curatorial residency

The Gardiner Museum in Toronto is seeking proposals for its annual Gardiner Museum Curatorial Residency.

The Gardiner Museum Curatorial Residency provides the successful applicant with a paid opportunity to conceive, research, and produce a small-scale museum exhibition and gain experience in a professional environment. The aims of the Residency are to support a new and diverse generation of aspiring and emerging curators by offering them an opportunity to communicate their ideas to a broad public; to promote new approaches to the study and presentation of ceramics; and to encourage innovative research on the Gardiner’s permanent collection in an international context. The Curatorial Residency is an annual program, launched in 2022. Unsuccessful applicants from previous years are encouraged to apply again.

About the Residency:

The Curatorial Residency program is typically about 20 weeks long and its main outcome is an exhibition presented at the Museum. The exhibition should focus on clay or ceramic works, works that are primarily ceramic, or ceramic works in context with other objects or artworks. The theme should be of contemporary relevance and informed by the latest scholarship, whether the actual objects are historical or contemporary. As one of the objectives of the Residency is to advance knowledge and interpretation of the Gardiner’s collection, the exhibition should draw from or directly relate to the Museum’s holdings.

There are two components within the residency to achieve this goal. The first is a travel component (typically 2 – 4 weeks), with financial support for the selected applicant’s travel outside of Canada to research their exhibition, including visiting other museums. This invaluable experience will enhance the exhibition, deepen its scholarship, and provide a unique opportunity for professional and personal growth. The second component is full-time work at the Gardiner Museum (typically 16 – 18 weeks). This portion of the residency focuses on the research, development, writing, and realization phases of the exhibition, along with participation in the regular curatorial operations of the Museum, through which the selected applicant gains broader exposure to Museum practice.

The Curatorial Resident will also give at least one public presentation about their exhibition and contribute to the Gardiner’s digital platforms with content about their project. The Resident may include additional programs or a publication as part of their proposal; any element must be reflected within the project budget.

Please note that the position requires the Resident to work mostly on site.