Curating Tools

Call for Curators and Node Center

Call for Curators and Node Center for Curatorial Studies present Curating Tools, a podcast that explores the practicalities of curatorial work. By engaging in discussions with prolific curators and art professionals, we strive to share the necessary tools and guidance to advance your curatorial practice. Our host is Maria Cynkier, a curator and researcher working in the fields of art, ecology and digital culture. Follow Call for Curators @call_for_curators Follow Node Center @nodecenter read less
ArtsArts

Episodes

How To Write Art Criticism Creatively
Today
How To Write Art Criticism Creatively
What role does personal experience play in art writing? How can collaboration enrich the process of curating and critiquing art? How does art criticism evolve in the digital age? Is art criticism dead?  In this engaging episode of Curating Tools Podcast, we delve into the world of art writing with the insightful curator, writer, and art critic An Paenhuysen. An shares her journey from academia to the contemporary art world, highlighting her innovative approach to art criticism and writing. To listen to the extended episode, try Call For Curators Membership, starting at €2.95/month: https://callforcurators.com/registration/  Meet our guest, An Paenhuysen is a curator, writer and art critic in Berlin. After completing her doctorate in cultural history, she started her curatorial career at Hamburger Bahnhof, Museum of Contemporary Art, Berlin. From 2019 to 2022 she was the director of The House of The Deadly Doris, where she organised eventualities to activate its 1980s punk archive.  An is a fan of the small format and in 2020 she founded the publishing project AAAAA PPPPP Publishing for short format art writing. She is part of the collective minìsae that bridges the disciplines of writing, visual arts, somatics, and dance. Curating Tools is a podcast exploring the practical aspects of curatorial work. Through conversations with some of the most prolific curators and art professionals in the creative sector, we aim to provide you with tools and advice to help you develop your curatorial practice. This podcast is brought to you by Call for Curators, providing professional art opportunities since 2012, and Node Center for Curatorial Studies, the pioneering e-learning platform for curators and art professionals founded in 2009. Follow Call For Curators on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. Follow Node Center for Curatorial Studies in Berlin on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Editing by Maria Cynkier. Intro music by Dan Carr.
How to Work with Collections Collaboratively with Tšhegofatšo Mabaso
30-04-2024
How to Work with Collections Collaboratively with Tšhegofatšo Mabaso
How can curators work with collections collaboratively? Which methodologies have the potential to increase museums’ transparency? Is collecting necessary for institutions? What are living archives?  Join us in this inspiring episode with an artist and curator Tšhegofatšo Mabaso. Explore the context of working with collections and archives, uncover new modes of working within an institutional context and understand the importance of questioning the status quo.  To listen to the extended episode, try Call For Curators Membership, starting at €2.95/month: https://callforcurators.com/registration/  Meet our guest, Tšhegofatšo Mabaso who is an artist, curator, and researcher based in Cape Town, South Africa. In her practice, she is interested in experimental approaches to knowledge production, exploring new curatorial methods and imagining new forms, whether for exhibitions, collections or institutions.  Collaboration influences her thinking, drawing on the wealth of knowledge and approaches collectives have offered us historically. Her current research looks to what queerness as a mode of being in the world offers and incites a critical and generative space for knowledge production and possibilities of radical futures.  Notable recent projects include: Territories Between Us, Iziko SANG (2021); it is a gathering of the elders with George Hallett, Michaelis Gallery (2022); - and counting (2019) Johannesburg Art Gallery. Curating Tools is a podcast exploring the practical aspects of curatorial work. Through conversations with some of the most prolific curators and art professionals in the creative sector, we aim to provide you with tools and advice to help you develop your curatorial practice. This podcast is brought to you by Call for Curators, providing professional art opportunities since 2012, and Node Center for Curatorial Studies, the pioneering e-learning platform for curators and art professionals founded in 2009. Follow Call For Curators on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. Follow Node Center for Curatorial Studies in Berlin on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Editing by Maria Cynkier. Intro music by Dan Carr.
Curating Tools with Sean Lee: Disability, art and cultural accessibility
08-01-2024
Curating Tools with Sean Lee: Disability, art and cultural accessibility
How can artists with disabilities be supported in their careers? What is the difference between therapy art and disability arts? Join us in this insightful episode with an artist and curator Sean Lee. Delve into the intersection of art and disability, uncover the transformative power of inclusive curation, and understand the importance of accessibility in the arts.  This is a short version of this podcast episode. To gain access to the full-length video version and more exclusive podcast content, sign up to the Call For Curators Membership. It starts at only €2.95/month and we offer a 7-day free trial. Sign up here. This podcast is brought to you by Call for Curators, providing professional art opportunities since 2012, and Node Center for Curatorial Studies, the pioneering e-learning platform for curators and art professionals founded in 2009.  Meet our guest, Sean Lee. Orienting towards a “crip horizon”, he is interested in the transformative possibilities of crip community building and accessible curatorial practices that desire the ways disability can disrupt. Sean is currently the Director of Programming at Tangled Art + Disability. He holds a B.A. in Arts Management and Studio from UTSC. Sean is also an independent curator, lecturer, and advisor, adding his insights and perspectives to conversations across Canada, the US, and internationally. Sean sits on numerous committees and serves on the board of the Toronto Arts Council and CARFAC Ontario, and is a member of the OAC’s Deaf and Disability Advisory Committee and Chair of TAC’s Visual and Media Arts Committee. Our host ⁠Maria Cynkier⁠ is an independent curator and researcher working in the fields of art, ecology and digital culture. In her practice, she is concerned with the social, political and material impacts of new technologies on humans, non-humans and the environment. She often works within the framework of speculative storytelling and worldbuilding tactics that enable critical dialogue. Follow Call For Curators on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok.  Follow Node Center for Curatorial Studies in Berlin on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok.  Audio editing by Maria Cynkier. Intro music by Dan Carr.
