makes a valuable contribution to the cultural sector and helps to define the future of contemporary art practice.

Mission

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Mission

Asymmetry is a London-based independent, non-profit initiative dedicated to nurturing curatorial practice and developing cultural knowledge in and about Asia through global exchange.

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Mission

Asymmetry works regionally and internationally promoting meaningful exchange between creative practitioners, institutions, and audiences to enable pioneering research, collaboration, production, and participation.

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Mission

Asymmetry is committed to supporting the next generation of curators to make a valuable contribution to the arts eco-system.

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Mission

Asymmetry sparks new models of curatorial thinking and ambitious artistic outcomes through its curatorial forums and public programming that support both international and Asian practitioners.

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Mission

Asymmetry sparks new models of curatorial thinking and ambitious artistic outcomes through its curatorial forums and public programming that support both international and Asian practitioners.

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Mission

Asymmetry believes in partnerships. By proactively collaborating with leading global museums, art spaces and biennales, Asymmetry helps shape the future of contemporary art practice.Â

Overview

Through workshops, discussions, and virtual exchanges, seven potential areas of activity have been identified for Asymmetry with the aim of providing direct transformational support to curators and thinkers. These include: Curatorial Fellowships Academic Scholarships Public Programming Curatorial Forums for Asian and International practitioners Curatorial Intensives Residencies Philanthropic Grants Each of the above activities are intended as discrete elements that can be initiated together, separately, or in phases over time.

Overview

Asymmetry’s Public Programming strand plays a central role by bringing together Asymmetry’s various activities. Talks, symposia, exhibitions, and events will offer platforms to share both process and outcomes from Asymmetry’s activity areas. Asymmetry’s website will serve as a repository of this knowledge, featuring film/new media, publications, and documentation of live and online projects and activities.

Curatorial Fellowships

— Six-month engagements for curators at leading global institutions and biennales — ‘Hands on’ research, project management and public programming — Training, mentoring and networking opportunities

Scholarships

— Partnerships with academic institutions — Supporting PhD attainment, Post-Doc Fellows, and specially designed academic programmes

Public Programming

— Asymmetry-organized events, online and in-person — Asymmetry-supported events at major institutions — Documentaries, podcasts, and publications

Curatorial Forums

— Peer-to-peer network of Asian curators meeting locally, regionally and internationally over the course of a year — Asymmetry-organized research trips to Asia for international curators

Overview

Curatorial Intensives

— Extension of Asymmetry’s Public Programming and its Curatorial Forums into a concentrated five-day, nomadic programme — Led by previous Asymmetry’s participants, with support from Asymmetry’s partners — Partnership with select Curatorial Intensives around the world that enable the participation of Chinese and Asian practitioners through direct sponsorship

Residencies

— Short engagements for mid-curators, prior to or post academic studies — Research and professional development opportunities

Philanthropic Grants

— Grants for research and curatorial development — Funding towards exhibitions and public programming — Support for writers through publishing — Travel grants for conferences, research trips and biennales

Overview

While Asymmetryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Public Programming strand aims to reach curators at all levels, as well as the general public, the foundation identifies its key beneficiaries as mid-career and established curators. Asymmetry is keen to further enhance the experience of practicing curators who are professionally mature and equipped to take full advantage of the resources, networks, and opportunities that are offered by Asymmetry and its partners.

Overview

Table: Supporting Career Development and Progression.

Emerging Mid-career Established Curatorial Fellowships Associate position Senior position Academic Scholarships Recipient Recipient Residencies Recipient Curatorial Intensives Participant Leader Philanthropic Grants Recipient Recipient Curatorial Forums Participant Participant/Leader Public Programming Attendee Participant/Leader Participant/Leader

Overview

A Hypothetical Case Supporting Career Development and Progression

During her MA Curating course at the Royal College of Art, Ling Lu first discovered Asymmetry through a performance programme at Chisenhale Gallery, which was co-curated by Asymmetry’s Fellow. As an emerging Chinese curator, Asymmetry’s website becomes Ling’s “go to” resource to take the pulse of Chinese contemporary art and curatorial practice. Ling spends hours reading essays and watching videos by Asymmetry’s alumni, which nicely complements her studies. After returning to Shanghai, Ling works with Edouard Malingue Gallery for two years before taking up an assistant position at Yuz Museum. After seeing Asymmetry’s open call posting on Instagram and WeChat, she applies for Asymmetry’s Curatorial Intensive in Korea, joining 20 other curators for a focused week of discussions and visits to Seoul Mediacity and the Gwangju Biennale. Through relationships formed during the intensive, she co-curates an exhibition with Korean curator Young Hwang from the MMCA Seoul, which is supported by their respective institutions. Asymmetry sponsors the exhibition’s public programme under its own umbrella, which allows the foundation to emphasize its role in initiating the project. Overview

Years pass by and Ling moves to Hong Kong to work at M+ but she is determined to develop her international experience. She applies for Asymmetry’s Curatorial Fellowship at Whitechapel Gallery and returns to M+ afterwards with fresh programming and partnership ideas. After launching several ambitious projects, Ling longs to take a ‘productive pause’ to reflect on her practice to date. She applies to Asymmetry’s Residency at The International Studio & Curatorial Program in New York. She takes advantage of the brief sabbatical to undertake independent research and later consolidates her ideas into a PhD proposal for Goldsmiths. Upon graduation as an Asymmetry Scholar, the foundation provides a grant to produce her PhD research into a major exhibition in Venice during the 63rd Venice Biennale as well as a publication. Asymmetry hosts its Asia Forum in Venice around the time of the opening as well as offers travel grants for curators to afford the opportunity to experience the biennale. Ling, now working as a freelance curator on various international projects, is invited back to Asymmetry’s Curatorial Intensive – this time as an instructor.

The following are case studies for the whole organisation.

Overview

ORGANISATIONAL CASE STUDY 1

Independent Curators International Supporting curatorial excellence Independent Curators International (ICI) produces exhibitions, events, publications, research and training opportunities for curators and diverse audiences around the world. Established in 1975, ICI focuses on the role of the curator as a contextualizing force for contemporary art, and one that develops infrastructure for contemporary artists and art discourse in different contexts throughout the world. ICI connects emerging and established curators, artists, and art spaces into collaborative networks that are relevant regionally and inscribed within an international framework.

Participants of the 2018 Curatorial Intensive in New Orleans, 2018. Courtesy: Independent Curators International

Over the last 40 years, ICI exhibitions, publications, training programs, and research initiatives for curators – as well as hundreds of free events for everyone – have taken place in 400 cities and 55 countries. ICI has supported over 1,000 curators, 2,600 artists, and worked with 550 art spaces. There are currently over 360 alumni of the Curatorial Intensive, ICI’s professional development program, who are based in 64 countries and represent the future of the curatorial field.

Overview

ORGANISATIONAL CASE STUDY 2

The Asian Cultural Council Supporting cultural exchange

Courtesy: Asian Cultural Council

The Asian Cultural Council (ACC) is a non-profit foundation that provides opportunities for international cultural exchange to artists, scholars, and arts professionals in Asia and the United States. ACC is a grantmaker, a grantseeker, and convener around the importance of cultural exchange. This mission is accomplished through fellowships, grants, achievement awards, public programmes, alumni engagement, and other cultural exchange initiatives. ACCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fellowships strand includes a two six-month New York Fellowships; several Individual Fellowships of 1 to 6 months; Graduate Scholarships to elite US universities; and Travel, Organisational, and Projects Grants. To date, ACC has supported over 6,000 exchanges across 26 countries and regions, and 16 artistic disciplines. ACC is headquartered in New York City with regional offices supported by local ACC foundations and patron groups in Hong Kong, Manila, Taipei, and Tokyo.

