Emerging Curator Opportunity

Emerging Curator OpportunityFebruary 2025

CoCA empowers artists to create and share work with Waitaha communities that deepen connections to our place and our stories.   We are pleased to announce an open call for expressions of interest from emerging curators with connections to Ōtautahi, and who have a commitment to supporting diverse approaches to contemporary visual arts practice.  

This is a professional development opportunity for an emerging curator to develop a group exhibition alongside artists, and with the support of the CoCA team, as well as to conceive public programming that activates engagement and dialogue around this exhibition.

 
CoCA is interested in innovative approaches to curatorial practice. This opportunity is open to artists, curators, writers and other creative practitioners who are interested in gaining curatorial experience. We welcome bold and ambitious programming, and programming aligned with CoCA’s goal of supporting under-represented artists and communities. 


The exhibition is scheduled to open 24 October, and will run for around two weeks. The role is a part time fixed term contract starting in mid March 2025. Applicants must be based in Ōtautahi while carrying out the emerging curator role.


If you are interested, please email the following to proposals@coca.org.nz by 11.59pm 7 March 2025:

 
A CV including any relevant artistic and/or curatorial experience (2 page maximum)
A short concept proposal introducing your curatorial practice and how you would approach this curatorial opportunity. Include key ideas, proposed artists, initial ideas for public programming (500 – 750 words)


The concept proposal will be the starting point for conversation and development with the CoCA team. Support will be given to develop and realise the exhibition and public programming.

 

Emerging Curator Brief

Develop and deliver a group exhibition for the Ō Papa gallery at CoCA 24 October to 9 November 2025 including concept development, research, and writing.

There may be an option to draw from the proposals submitted during CoCA’s 2024 Open Call for Proposals, and/or curators are able to suggest artists and practitioners separately.

 

Emerging Curator Responsibilities

- Liaise with all artists involved in the exhibition programme

- Help develop exhibition public programming and events

- Help CoCA’s Exhibitions Delivery Manager and Operations Manager to manage the exhibition budget

- Liaise with the CoCA Programming Group, an artist-led group who programme CoCA’s exhibitions

- Assist with install and deinstall of the exhibition

- Assist with public programme delivery

  

Email applications as a single PDF document to proposals@coca.org.nz by 11.59pm 7 March 2025. Please name your file using the following format: YourName_CuratorProposal2025

 
If you have any questions or require support to complete this application, please email proposals@coca.org.nz