How to Manage Finances as a Freelancer with Birgit Bosold
30-10-2023
How to Manage Finances as a Freelancer with Birgit Bosold
How to effectively manage finances as a freelance worker in art and culture? What is financial resilience? What mindset and skills are useful in building it? This episode discusses ways to improve your financial well-being and de-mystify financial literacy. Birgit Bosold is an independent financial coach and consultant, as well as a board member of the Schwules Museum Berlin. She has been crucial to the dynamic development of the museum over the past decade, not least by designing and implementing successful fundraising strategies. After completing her studies and doctorate in literature, she worked at various renowned banks and has been a freelance consultant in portfolio management for (small) companies, foundations, and private clients for more than 15 years. If you want to learn more about managing your finances as an art professional, don't miss out on Birgit's upcoming workshop at Node: https://nodecenter.net/course/financial-management-for-freelancers-in-arts-and-culture Curating Tools is a podcast exploring the practical aspects of curatorial work. Through conversations with some of the most prolific curators and art professionals in the creative sector, we aim to provide you with tools and advice to help you develop your curatorial practice. This podcast is brought to you by Call For Curators, a platform promoting professional opportunities since 2012 and Node Center for Curatorial Studies, the first e-learning platform for curators and art professionals founded in 2009, and is hosted by curator and researcher Maria Cynkier. Call For Curators Members get exclusive access to the expanded version of the podcast episode. Prior to recording, they have the opportunity to send questions to our guests, and then hear their responses in the Members' episodes. CFC Membership starts at €2.95/month. Try it for free for 1 week here. Follow Call For Curators on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. Follow Node Center for Curatorial Studies in Berlin on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok. Editing by Maria Cynkier Intro music by Dan Carr.
Digital Art Market Evolutions with Marco Mancuso
04-09-2023
Digital Art Market Evolutions with Marco Mancuso
What obstacles hinder the sale of digital artworks? How does the act of collecting these artworks present difficulties for institutions? In this episode, we engage in a conversation with Marco Mancuso, an esteemed critic and curator of contemporary art who delves into the intersection of technology, science, design, architecture, and sound. Explore narratives surrounding the digital art market, artworks born in the digital realm, the visionaries propelling the digital art revolution, and those pushing the boundaries of the art market through innovative technologies. To listen to the full episode, try Call For Curators Membership, starting at €2.95/month: https://callforcurators.com/registration/  Meet our guest, Marco Mancuso, a critic and curator of contemporary art, in the relationship with technology and science and in the dialogue with the fields of design, architecture and sound. Founder and director of the Digicult project, he is a full professor at the Carrara Academy of Fine Arts in Bergamo, an adjunct professor at the Alma Mater University of Bologna and a visiting professor at the Node Curatorial Center in Berlin. PhD in Digital Cultures at the Iuav University of Venice, he is interested in how the interdisciplinary discourse investigates the ways in which technoscience influences culture, society and the relationship between human beings and the context, observing the evolution of production, research and market of media art and digital art. Among the founders of the study center SSH! – Sound studies Hub at the Iuav University of Venice, he is part of the EMAP/EMARE Network and has published the books “Arte, Tecnologia e Scienza“ (2018) and “Intervista con la New Media Art“ (2020) for Mimesis Edizioni. Curating Tools is a podcast exploring the practical aspects of curatorial work. Through conversations with some of the most prolific curators and art professionals in the creative sector, we aim to provide you with tools and advice to help you develop your curatorial practice. This podcast is brought to you by Call for Curators, providing professional art opportunities since 2012, and Node Center for Curatorial Studies, the pioneering e-learning platform for curators and art professionals founded in 2009. Follow Call For Curators on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok. Follow Node Center for Curatorial Studies in Berlin on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok. Editing by Maria Cynkier. Intro music by Dan Carr.