Overview

ORGANISATIONAL CASE STUDY 3

Banff International Curatorial Institute Providing a range of support

The Banff International Curatorial Institute (BICI) provides research-based programs and fellowships for curators, arts writers, theorists, artists, and academics to explore curatorial research, pedagogy and practice, visual art criticism and writing. It encompasses a range of activities including events, residencies, symposia, and publications. BICI offers ongoing professional development and complement degree granting curatorial programs by providing a venue to meet, explore, and engage in research. A rotating international jury selects applications for this fully funded program. BICI’s residency programmes provide the time, space, critical feedback, and reflection needed for curators, arts writers, theorists, and academics to hone their practice and research. Participants develop their work within a supportive and stimulating creative environment and foster collaborations resulting from direct interaction with faculty, peers, professional artists, and other disciplines.

Curator Nicole Burisch in studio visit with Alexa Hatanaka during Craft as Contemporary Art program at Banff. Photo by: Don Lee

Overview

Symposia organized by the Banff International Curatorial Institute provide international gatherings for timely and rigorous reflection and analysis on curatorial practice.

Overview

5-Year Plan

Over its first five years, Asymmetry will phase-in activities to underpin its mission and slowly expand its geographic remit from China to Asia and from the UK to the rest of the world. Curatorial Fellowships, Academic Scholarships and Public Programming are designated as primary core activities to be initiated as part of Asymmetry’s inaugural programme. These include: — The Whitechapel Gallery Curatorial Fellowship in partnership with Delfina Foundation — The Chisenhale Gallery Curatorial Fellowship — The Goldsmiths Advanced Practices PhD Scholar — The Courtauld Institute of Art Post-Doc Fellowship — The Courtauld Institute of Art Lecture Series & Conference Programme

Overview — 5-Year Plan

The Curatorial Forums (Asia & International) and Curatorial Intensives will be launched as secondary activities in subsequent years. These initiatives will build on the relationships developed through Asymmetry’s primary activities and expand on its experience, knowledge, and networks. Philanthropic Grants and Residencies will remain future areas of development to be phased in at the discretion of Asymmetry’s leadership. Grants, for example, may begin as ad hoc support for discrete initiatives or activities that naturally evolve from Asymmetry’s existing work.

Overview — 5-Year Plan

Phasing of Activities This time period reflects the UK financial years which run from April to March.

Year 1 2020/21

Year 2 2021/22

Year 3 2022/23

Year 4 2023/24

Curatorial Fellowship Whitechapel Gallery Chisenhale Gallery

Scholarships

Goldsmiths PhD Courtald Post-Doc

Public Programme

General Courtald Lectures & Conference

Curatorial Forum Asia Regional Forum International Forum

Curatorial Intensives Residencies

At Discretion

Philanthropic Grants

At Discretion

Year 5 2024/25

Overview

Resource Development

Finances

Overview â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Resource Development

Alongside this report, an electronic budget was developed to assist with short-term financial modelling and forecasting. This management tool will be useful in understanding potential expenditure as activities are set over the next five years.

Human Resources

In addition to financial resources, personnel will be key in delivering Asymmetry’s mission. Currently, Asymmetry employs a full-time Deputy Director who will soon have support from a part-time assistant through summer 2021. This small team is responsible for the day-to-day administration as well as forward planning with Asymmetry’s key stakeholders: its Founder, Trustees, Committee Members and Strategic Advisors. Several key areas of operational support will be required to complement existing employees. Some of these needs can eventually be filled through additional staffing roles: — Assistant (bilingual): full-time — Communications Manager: part or full-time Others can be provided through external or freelance support.

Overview — Resource Development

A majority of operational needs are listed below with recommendations on how to fulfil each: Financial auditing and compliance Appoint an accountancy firm with expertise in charities. Bookkeeping Train staff or include this role in the accountant’s brief. Over time, as budget management increases, it will be more cost-effective to bring bookkeeping in-house through staff training or employing a part-time bookkeeper. Legal (Governance, Charity and Employment Law) Already appointed. Documentation (photography, film, podcasts) Develop a network of freelancers in the UK and China to capture Asymmetry’s work.

Overview — Resource Development

PR/Marketing Sutton PR has been appointed for 12 months to launch Asymmetry; focused campaigns and strategic support will be necessary beyond that period so Asymmetry should consider engaging PR support for half of a year for three years and then evaluate this progress. In its second year, Asymmetry may consider employing a parttime Communications Manager to expand on the work of Sutton throughout the year and begin to activate PR from within the organisation. This role could grow into full-time employment given the level of expected growth in Asymmetry’s documentation and communication needs. Social Media While Sutton will provide initial advice on strategy and activation, the team will be responsible for carrying out this work. An assistant with support from the Deputy Director can initially fulfil this role, but an in-house resource will be necessary over time (see Communications Manager role above). For WeChat, an individual or company in China/Hong Kong should be identified – or an Assistant who is bilingual.

Overview — Resource Development

Graphic Design Retain OK:RM for major new projects to ensure brand consistency and employ a freelance graphic designer on an ad hoc basis for small projects. Over time, Asymmetry may want to train staff or include design expertise in another role (e. g. Admin Assistant, Communications Manager). Computer/technical/web domain support External support as needed; over time, Asymmetry may require more dedicated support on a monthly retainer basis. Translation Identify individuals or companies who have experience translating within an art context. Travel/logistics Appoint a travel agent and/or local concierge company for large trips (e. g. Curatorial Forums).

Overview â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Resource Development

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Activities

Curatorial Fellowships

Asymmetry’s Curatorial Fellowship Programme embeds curators within leading global institutions and biennales, equipping practitioners with a crucial and comprehensive set of skills, whilst expanding institutional expertise through the Fellow’s regional perspective and knowledge.

In collection-based institutions, curators will receive unrivalled access to collections, allowing them to learn through objects and contribute to its scholarship and historical legacy. Their fellowship will allow them to enhance vital curatorial skills including: collection care, documentation, interpretation, project management and loans requests. They will be able to develop expertise around objects within the collections, enhancing online catalogue records, leading gallery talks, publishing new thinking, and developing specialist knowledge of relevant areas of the collection.

Activities — Curatorial Fellowships

In art spaces or Kunsthalles, curators will apply experimentation and exploration to a variety of curatorial and administrative tasks, including exhibition research, audience engagement and development, project management, planning, commissioning, and writing and editing exhibition-related copy. The fellowship will allow curators to expand and improve their curatorial awareness, whilst fine-tuning their critical intellectual practices. In biennales and festivals of art, curators will address the complexities of curating within site-specific settings, including research, communications, commissioning, and logistics. Mid-career curators may, for example, undertake an Associate role to the Artistic Director, supporting research and production, as well as practical delivery. Established curators may, for example, take on a more collaborative role with the Artistic Director furthering the conceptual approach, contributing ideas with their own specific geographic expertise, developing research and public programming.

Activities â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Curatorial Fellowships

Case Study 1

Tate Brooks International Fellowship Programme (London) Rethinking the institution

Founded in 2014, The Brooks International Fellowship Programme at Tate and Delfina Foundation is an annual fellowship and residency, selected through open calls, and supported by the Elizabeth and Rory Brooks Foundation. The programme enables international visual arts professionals including programmers, researchers and curators to work with Tate colleagues in London, complemented by activities at Delfina Foundation. Fellows are part of a Tate team, actively participating in gallery projects and discussions, with special access to Tate’s programme, collection, staff and their wider networks. Each year, Tate advertises several work areas that are proposed by its departments, which often leads to exhibitions, public programming, or educational activities. Fellows apply to each area and work on the department level, alongside a specific counterpart in Tate’s curatorial team. Fellows reside at Delfina Foundation, where they contribute to its programme by presenting their research or practice to a range of audiences and participate in internal events, public talks, screenings and panel discussions that relate their research to a wider, global context and to other thematic activities at Delfina Foundation.

