Applications for this opportunity are now closed.
Every two years Gertrude invites applications from Australian-based early practice curators for a one-off exhibition as part of the organisation’s ongoing commitment to providing opportunities for the next generation of curatorial leaders.
The successful applicant will develop a project for public presentation at Gertrude Glasshouse, Gertrude’s Collingwood-based project space, in November 2024 and be supported with an overall project budget of $7000 (consisting of $5000 project funding, $2000 curatorial fee plus superannuation). A floor plan of Gertrude Glasshouse is available here.
The applicant will be provided with additional in-kind support for the project including mentorship by Gertrude staff throughout its development, promotion, documentation, access to technical equipment, staffing, the facilitation of an opening event and a public program. Gertrude can also provide support to the applicant if approaching external funding bodies for additional project investment.
Eligibility and submission
Gertrude is seeking applications from curators who self-identify as emerging or early-career, roughly within the first ten years of professional practice. This initiative is principally intended to support curator-driven projects. Gertrude encourages applications from First Nations curators, curators with disability, LGBTQIA+ curators, and curators from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Applications for the Emerging Curator Program should centre on a focused, concept-driven, and innovative project proposal. Submissions should consider and comment on the feasibility of their project in keeping with the budget and development timeline. All applications will be assessed by a panel of Gertrude staff and external arts-industry/curatorial professionals.
Submissions should be compiled as a single PDF document that consists of:
- 300-400 word proposal that describes your project concept and feasibility (1 page)
- Selection of ten (10) relevant images relating to previous curatorial projects, artworks or content connected to your proposal or broader curatorial practice (1-2 images per page, images not exceeding 72dpi, including full captions with relevant artwork or project details)
- Curriculum Vitae (maximum 2 pages).
The submission should use the following file naming format: LastnameFirstname_GECP.
Applications are to be submitted via apply@gertrude.org.au by 11:59pm, Friday 6 October 2023. For further information or queries, or to request to submit your application in another format, please call (03) 9480 0068 or email apply@gertrude.org.au. Please note that application queries need to be emailed 48 hours before the submission deadline to allow our team time to thoughtfully respond.
About the program
Since the early 2000s the Gertrude Emerging Curator Program has supported early practice curators through a mentorship program to develop a new exhibition and is presented in alternate years. The program is Gertrude’s mechanism to support early practice curators to provide professional development and present a project with a public outcome. Over the years, many of Australia’s most interesting young curators have participated in the program and gone on to forge significant careers in the arts working in major public institutions in Australia and internationally.