New Zealand curators invited to build art links with Asia

New Zealand curators will sample some of Asia’s most dynamic contemporary art scenes on a tour run by the Asia New Zealand Foundation in partnership with Creative New Zealand.

Up to three curators will visit art museums, galleries and artist spaces in South Korea, Japan and Taiwan during the 2014 Curator Tour, which will run from 2nd to 19th September.

The programme includes visits to the Gwangju Biennale and Media City Seoul in Korea, and the Taipei Biennale. Participants will build professional networks and explore possible future collaborations and artist exchanges.

Asia New Zealand Foundation Director of Culture Jennifer King says this is the fifth year of the Curator Tour programme, which has given curators something of a crash course in contemporary art in North Asia and helped them appreciate the region’s relevance for a New Zealand audience.

King explains “previous tours have led to exciting exhibitions of works by Asian artists in New Zealand, and also helped curators explore opportunities for New Zealand artists to have their works exhibited in Asia.

“These tours have helped give curators – who are decision-makers in New Zealand’s art world – the knowledge and networks to work with confidence in Asia. It also helps raise New Zealand’s profile in the Asia-Pacific arts scene.”

Creative New Zealand also sees the value in offering curators this opportunity, with Senior Manager Cath Cardiff stating “we formed this partnership with Asia New Zealand five years ago because we understand the importance of ongoing initiatives which enable curators to build and maintain connections with their counterparts in Asia.”

The Curator Tour is one part of the Asia New Zealand Foundation’s arts programme, which also includes artist-in-residence exchanges and grants to support artists to undertake projects in Asia.

Asia New Zealand Foundation and Creative New Zealand are also partnering with Auckland’s ST PAUL St Gallery for the gallery’s 2014 Curatorial Symposium, which takes place from 18th to 20th June.

The symposium focuses on models of cultural exchange in the Asia-Pacific, and includes discussion led by former Curator Tour participants about the outcomes of the programme, as well as presentations from curators and artists whose projects engage the notion of cultural exchange.

The Asia New Zealand Foundation is a non-profit, non-partisan organisation dedicated to building New Zealand’s links with Asia through a range of programmes, including business, culture, education, media, research and a Leadership Network. The Foundation is celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year.

Applications close on Friday 27th June.

Click here for application details.