Activities — Curatorial Fellowships

Case Study 2

KADIST Fellowship (France/USA) Rotational training

Activities — Curatorial Fellowships

KADIST fellowships offer recent MA graduates direct experience with global contemporary art and the chance to participate in a range of projects appropriate to their field of practice and study. The fellowships range from 1 to 8 months, and typically involve working with teams in San Francisco or Paris to conduct research or produce events and exhibitions that contribute to KADIST’s ongoing program. Fellowships are accompanied by a stipend and are often facilitated through academic institutions such as the California College of the Arts (San Francisco), Central Academy of Fine Arts (Beijing) and Städelschule (Frankfurt).

Within this activity area, Asymmetry has already forged partnerships with Whitechapel Gallery and Chisenhale Gallery, two organisations at the forefront of cutting edge thinking and best practice. Mid-way through these collaborations, Asymmetry should formally evaluate the Fellowship programme, possibly using external consultants, before extending the relationship with these partners or adding additional ones. Asymmetry may also decide to offer new opportunities for fellowships within collecting institutions and biennales to offset its current fellowships and broaden its field of support.

Activities â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Curatorial Fellowships

Potential Institutional Collaborators UK & USA Barbican (UK) Camden Art Centre (UK) Goldsmiths Centre for Contemporary Art (UK) Hepworth Wakefield (UK) Nottingham Contemporary (UK) South London Gallery (UK) Tate Modern (UK) V&A (UK) Ballroom Marfa (USA) Creative Time (USA) Dia:Beacon (USA) Independent Study Program at The Whitney Museum (USA), LACMA (USA) Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago (USA) Performa (USA) SFMOMA (USA) The Metropolitian Museum of Art (USA) Activities â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Curatorial Fellowships

Europe Wiels (Belgium) MOCO (France) Palais de Tokyo (France) Hamburger Bahnhof (Germany) Haus der Kulturen der Welt (Germany) KW Institute (Germany) Savvy Contemporary (Germany) Castello di Rivoli (Italy) MAXXI Museum (Italy) MACBA (Spain) Reina Sofia (Spain) Kunsthalle Basel (Switzerland) Witte de Witte (The Netherlands) Stedelijk Museum (The Netherlands)

Potential Biennale Partners Most established Documenta, Germany Venice Biennale, Italy Select Asian biennales Gwangju Biennale, South Korea Setouchi Triennale, Japan Shanghai Biennale, China Taipei Biennale, Taiwan Select European biennales Berlin Biennale, Germany Liverpool Biennial, UK Lyon Biennale, France Manifesta, various

Activities â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Curatorial Fellowships

Other renowned biennales Bergen Assembly, Norway EVA International, Ireland Glasgow International, UK Istanbul Biennial, Turkey Kochi Biennale, India New Museum Triennial, USA Performa, USA Prospect New Orleans (Triennial), USA Sao Paulo Biennial, Brazil Sharjah Biennial, UAE Sydney Biennale, Australia Whitney Biennial, USA

Selection Criteria

Asymmetryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Curatorial Fellowship Programme is bespoke and recognizes that a one-size-fits-all methodology is not appropriate for curators to develop their own approach and identity. Each year, Asymmetry works with partnering institutions, biennales or festivals to define the scope of the Fellowship and identify areas of synergy, ensuring that the Fellowships are mutually beneficial for all parties.

Activities â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Curatorial Fellowships

Fellows are jointly selected by Asymmetry and the partner through applications via an open call or nominations (‘closed call’). Whilst the criteria for each Fellowship will vary with each opportunity and partner, basic qualifications include: — A post-graduate degree in Art History, Curating or a related programme (backed with work experience in the arts as noted below) — Experience of working in an art space, gallery or museum (minimum number of years to be decided per Fellowship) — Strong knowledge of contemporary artistic practices and current debates — Experience of working with artists on commissions or public programming — Experience with the care, handling, and installation of art works — Programming experience including moderation and production of talks and events — Proven writing ability as demonstrated through examples, and preferably experience with editing and print production — Good command of the English language, verbally and preferably written as well (depending on the nature of the Fellowship)

Activities — Curatorial Fellowships

Application timelines should bear in mind: — Pre-planning stages (minimum 6 months in advance, to enable the recipient to prepare for the Fellowship, take a leave of absence from work, apply for visa, etc) — Advertising and dissemination of opportunity and length of open call (minimum 6 weeks) — Processing time by jury to develop shortlist and discuss (minimum 3 weeks) — Interviews and final selection (1-2 weeks) Ideally, the selection process begins 9 to 12 months prior to the start of the Fellowship.

Activities — Curatorial Fellowships

Activities

Scholarships

Understanding the fundamental importance of higher education, Asymmetry aims to play a key role in supporting the educational attainment of curators from Asia, embedding them within fields of theory, research and knowledge production, to give them tools to elaborate their practice.

Asymmetry’s Scholarship Programme provides access to funded PhD scholarships and academic fellowships at elite academic institutions that are shaping the future of curatorial, art historical and museum studies. Asymmetry’s relationship with its Scholars extends beyond the traditional funder model by offering financial and strategic support, including art world introductions, press and promotional opportunities, as well as public programming and publishing opportunities. Bespoke partnerships with academic centres of excellence, initially in the UK, will enable Asymmetry’s Scholars to be at the helm of curatorial thinking and radical practice and ensure their access to a vital global network. Activities — Scholarships

The Scholars – alongside Asymmetry’s Fellows and Residents – will form part of Asymmetry’s alumni network, which will feed into Asymmetry’s Curatorial Forum and Public Programmes as well as help to develop Asymmetry’s Curatorial Intensive in future years. The Scholars will also be a crucial bridge between Asymmetry and universities, maintaining relationships that can continually feed into different aspects of Asymmetry’s work.

Activities — Scholarships

Academic Fellowships

Activities â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Scholarships

Asymmetryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s intensive fellowships or post-doc positions will allow budding and post-graduate scholars access to academic resources, libraries and curatorial modules to drive forward their research.

PhD programmes

Activities — Scholarships

Asymmetry’s PhD Scholars will have access to leading thinkers and academic supervisors to guide the development of their curatorial research and gain vital credentials. Additionally, Asymmetry will offer key opportunities for their Scholars’ research and theses to be considered for publishing or alternative forms of dissemination through Asymmetry’s other programmes.

Case Study 3

Advanced Practices at Goldsmiths, University of London Interrelated learning

Activities — Scholarships

Advanced Practices is an exciting addition to the Goldsmiths’ MRes and MPhil/PhD programmes and invites participants to engage with the growing importance of practice-driven research within the fields of knowledge production, public exhibiting and cultural organising. Through an interrelated programme of teaching, projects and collaborations, ‘Advanced Practices’ seeks to extend the ground for practice, providing a space to re-situate the relation between audience and exposition. Animated by concepts that vary from digital ecologies to politics and practice epistemology, the programme encourages applicants to invent and integrate new methodologies for practice into the wider realm of recognised knowledge. Taught over a course of six seminars a year, the programme will be led and supervised by the renowned faculty at the Department for Visual Cultures, Prof. Irit Rogoff, Dr. Bridget Crone and Dr. Adnan Madani, giving participants access to a broad range of contemporary knowledges, in addition to full access to all graduate-research offerings across Goldsmiths’ departments. The Department of Visual Cultures is a small but vibrant research-active department in the School of Culture and Society at Goldsmiths, comprised of globally acclaimed researchers and practising artists and curators with prominent art world connections. 58

