CLOSED – Curator for Sound Art Project

Sounds Now is looking for a curator who will serve as the central point of contact for the creation of five sound art installations in five European cities.

ABOUT THIS PROJECT

“Sound Art in Public Spaces: reinventing public space (for all)”

The interpretation, importance and even the very definition of public space has been under enormous pressure this past year. Luckily, great pressure often leads to valuable learning and outcomes. Critically approaching and ultimately reinventing public space is one of the central challenges we face today. Not only are traditional social systems and structures changing rapidly, but for the first time in our lives, we’ve experienced the devastating effects of a pandemic on public space.

Depending on a list of variables – income, place of residence, age, gender, cultural or religious background – public space has either been significantly limited or enhanced this past year. Some people and communities felt the need for a valuable public space much more than others. Some discovered the importance of and access to public space for the very first time in their lives, others were faced with losing it altogether. How do we ensure that this space becomes and remains accessible to the enormously diverse groups in our society? And how do we fill it in so that it is safe and meaningful for all of us?

With “Sound Art in Public Spaces: reinventing public space (for all)” we investigate how people from different backgrounds interpret public space and to what extent it is (in)accessible to them. We invite five artists to take a critical look at how the public space is perceived for and by various groups in a society under unprecedented pressure, as a result of this health crisis. What has been the most important function of public space throughout this pandemic? And (how) should it shift in a post-pandemic future? How can we, as a society, reinvent public space if we want it to be an inclusive and equal environment for humans, regardless of their income, place of residence, gender, age, cultural or religious background?

The sound art installation will be presented by 5 partners of Sounds Now at their respective festivals:

• Wilde Westen (Belgium) – October 2021
• November Music (Netherlands) – November 2021
• SPOR festival (Denmark) – 2022
• Onassis Stegi (Greece) – 2022
• Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival (Norway) – 2022

REQUIREMENTS

Who are you?

• You have experience in production/project management.
• You have experience in the field of sound art.
• You rely on an extensive network in the sound art world.
• You have a proven track record in and have an eye for diversity and inclusivity, two key factors in this Sounds Now initiative.
• You can envision, develop and execute an artistic project.
• You are inventive and creative and willing to deal with the current (travel) restrictions.

Your responsibilities?

• Your task is to present an artistic concept that explores the future of an inclusive public space.
• In consultation with the festival partners you will select five artists who will each create a sound art installation for this project. Their work should be presented at every partaking festival, taking into account the current traveling restrictions.
• You are also charged with budget control, research and implementation of the artists’ work in different locations in Europe.
• You are the first point of contact for the production team of every festival.

Your conditions?

• You work from the comfort of your own home.
• You will be allocated a total budget of 5,000 euro as a curator. A separate budget is of course provided for the artists.

Applications (CV, motivation letter with artistic proposal and examples of artists that illustrate your curatorial preferences, references…) should be sent to info@sounds-now.eu by February 28, 2021.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.