Hesperia Iliadou-Suppiej: History and Contemporary Landscapes of Curating
05-07-2023
Hesperia Iliadou-Suppiej: History and Contemporary Landscapes of Curating
Who decides what curating history is? How do biennales respond to local histories? Join host Maria Cynkier in the conversation with Hesperia Iliadou-Suppiej, an award-winning curator and museum consultant. Learn about exhibition histories and their importance to contemporary practices from Hesperia Iliadou-Suppiej who shares her favourite shows and demystifies the workings of global biennales.  This podcast is brought to you by Call for Curators, providing professional art opportunities since 2012, and Node Center for Curatorial Studies, the pioneering e-learning platform for curators and art professionals founded in 2009.  Meet our guest, Hesperia Iliadou-Suppiej lives and works in Venice, as an academic specialised in museum and curatorial studies. She is an award-winning curator and museum consultant, currently a member of the international museum specialists’ committee for the creation of the new National Contemporary Art Museum in Prague.  She made part of the Abu Dhabi National Museums (Louvre & Guggenheim) Curatorial Programme, conducting master classes for their staff on curating, curatorial narratives, and expanding exhibitions through public programming. Hesperia was the Curator of the Malta National Pavilion at the Venice Art Biennale of 2019 and Curator of the Inaugural Exhibition for the European Capital of Culture, Paphos 2017. She acted as deputy Commissioner for the Venice Biennale, the Cyprus National Pavilion in 2014, and 2016 and collaborator for the Greek National Pavilion in 2021. Her research focuses on decolonial, inclusive and conflict transformation practices in Museum curating with a special interest in the artistic and cultural practices of the Mediterranean region. She is currently the elected curator for the VCU 25th anniversary exhibition in Qatar. Our host ⁠Maria Cynkier⁠ is an independent curator and researcher working in the fields of art, ecology and digital culture. In her practice, she is concerned with the social, political and material impacts of new technologies on humans, non-humans and the environment. She often works within the framework of speculative storytelling and worldbuilding tactics that enable critical dialogue. Follow Call For Curators on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok.  Follow Node Center for Curatorial Studies in Berlin on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok.  Audio editing by Maria Cynkier.  Intro music by Dan Carr.
Why Curators Should Prioritise Accessibility with Sean Lee
27-05-2023
Why Curators Should Prioritise Accessibility with Sean Lee
How do disability arts disrupt normative systemic barriers? What do we mean by access? Join host Maria Cynkier in the conversation with Sean Lee (he/they), an artist and curator exploring the notion of disability art as the last avant-garde. Learn about the histories behind disability activism, practitioners and artworks that inspire Sean and how curators can create more inclusive and inviting art environments. This podcast is brought to you by Call for Curators, providing professional art opportunities since 2012, and Node Center for Curatorial Studies, the pioneering e-learning platform for curators and art professionals founded in 2009.  Meet our guest, Sean Lee. Orienting towards a “crip horizon”, he is interested in the transformative possibilities of crip community building and accessible curatorial practices that desire the ways disability can disrupt. Sean is currently the Director of Programming at Tangled Art + Disability. He holds a B.A. in Arts Management and Studio from UTSC. Sean is also an independent curator, lecturer, and advisor, adding his insights and perspectives to conversations across Canada, the US, and internationally. Sean sits on numerous committees and serves on the board of the Toronto Arts Council and CARFAC Ontario, and is a member of the OAC’s Deaf and Disability Advisory Committee and Chair of TAC’s Visual and Media Arts Committee. Our host ⁠Maria Cynkier⁠ is an independent curator and researcher working in the fields of art, ecology and digital culture. In her practice, she is concerned with the social, political and material impacts of new technologies on humans, non-humans and the environment. She often works within the framework of speculative storytelling and worldbuilding tactics that enable critical dialogue. Follow Call For Curators on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok.  Follow Node Center for Curatorial Studies in Berlin on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok.  Audio editing by Maria Cynkier.  Intro music by Dan Carr.
What Makes Good Exhibition Texts with Joe Rowley
11-05-2023
What Makes Good Exhibition Texts with Joe Rowley
How can exhibition texts enhance an audience's understanding of art? And what makes a good exhibition text? Join host Maria Cynkier in the first episode of Curating Tools, as she interviews independent curator and producer, Joe Rowley. Discover why Joe hates art speak, where to find inspiration for your exhibition texts, and what ethicals responsibilities curators have when communicating to audiences. This podcast is brought to you by by Call for Curators, providing professional art opportunities since 2012, and Node Center for Curatorial Studies, the pioneering e-learning platform for curators and art professionals founded in 2009. Meet our guest, Joe Rowley, an independent curator based in Göteborg, Sweden. Currently, Rowley is working as the producer for Göteborg International Biennial for Contemporary Art (GIBCA), curated by João Laia and launching in September 2023. He is also a member of the research group Ephemeral Care, which explores ethics structures and practice in artist-run initiatives, and an educator, running two programs related to arts writing for Node Center for Curatorial Studies. Visit Joe’s website http://www.joerowley.xyz/ and follow him on Instagram @j________r________ Our host ⁠Maria Cynkier⁠ is an independent curator and researcher working in the fields of art, ecology and digital culture. In her practice, she is concerned with the social, political and material impacts of new technologies on humans, non-humans and the environment. She often works within the framework of speculative storytelling and worldbuilding tactics that enable critical dialogue. Follow Call For Curators on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok. Follow Node Center for Curatorial Studies in Berlin on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok. Audio editing by Maria Cynkier. Intro music by Dan Carr.