Case Study 4

Independent Study Program, Whitney Museum (USA) Interdisciplinary perspectives

The Whitney Museum’s Independent Study Program (ISP) consists of three interrelated parts: Studio Program, Curatorial Program, and Critical Studies Program. The ISP provides a setting within which students pursuing art practice, curatorial work, art historical scholarship, and critical writing engage in ongoing discussions and debates that examine the historical, social, and intellectual conditions of artistic production. The program encourages the theoretical and critical study of the practices, institutions, and discourses that constitute the field of culture. Each year fifteen students are selected to participate in the Studio Program, four in the Curatorial Program, and six in the Critical Studies Program. Curatorial and critical studies students are designated as Helena Rubinstein Fellows in recognition of the substantial support provided to the program by the Helena Rubinstein Foundation. The program begins in early September and concludes at the end of the following May. Many of the participants are enrolled at universities and art schools and receive academic credit for their participation, while others have recently completed their formal studies. Activities — Scholarships

Case Study 5

De Appel Curatorial Programme (The Netherlands) Institutional rigour

Photo credit: Milan Anais

Activities — Scholarships

Founded 26 years ago, de Appel’s Curatorial Programme (CP) is among the very first in the world and it continues to be a lifechanging opportunity for motivated individuals from different social and cultural backgrounds, who seek experience in the collective activity of making art public. De Appel has a distinct history of bringing alternative practice into broader circulation. At its inception in 1974-75, it was a pioneer of new forms of presentation (e. g. situation art and performance) that have gradually come to define contemporary practice. While these were not immediately embraced, a deep historical consciousness has always permeated the institution. The founder Wies Smals (1939-1983) had the foresight to keep a meticulous Archive even before de Appel was registered as a foundation. The CP, Archive and Education Initiatives all mutually reinforce each other at de Appel, bringing depth and range to our public programmes. The CP final outcome in Spring is an institutional ritual and the measure of organisation’s heartbeat. The high stakes of this endeavour, with the full integration of participants into the workings of the publicly oriented institution, make de Appel’s CP unique among curatorial learning opportunities.

Potential academic partners Department of Visual Cultures, Goldsmiths, University of London (UK) The Courtauld Institute of Art (UK) Curating Contemporary Art MA, Royal College of Art (UK) Center for Curatorial Studies, Bard College (USA) Independent Study Program, Whitney Museum (USA) MA in Curatorial Practice, California College of the Arts (USA) Art Institute of Chicago (USA) De Appel Curatorial Training Programme (The Netherlands) CuratorLab, Konstfack Academy (Sweden) Ecole du Magasin (France) CAS/MAS in Curating, Zurich University of the Arts (Switzerland) CCSP University of British Columbia (Canada)

Activities â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Scholarships

Activities

Public Programming

Asymmetry’s Public Programming aims to foster critical discourse on cultural and curatorial practices in and about Asia. Through lectures, symposia, exhibitions, publications, documentaries, and specialist events, Asymmetry creates a platform to bring together the outcomes of its activities, showcase recipients of its support, and harness partnerships to reach a broad international audience.

Asymmetry’s Public Programming strand is divided three categories: #1

Activities — Scholarships

Asymmetry-organized programmes are devised and led by Asymmetry as well as recipients of its support. These online and in-person activities take their starting point from Asymmetry’s work, as well as research and activities conducted by its Fellows and Scholars, for example. Asymmetry creates the opportunity for its curators to gain greater visibility for their work, test out ideas through public events, and/or position their practice in a different context.

Potential examples include: — Organising an annual public lecture by Asymmetry’s Goldsmiths PhD Scholar in London and Beijing — Staging a collateral exhibition to the Venice Biennale, curated by one of Asymmetry’s alumni-curators — Hosting a round-table discussion with senior curators from Asymmetry’s partners – Chisenhale, Whitechapel and Delfina Foundation – during Art Basel Hong Kong. — Producing public events to complement and culminate Asymmetry’s ‘invitation-only’ activities such as its Curatorial Intensives or Curatorial Forums. — Launching a major biannual conference on curatorial practices in Asia that rotates to different cities, running in parallel to key biennales and fairs

Activities — Scholarships

Asymmetry-supported programmes are activities that are sponsored by Asymmetry or organized by its partners as part of existing collaborations. These include: — Institutional outcomes stemming from the fellowships at the Whitechapel Gallery and Chisenhale Gallery — Lectures or conferences funded by Asymmetry at universities (e. g. the proposed Courtauld Institute of Art Lecture Series) — Panel discussions at major conferences like CIMAM, Engadin Art Talks or Verbier Art Summit, which Asymmetry sponsors and potentially co-organises.

Activities — Scholarships

Documentaries, podcasts, and publications are produced by Asymmetry to generate and disseminate cultural knowledge more widely via TV, internet and print media. Asymmetry’s website is intended as a resource to bring together such content, as well as documentation of Asymmetry’s work. Further examples include: — Publishing a book stemming from the first two Chisenhale Gallery Curatorial Fellowships, which have a focus on writing — Releasing a series of podcasts by the Whitechapel Fellows that document their experience in London and conversations with key thinkers — Producing a documentary series for TV and streaming services that unpack the state of contemporary art through the eyes of curators.

Activities — Scholarships

Activities

Curatorial Forums

Asymmetry’s Curatorial Forums aim to form an active network of senior art professionals for peer-to-peer engagement and collective learning through seminars, field trips and other development opportunities. Most critically, the network will be a resource for Asymmetry providing strategic advice and feedback in order to evolve, strengthen and expand its own work.

Asymmetry’s Curatorial Forums will be comprised of two interlinked groups: — The Asia Regional Forum, which meets over the course of a year — An International Forum, which meets over the course of a week

Activities — Curatorial Forums

These forums are intended as active hubs where knowledge and resources are brought together and nurtured, and where co-conceived projects and collaborations can be imagined across geographies, from residencies to exhibitions and publications. The Curatorial Forums create a community of solidarity and exchange, encouraging openness, friendship, collaboration, and generosity. Additionally, the Forums will disseminate its outcomes via publications, video documentaries, podcasts, travel diaries, and events that form part of Asymmetry’s Public Programming stand.

Activities — Curatorial Forums

The Asia Regional Forum brings together a focused group of 6 to 8 mid-career and established curators for three group assemblies over the course of a year that happen locally, regionally and internationally, including one gathering with the participants of the International Forum. The Forum members will be in close contact with their peers year-round through monthly conference calls organized by Asymmetry with each participant leading the topic of a call. These monthly meetings will provide regular support and collective study on mutual areas of interest. The Asia Regional Forum rotates its physical meetings in various cities across Asia, as an opportunity for curators to connect with local cultural networks. Alongside gaining exposure to different art scenes, each gathering will include opportunities for the participants to share practice, research and ideas, informally and formally through ‘labs’ or structured and self-organised activities (e. g. seminars, one-on-one meetings, group discussions, etc). Some aspect of the gatherings can be made public through events and involve other arts professionals from outside of the forum in internal discussions.

Activities — Curatorial Forums

Research, ideas and projects harvested during the collective meeting can be further supported by Asymmetry through Philanthropic Grants. The International Forum is an annual, week-long, intensive study trip to Asia for curators who are based outside of the region and have demonstrated a keen interest in Asian art and commitment to working with practitioners in the Asian region. The International Forum creates opportunities for participants to gain insight into a specific art scene in Asia; meet with key players; develop ideas that could lead to future exhibitions public programming or publications; explore the possibility of co-productions with local partners; and take part in networking and professional development opportunities with participants from the Asia Regional Forum. Asymmetry will monitor outcomes of the International Forum and may continue supporting or brokering relationships with some of these initiatives that emerge from the study trip or Forums.

Activities — Curatorial Forums

Case study 6

Asia Contemporary Art Consortium Building platforms across cultures Asia Contemporary Art Consortium (ACAC) is a group of visionary individuals from leading galleries and museums, coming together with a mission to heighten awareness and visibility of contemporary art practices from Asia within the United States, Asia, and beyond through their support and collaboration with Asia Contemporary Art Week platform.

