WS Chronicle

The Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (SECCA) is seeking a guest curator for an upcoming project. We are looking for new voices and new perspectives.

Duration: This will be a part-time position with flexible hours, based on the development and implementation of the exhibition. SECCA anticipates an average of ten hours of work per week during the development of the exhibition, and 30 hours per week for two to three weeks of the installation and opening of the exhibition. Additional hours for programming development and implementation may evolve for this project and will result in additional compensation.

Duties: The guest curator will work with the curator of contemporary art to develop an open call, solicit artists and groups to be involved, work with a team to select participants in the exhibition, determine the exhibition checklist, assist with the layout and installation, write label copy for the exhibition, and be present for the opening reception and other events to be decided in conjunction with the rest of SECCA’s staff. One of the first tasks of the guest curator will be to work with the staff at SECCA to develop a letter of understanding for duties involved, to ensure fair and equitable distribution of labor and resources in the development and implementation of the exhibition.

The Exhibition: SECCA is interested in developing a collaborative exhibition that showcases work being produced in response to the current moment, primarily the onset of and quarantine surrounding COVID-19 and the protests and events surrounding the death of George Floyd and the wider Black Lives Matter movement. As a contemporary art center, it is our obligation to present work that responds to current events. Ideally this exhibition will involve works of art that look back on 2020 and look ahead to the future, with an emphasis on healing and growing. SECCA does not anticipate that works of art will be borrowed from institutional collections. The guest curator will focus on working directly with artists.

The exhibition will be mounted in SECCA’s Main Gallery, a 6,000 square foot space, with opportunities for other installations in the wider community. We will consider projects that explore the wider range of creative expression, including graphic design, documentary film and photography, and performing arts. It is our hope that the guest curator can help develop a dynamic and democratic open call for submissions and work with artists and creatives who may not have experience with museum spaces. SECCA is open to an organic and evolving installation that changes over the course of the exhibition run, as long as the exhibition features high quality works of art.

SECCA does not anticipate that the exhibition will travel to other organizations or produce a physical catalog. The exhibition run will likely start in November 2021 and run for five to six months, with the exact dates established by the guest curator and curator of contemporary art as the project evolves.

The Candidate: The ideal candidate will be familiar with the N.C. Triad region (Winston-Salem, Greensboro, High Point), have or be able to develop solid working relationships with community organizations outside of SECCA’s normal reach, and have the ability to identify and analyze the socioeconomic and political issues facing Black and minority communities in the region.

Previous experience with museum exhibitions and a familiarity with SECCA is a plus, but is not required. A degree in art history, studio art, arts administration or museum studies would be beneficial, but is also not required. The position is designed for someone seriously considering a future career in museums and the art world. 

Must have reliable transportation for attending meetings at SECCA, meeting with members of the community, and visiting artist studios, although much of the work may be conducted remotely.

Compensation: $5,000 (which represents 20% of the anticipated exhibition budget)

Application Process:

Resume: 1-2 pages

Cover Letter: 1 page, explaining who you are, why you are interested in this position, and some of the skills that you can bring to the table

Optional: Samples/portfolio of previous exhibitions (in PDF format); a curatorial vision statement

SECCA is an EOE/Veterans/Disabled/LGBT employer.

Deadline for submission: Friday, February 12, 2021

Applications and further questions can be submitted to Wendy Earle, curator of contemporary Art at SECCA, at wendy.earle@ncdcr.gov.