‘VR Technology in Arts and Museums’ Asia Society Museum & Asia Art Archive in America, New York (5 October 2018). Courtesy: Asia Contemporary Art Week

Asia Contemporary Art Week is an educational and curatorial program that brings together leading New York and Asia-based art institutions, museums and galleries to present cutting-edge exhibitions, innovative projects, provocative dialogues on current topics, and networking opportunities. ACAC’s overarching mission as a non-profit organization is to continue educating the public in the United States and beyond about Asia contemporary art and culture, through curatorial programs that promote connectivity and collaboration among diverse artistic communities and audiences.

Activities — Curatorial Forums

Case study 7

Arts Collaboratory (Worldwide) Building an ecosystem through institutional collaborations Arts Collaboratory is a consortium of twenty-five like-minded organisations situated predominantly in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. The organizations engage in expanded artistic and curatorial practices for social change, as well as sustainability practices in their respective contexts, with the aim of being effective in and beyond the field of art. The network operates as an active ecosystem, where knowledge and strengths are brought together and harvested in processes of collective organization. It is a radical experiment in exploring the potentiality of art and social transformation when the experiences, dreams, and critical reflections of cultural practitioners from across the globe are allowed to meet. An annual assembly for collective decision-making and knowledge exchange is hosted rotationally by select members. Arts Collaboratory June Meetings 2015. Courtesy: Arts Collaboratory

Activities — Curatorial Forums

Case study 8

Orbitals, Mophradat (Belgium/ International) A network of mobility

Mophradat is a non-profit contemporary arts institution creating opportunities for artists from the Arab world through an inventive approach to funding, commissioning, collaborating and gathering. Orbitals is an annual programme taking four curators, selected through an open call, to an international location for research and exchange. The programme is devised and coordinated in partnership with an institution on the ground. During the ten-day guided research trip, the participants, along with Mophradat’s team, meet and share their experience with peers in the art scenes they are visiting. Previous locations have included New Delhi, Chandigargh, and Mexico City.

New Delhi, Orbitals 2019. Photo credit: Nada Bakr

Activities — Curatorial Forums

Next steps

Develop a criteria for selection of members for the Asia forum – in the first year, the selection process may be by nomination only and limited to Chinese curators with the regional trips taking place within mainland China, including a trip to the Venice Biennale and documenta in spring/summer 2022. Identify curators from around the world who interested in the region and learning more through the International Forum trip – an initial focus should be on curators associated with major institutions and biennales, as well as potential partners for Asymmetry in the future.

Identify host cities for trips and key partners that can support hospitality, event management, etc. – within each city contract a travel agency or concierge services to handle logistics Consider larger public programming around the Forums, including networking events and dinners Plan detailed documentation of the programme Build ways to disseminate outcomes and capture legacy

Develop an application process with a jury for subsequent years, which might include alumni from Asymmetry’s Fellowships as well as participants in the first Forums.

Activities — Curatorial Forums

Activities

Curatorial Intensive

As a micro-universe of teaching, Asymmetry’s Curatorial Intensive Programme aims to act as an incubator for curatorial practice and radical forms of pedagogy. Asymmetry’s Curatorial Intensive Programme encourages critical thought, inquiry, and diverse ways of working, producing, presenting, and distributing research and practice. The Curatorial Intensive Programme does not operate as a traditional educational programme – it will take on various forms such as workshops, readings, lectures, performances, site visits, collaborative-cooking, etc. It stresses the fundamental role of collaboration in creating a community with distinct practices and interests which may intersect. Asymmetry’s Curatorial Intensive Programme is envisioned initially as a five-day immersive programme for curators based in China and Hong Kong – and later expanded to those based in Asia and beyond. It is intended to be nomadic and take place in different cities each year, sometimes being centred around a key art event (e. g. art fair, biennale). Activities — Curatorial Intensive

The “curriculum” for the programme will be framed by a provocation or manifesto developed by Asymmetry’s alumni (those who have participated in its Curatorial Forum, Scholarships, and Fellowships) with contributions from international arts professionals, developed over the first three years of Asymmetry Art Foundation. Each edition will be coordinated and led by a guest curator/institution with expertise and networks in the host city. Participants will be hosted by local creative practitioners in order to ground their experience of the city and offer first-hand knowledge. Partly self-directed, the participants are encouraged to steer and contribute the programme. For example, alumni of the Curatorial Intensive in the first year will apply their skills and suggest ideas for the framework of the next Curatorial Intensive. Building organically on intersections and relationships formed, previous participants could act as mentors to future participants of the Curatorial Intensive. Following each Curatorial Intensive, Asymmetry should evaluate the outcomes and determine if any can be further developed through its other areas of activity or with one of Asymmetry’s partners. In this way, the Curatorial Intensives might incubate ideas that Asymmetry can support in a more sustained way. Activities — Curatorial Intensive

In Asymmetry’s first few years, it should consider partnering with existing Curatorial Intensives around the world to enable the participation of Chinese and Asian practitioners. Through this process, Asymmetry can learn from existing programmes while also developing a group of advocates and peers through its sponsorship.

Activities — Curatorial Intensive

Case study 9

CuratorLab (Sweden) A self-directed curatorial programme

CuratorLab is an international self-directed curatorial course dedicated to the advancement of curatorial practices based on research in the arts, crafts and design and expanding the ideas of the curatorial beyond the exhibition format. It is designed to offer time to conduct research and to explore new directions and ideas in order to develop artistic or theoretical work while linking academic study to cultural projects. CuratorLab does not have a fixed curriculum – every year it reinvents itself anew around a leading topic, followed by studio visits, seminars, lectures, and trips, co-organized together with the participants. The course is open to everybody with curiosity to challenge new curatorial practices. Participants meet four times each year for ten-day sessions in Stockholm and Paris.

Activities — Curatorial Intensive

The tuition-free programme offers the participants the possibility to develop and realize one individual or collaborative project in the form of a public presentation (i. e. exhibition, lecture series, publication, screenings, seminar), for which CuratorLab provides professional feedback and practical support as well as a moderate research/production budget.

Case study 10

Sommerakademie im Zentrum Paul Klee (Switzerland) Within the context of a university The Sommerakademie im Zentrum Paul Klee (SPK) was founded in 2006. Its objective lay in contemplating latter-day production and reflection within the field of contemporary art and in offering the best possible setting for such an endeavour. From 2006 to 2017, a group of 12 international Fellows, both artists and curators, up to 35 years of age, took part in the Sommerakademie im Zentrum Paul Klee. In each year, a different guest curator shaped the ten-day academy and suggested a theme of his or her choice. Speakers were invited to intensify the theoretical discourse and exchange, sometimes by means of screenings or performances. In 2017, this landmark educational template was reinvented under artistic director Tirdad Zolghadr into Sommerakademie Paul Klee (SPK), a fully funded program offering practitioners a departure from business as usual, without becoming an exhausting interruption in its own right. It caters to practitioners working at a postgraduate level, whether or not they have an official certificate saying so. Professional experience and intellectual appetite are the main requirements.

Activities — Curatorial Intensive

Over two summer sessions eight residents are granted access to the university’s outstanding infrastructure and technical support. Although based on the idea of an academy, the aim is to transcend the blueprint of seminars and tutorials, and to focus on group research and cross-professional coalition building. SPK proposes a complex blend of theory and practice, discourse and production. With its atypical timeline and exceptional infrastructure, the SPK combines collective inquiry with the perks of productionoriented residencies. The SPK is a fully funded program, covering room, travel and visa expenses. This in close partnership with international art institutions such as KW Institute for Contemporary Art Berlin.

Case Study 11

Independent Curators Internationalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Curatorial Intensive (USA/ International) Nomadic, yet working across networks ICIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Curatorial Intensive is a weeklong professional development programme, designed to immerse participants in a rigorous schedule of seminars, presentations, site visits, and one-on-one meetings that support the process of developing an idea for a project into a full proposal. It is a unique opportunity to forge a close network of peers and embark on future collaborations. This programme is targeted toward self-motivated individuals, working independently or within institutions. Seminars, site visits, individual meetings, and roundtable discussions are led by a group of professionals. 12 to 14 applicants, with three or more years of curatorial experience, working internationally are selected to participate in the Curatorial Intensive. The programme was started in 2010 with three or four sessions a year, in locales including Moscow, Istanbul, Beijing, Mumbai and Bogota. It now counts over 380 alumni, many of whom come from countries outside the Western art-world. They work in a range of cultural enterprises, from national museums to running their own art spaces to working on freelance projects and publications. The ICI-trained curators are part of a growing network of passionate professionals raising the level and profile of art in their home countries and regions. Activities â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Curatorial Intensive

Participants of the 2018 Curatorial Intensive in New Orleans, 2018. Courtesy: Independent Curators International

Case study 12

The NEON Curatorial Exchange (UK/Greece) Bi-lateral exchange, from one country to another The NEON Curatorial Exchange is delivered by the Whitechapel Gallery in partnership with NEON Organisation in Athens. It builds links between emerging curators in the UK and Greece, so that best practice can be shared and new ideas developed, with the aim of championing curatorial excellence. The NEON Curatorial Exchange is open via application to emerging curators in Greece and alumni of postgraduate curating courses in London: Goldsmiths College; Royal College of Art; and The Courtauld Institute of Art. Participants benefit from a four-day study trip to Athens and London, devised and led by Whitechapel Gallery curator and head of curatorial studies Nayia Yiakoumaki. The programme is designed to open up networking and professional development opportunities for young curators.

Neon Cultural Exchange 2018. Photo credit: Stella Anastasaki

Activities — Curatorial Intensive

Case study 13

Shanghai Curator’s Lab (China) Cross-institutional partnership Shanghai Curators Lab (SCL) is a dynamic and challenging curatorial platform for early career curators focusing on experimental and critical discussion of the ecology of curatorial practice. SCL is a unique partnership between a university, a museum, a biennale and an art city including Shanghai Academy of Fine Art, Shanghai University and Shanghai International Art City Research Institute, in collaboration with Shanghai Biennale (Power Station of Art).

Shanghai Curators Lab, 2019. Courtesy: Tank Shanghai

Led by professor Yongwoo Lee and a renowned international curator, which changes each year, participants experience and explore the art community of Shanghai and more broadly China during their time in the Lab. SCL serves to bridge art and educational institutions across China and beyond, with the participation of 20+ curators from 10+ countries. The Lab consists of talks by art professionals, thinkers, activists, architects, filmmakers, and cultural readers on a variety of subjects, from exhibition-making to the regeneration and revitalization of industrial heritage. Participating curators present their artistic projects at the end of the program, and the strongest proposal is selected to be realized at an art institution in Shanghai the following year. Activities — Curatorial Intensive

Case study 14

Tate Intensive (UK) Placed firmly within a major museum Tate Intensive is a week-long programme that offers a vital space for critical reflection and the opportunity to develop fresh perspectives, new skills and alternate ways of working. It comprises 25 selected participants from around the world, including administrators, curators, researchers, writers, educators, producers, programmers, artists, architects, fundraisers, activists and strategists. The programme intentionally brings together people at different stages of their career who are encouraged to share knowledge and exchange ideas based on their diverse experiences and current practices, and to discuss creative approaches to curating, programming, research, audience development, community engagement and arts management.

Courtesy: Tate

Activities â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Curatorial Intensive

Participants are invited to contribute in an open and generous way to peer-led discussions and activities, drawing on their own experiences and case studies. The programme includes intimate talks with museum professionals, artists, cultural leaders and members of Tate staff from different departments across the institution, alongside a range of workshop formats designed to encourage creative thinking and collaboration. Participants join an ongoing network of alumni offering support, inspiration and the potential for future collaborations. 85

Case Study 15

The Gwangju Biennale International Curator Course ‘Hands on’ Training The Gwangju Biennale International Curator Course is an education program specially designed by the Gwangju Biennale Foundation for emerging curators and art practitioners to cultivate expertise in curating and organizing exhibitions. Since the first course in 2009, it has been acknowledged for its excellence in providing participants with a month-long intensive training course to help them to build specialized knowledge on contemporary art and to sharpen their curatorial skills through hands-on experience. The lectures and discussion sessions linked with the preparation of the year’s biennale, in particular, are highlighted with eminent faculties and guest lecturers from the field composing leading educational contents of contemporary art discourses.

Activities — Curatorial Intensive

Courtesy: Gwangju Biennale

Next steps

Explore partnering with existing Curatorial Intensives and through sponsorship, enable the participation of Chinese and Asian curators. Create a steering committee of alumni and current partners over the first two years, who can meet and decide on relevant curriculum Identify a host city and key partners Identify a list of guest curators and select the curator tasked with conceiving the first edition in response to the steering commitee Co-select course instructors and mentors with the course leader

Activities â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Curatorial Intensive

Allocate a budget Decide on target audience of curators: open to all, closed selection process, etc Consider larger public programming around the intensives that can amplify Asymmetryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work and reach broader audiences Build ways to document process, disseminate outcomes and capture legacy Consider how each Curatorial Intensive builds on previous editions and whether it is possible in later years to replicate some of the courses in different settings to reach more curators with similar content

Activities

Residencies

Asymmetryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Residency Programme aims to expose post-emerging and mid-career Asian curators to international practice, prior to or post academic studies, as well as offer opportunities for Asian writers at all levels.

Asymmetryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Residencies are a potential future activity, taking the format of one to three-month opportunities for curators and art writers to dedicate time for research in an immersive environment, incubating ideas, expanding networks and positioning on their practice in a different context. Residencies are crucial for curatorial practitioners who cannot undertake long fellowships due to family/personal obligations or professional commitments.

Activities â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Residencies

Likewise, residencies provide an opportunity for experienced curators to have time and space for a short sabbatical or an “institutional timeout” to reflect on and consolidate their practice, as well as spark new projects. By extending its activities to Residencies, Asymmetry will be providing comprehensive support to curators, ensuring there is no gap in its provision and securing its own position as the “go to” foundation for curatorial development. Few renowned residencies for curators exist, which provides an opportunity for Asymmetry to become a leader by developing a unique support structure and network with partners. Collaborations can be forged with renowned residency programmes or institutions to ensure curators and writers are welcomed into a critical network to support them in sharpening their thinking and expanding their professional connections. For writers, there may also be publication partners such as Art Review, AsiaArtPacific, and Ocula, amongst others to provide mentoring and writing opportunities. In keeping with Asymmetry’s ethos, the residencies can emphasize cultural exchange through presentations, workshops, studio visits, public events, and collaborations as part of public programmes by the host institution and/or Asymmetry.

Activities — Residencies

Case Study 16

SAVVY Contemporary (Germany) Local resonance

The SAVVY Contemporary Residency Programme hosts national and international curators, artists and writers for a period of at least 3 months. Residents develop or pave a new trajectory in their work in relation to Berlin’s socio-political, economic and cultural status quo and history. Questions that frequent punctuate the residency programme include how arts/culture can be positioned or thought of beyond geographical constraints; how concepts and contexts of artistic expression can be realised in public spaces; and how accustomed discourses regarding the canon of art can be challenged. SPINNING TRIANGLES, summer school, 2019. Courtesy: Savvy Contemporary

Activities — Residencies

SAVVY Contemporary is located in a former power plant, the socalled “Cathedral of electricity”, built by the renowned architect Hans Heinrich Müller. There, residents work and hold seminars, workshops and lectures during the course of the residency. Accommodation is separate – just 500m away from the premises.

Case Study 17

Jan van Eyck Academie (The Netherlands) Post academic grounding The Van Eyck is a post-academic institute for artistic talent development with an international outlook. The core values that the Van Eyck aspires to are connection, cooperation, engagement and process. These core concepts intersect with and reinforce one another, and together form the Van Eyckâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s identity. The Jan Van Eyck Academie offers 12-month residencies for artists and curators to broaden their horizons and develop their practice in depth. Each participant is equipped with a private studio, guidance of advisers, and shared facilities such as their library and Labs (Photography & Audiovisual, Materials & Construction, Food, Printing & Publishing and Future Materials). The Jan van Eyck Academie features departments for Nature Research, Art & Society, and Research & Education, which support residents in realizing their projects in collaboration with external parties. In addition to their individual projects, participants are encouraged to collaboratively develop an In-Lab project and contribute to the public programme.

Activities â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Residencies

Courtesy: Jan van Eyck Academie

Case study 18

ONASSIS AIR (Greece) Disruption and unlearning

Courtesy: Onassis Air

Activities — Residencies

ONASSIS Air supports Greek and international artists, curators and thinkers working in time-based artistic disciplines who wish to deepen, reconsider, transform or un-learn their practice or methodology without expectations or restraints of the production frenzy. The programme, space and resources are rooted in an undisciplined, artist-run community of peers. A place where all the participants can work and think and eat together as a community that does not strive for the next project, the next premiere, the next product. A community and space that is very much local. A community that has the ability to pause, to rethink how each one of us functions within the society we live in. A space that offers time. Time to learn, to change, or go deeper, by doing and undoing or non-doing. The three-month programme includes in depth conversations, meetings and a two-day workshop led by a guest mentor.

Case study 19

Asia Art Archive (Hong Kong) Animating Archives Asia Art Archive’s Residency Programme catalyses new ideas through invited artists and creative practitioners who engage with the collections that AAA holds, the ideas that shape us, and the sites we, as a society, inhabit. Encouraging multidisciplinary interaction with flexible time frames, AAA welcomes a wide range of creative practitioners, including artists, academics, and educators.

Courtesy: Asia Art Archive

Activities — Residencies

Case study 20

Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo (Italy) Exhibition-based outcomes Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo’s Young Curators Residency programme consists of a three-month research residency that has the dual objective of developing the professional and critical skills of young curators, while disseminating knowledge of the Italian art scene on an international level. The residency offers the opportunity for three selected candidates to undertake in-depth research, which sees the curators visiting artists’ studios, museums and art institutions across Italy under the guidance of an Italian curator. This culminates in an exhibition curated with the support of the team of Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo.

Activities — Residencies

Participants are recent graduates of the most relevant international programmes for curators, and they are nominated by their faculty. These include: Royal College of Art, London; Graduate Program, Center for Curatorial Studies, Bard College, New York; Curatorial Program, De Appel, Amsterdam; CuratorLab, Konstfack University of Arts, Stockholm; Independent Study Program, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; MFA Curating, Goldsmiths University of London; MA Curatorial Practice, California College of the Arts, San Francisco; MAS/CAS Curating, Zurich University of the Arts.

Potential Residency Partners Ashkal Alwan (Lebanon) Asia Art Archive (Hong Kong) Banff (Canada) BAR Project (Spain) Camargo Foundation (France) DAAD Artists in Berlin Program (Germany) Delfina Foundation (UK) Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo (Italy) Hangar (Spain) Iaspis (Sweden) Jan van Eyck Academie (The Netherlands) KfW Stiftung (Germany) ONASSIS AIR (Greece) Raw Material Company (Senegal) Residency Unlimited (USA) Rupert (Lithuania) SAVVY Contemporary (Germany) The International Studio & Curatorial Program (ISCP) (USA) The Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center (Italy) Villa Lena (Italy) 96

Selection Process

Activities â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Residencies

Residents will be jointly selected by Asymmetry and the host institution through an open call or nomination process, depending on the partnersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; standard procedure. Some partners will prefer to manage the entire process with Asymmetryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s input and support, while others may be open to Asymmetry managing the application as well as shortlisting process with the finalist selected through joint interviews.

Basic elements of the application and interview process should assess each candidates’: — Previous and current working experience within the visual arts — Ongoing research and areas of development — Proven ability, attitude and willingness to work collaboratively — Ability to demonstrate how the residency experience will benefit their practice and career development Each residency will also have their specific timelines for applications but as a general rule, it is necessary for selected residents to have around six months’ notice to get their affairs in order at home to undertake a residency of this length abroad.

Activities — Residencies

Activities

Philanthropic Grants

Asymmetry’s Philanthropic Grants aims to encourage pioneering research and ambitious productions that expand cultural knowledge and artistic exchange in and about Asia by providing key philanthropic and strategic support.

Initially, Asymmetry’s Grants will be available to its alumni on a discretionary basis, providing key resources to sustain these relationships and further support their work. In turn, some of the activities can form part of Asymmetry’s Public Programming. Examples include:

Activities — Philanthropic Grants

— Awarding the best research project that emerges from Asymmetry’s Curatorial Intensive — Funding a collaborative project between participants in Asymmetry’s Asia and International Forum — Supporting a pop-up exhibition that results from one of Asymmetry’s Curatorial Residents — Publishing a book stemming from research by Asymmetry’s Goldsmiths PhD Scholars — Sponsoring an international conference by one of Asymmetry’s Post-Doc Fellows

100

In the future, this scheme could be open more widely. Few foundations offer dedicated financial support to curators working globally or specifically in Asia. Asymmetry’s Grants can tackle fundamental gaps in the funding of curatorial research, production and travel, while also operating strategically and discretely. Research & Production Grants Beyond the alumni focus, grants can be available for Asian and international curators and writers through invitation, nomination, and open calls for academic projects, publishing, exhibitions, and public programmes. Such selection processes will enable Asymmetry to get a ‘snapshot’ of current thinking by curators in and about Asia, which might be of benefit to its other programmes. The Grants can also be open to select institutions and art spaces by invitation only.

Activities — Philanthropic Grants

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As an example, Asymmetry can allocate an amount of funding, say, £100,000 annually that is awarded to several participants or organisations through a selection process with a jury awarding £25,000 each. Asymmetry can then provide additional PR support, which will both benefit the project as well as Asymmetry’s own profile. All grants should fund activities that can be cross-promoted and co-branded within Asymmetry’s Public Programming. Travel Grants Grants can be available for curators to conduct independent research, develop partnerships, or attend key events, which converge thought leaders and push forward curatorial and museum practice. These include major biennales, fairs, and conferences, where Asymmetry is formally recognised as a partner by supporting attendees from Asia. For example, Asymmetry could partner with CIMAM (International Committee for Museums and Collections of Modern Art) and support the participation of Chinese and Asian curators with, say, a small grant of £2,500 per participant.

Activities — Philanthropic Grants

102

As another example, Asymmetry could allocate an amount of funding, say, £30,000 annually that is awarded to 10 curators (e. g. £3,000 each) through an open call selection process each year. As an outcome of these grants, Asymmetry can commission recipients to produce texts, photographic essays, podcasts, or travel diaries for its website. Likewise, Asymmetry could require each recipient to give a presentation to emerging curators or their peers as a way of “paying forward” the grant by sharing their experience more widely. Strategic Grants Funded and awarded at the discretion of Asymmetry’s Founder and Board of Trustees, strategic grants will be disseminated to special projects that relate to Asymmetry’s wider ethos. Such grants could also support projects that fall outside of the Research & Projection or Travel Grants.

Activities — Philanthropic Grants

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Case Study 21

CIMAM Travel Grants (USA) Gathering of global thought leaders CIMAM – International Committee for Museums and Collections of Modern Art – is the global platform representing the interests of curators and directors of contemporary art museums and professionals working in the field. CIMAM’s Travel Grant Program brings together partners to support the attendance of individuals to their conference as a way of supporting curatorial and research development and expanding professional networks. Professionals of all career levels are encouraged to apply but priority is given to junior professionals (less than 10 years’ experience).

Activities — Philanthropic Grants

Courtesy: CIMAM

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Case Study 22

The Creative Capital/The Andy Warhol Foundation (USA) Boosting arts criticism

2019 recipients of The Creative Capital | Andy Warhol Foundation Arts Writers Grant Program. Courtesy: Creative Capital

Activities — Philanthropic Grants

The Creative Capital/Andy Warhol Foundation offers Arts Writers grants to support both emerging and established practitioners who are writing about contemporary visual art. Ranging from $15,000 USD to $50,000 USD in three categories—articles, books, and short-form writing—these grants support projects addressing both general and specialized art audiences, from short reviews for magazines and newspapers to in-depth scholarly studies. The funders also support art writing that engages criticism through interdisciplinary methods or experiments with literary styles.

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Case Study 23

Coleccion Patricia Phelps Cisneros (Latin America) Creating opportunities for scholarship in underrepresented areas The Coleccion Patricia Phelps de Cisneros (CPPC) Travel Award for Central America and the Caribbean supports a contemporary art curator based anywhere in the world to travel to Central America and the Caribbean to conduct research about art and cultural activities in the region. Intended to generate new collaborations with artists, curators, museums and cultural centres in the area, this award covers curatorial residencies, studio visits and/or archival research. The CPPC Travel Award supports a curator to visit one or multiple locations in Central America and the Caribbean for periods in-between three weeks to three months and covers the costs of up to $10,000 USD.

Activities â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Philanthropic Grants

Courtesy: Colecion Cisneros

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Case Study 24

The Roberto Cimetta Fund (Global) Intercultural exchange The Roberto Cimetta Fund (RCF) is an international non-profit making organisation created in 1999 to respond rapidly and directly to individual artists and cultural managers wishing to travel in order to develop cooperation projects between European and Arab countries – and beyond. The RCF considers mobility to be an essential learning tool and recognises that free circulation is important for practitioners to acquire intercultural competencies through confrontation, curiosity and permeation allowing for new forms of art and culture to emerge. Its Mobility Grants fosters reciprocity and equal exchange; it gives equal support to incoming and outgoing practitioners; and it provides interconnections in multicultural urban societies. In addition to Mobility Grants, RCF also provides sustaining support grants for venues, platforms and networks in the Arab geographical zone exclusively. Courtesy: Roberto Cimetta Fund

Activities — Philanthropic Grants

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Case Study 25

Jonathan Ruffer Curatorial Grants (UK) Critical Practical support

The Jonathan Ruffer Curatorial Grants, managed by The Art Fund, provide support for travel and other practical costs, to help curators, museum professionals and researchers to undertake travel and other activities that will extend and develop their curatorial expertise, collections-based knowledge and art historical interests. The grants can support, for example support UK and international travel and accommodation for research trips and conferences; training courses and programmes of study (including online); subscriptions, for example archive subscriptions; and other kinds of activity where a strong case can be made for its contribution to the development of curatorial skills and collections-based research projects.

Courtesy: Art Fund

Activities â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Philanthropic Grants

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Next steps

With the Founder and committee, set an annual budget to be awarded for each grant category (Research & Production, Travel and Strategic Grants) Consider recruiting a part-time Grants Officer, if the size of the total budget and the level of related work is significant Set the minimum and maximum amounts that practitioners can apply for within each category Outline criteria for each category that align with Asymmetry’s objectives If desired, identify partners for Travel Grants (e. g. museum conferences, biennales, etc.) and/or support independent travel

Activities — Philanthropic Grants

Appoint a jury to assess applications, which could include Asymmetry-alumni, academics, and established curators that rotate each year – jury members should be paid an honorarium for their time Set timelines for each open call, jury process, and terms of the award – for example, applications might be accepted once or twice a year Recruit an external consultant to evaluate the grants as well as internal reporting systems to assess the impact of the grants Cross-promote and co-brand activities, identifying ways for Asymmetry to share and disseminate outcomes as part of its own Public Programming or website.

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Asymmetry Art Foundation has the potential to become a trailblazer in the art world by offering wide-ranging support to curators and building a bridge for cultural exchange across Asia and the rest of the world. Its inaugural activities of Curatorial Fellowships and Scholarships will demonstrate Asymmetry’s focus on individual education and practice development through ground-breaking partnerships and dynamic Public Programming. Asymmetry’s Curatorial Forums and Curatorial Intensives will later complement its inaugural programme, creating opportunities for collective activities: peer-to-peer engagements, group discussions/study trips, and cross-regional and international networking. The potential areas of development around Residencies and Philanthropic Grants will further widen Asymmetry’s reach and increase Asymmetry’s influence. These additional provisions will close the gap, offering more comprehensive support to the arts eco-system, securing Asymmetry’s position and competitive advantage over current and forthcoming initiatives. Asymmetry’s success will further be determined by its ability to continually innovate and remain relevant.

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Asymmetry should consider Harnessing the power of its alumni by: — creating a steering group to benefit from their knowledge and insight to inform Asymmetry’s current and future activities — providing ongoing support and services to sustain their career, promote their work, and solidify their position in the art world Balancing the need for fresh and unexpected partnerships against renewing existing collaborations with proven successes Identifying Asymmetry’s weak spots or gaps in its support to curators and working other organisations to address these areas.

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Asymmetry cannot fulfil every need, and Asymmetry’s strength is in its unique focus; still, it can play a key role as a broker and advocate on behalf of the arts sector. For example: — Although Asymmetry’s focus does not include emerging curators, it can be a resource for them by signposting pertinent opportunities and organisations via its website and social media that might benefit such practitioners. Asymmetry can also use its Public Programming strand, from time-to-time, as way to engage emerging curators and expose them to best practices through lectures, exhibitions, and other activities. — Asymmetry can use its influence to encourage other initiatives and patrons to support geographic areas that it cannot. Asia is a large and diverse region; local knowledge and support will be necessary to effect widespread change. Asymmetry could consider forming alliances and sharing its network and methodology with like-minded initiatives and patrons – or nurturing the formation of new entities. Asian Cultural Council’s regional offices offer a potential example to develop further. — Likewise, Asymmetry can foster global organisations to engage more with Asia as well as offer support to international practitioners who are interested in the region, as well as Asian practitioners. Conclusions

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Lastly, Asymmetry should put in place internal and external mechanisms to evaluate its work, both formally and informally. Such work should be undertaken by individual recipients reflecting on their experiences, as well as by its team, Committee members, the potential alumni steering group, and specialist consultants on a periodical basis to ensure an 360-degree evaluation. After three years, Asymmetry should also revisit its mission against its achievements so far and developments in the arts sector to date in order to re-align its activities or continue with full vigour. As a result, Asymmetry will remain not only on the cutting edge but at the forefront of contemporary curatorial practice. Furthermore, Asymmetry will be emboldened to wield its power and influence to inspire others.

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Credits

Produced by Delfina Foundation: Aaron Cezar, Director Salma Tuqan, Deputy Director Gillean Dickie, Head of Operations In consultation with Asymmetry Art Foundation: Du Yan, Founder and Director MichĂ¨le Ruo Yi Landolt, Deputy Director Designed by: objectif.co.uk

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