Brief for Curator for Venice Architecture Biennale, 2010
Ireland at Venice is an initiative of Culture Ireland in partnership with the Arts Council. The Irish Architecture Foundation (IAF) has been appointed to act as the Commissioner for Ireland's national representation at the Venice Biennale in 2010. Working with Culture Ireland and the Arts Council, the IAF is to manage an open selection process for Curator.
Background
Culture Ireland is committed to Irish participation in the Venice Architecture Biennale and is working closely with the Arts Council to increase opportunities and profile for Irish architects at this key international event. The Venice Architecture Biennale, as well as serving as a global showcase for architecture, offers the opportunity for Irish architects to engage with international audiences, influence future trends and explore their practice as an artform outside the constraints of the building industry. Ireland's previous participation in the Venice Architecture Biennale is listed below and it has become practice for the presentations to subsequently tour in Ireland. The IAF has delivered successful exhibitions for the Venice Architecture Biennale, in the role of Commissioner in 2006 and Commissioner/Curator in 2008.
Curator
The role of the Curator is to originate the concept for the exhibition and the participants who will respond to the concept. The Curator must have the capacity to work with the Commissioner to deliver the concept to presentation stage. The Curator is the sole author of the idea and concept.
Commissioner
The Commissioner will work closely with the Curator to support the delivery of the project and will lead on project management, management of budget (including fundraising), venue research, communications and press, liaison with the Biennale office as well as providing administrative support. The Commissioner will provide support on the creative process to deliver the project, as required by the Curator, and will be available to assist the Curator on the development of the idea to presentation stage.
Theme and Venue
As the Director of the Biennale (who is responsible for setting the theme) has not yet been appointed, the theme proposed by applicants should relate to general global issues of our time as well as reflecting architectural thinking in Ireland.
A venue has not yet been secured for the exhibition. The appointed Curator will have a role in this process. Therefore the spatial specifications for the exhibition are not a condition of the curatorial concept sought at this stage.
Budget
No budget has yet been set for 2010. While the 2008 budget of approx €300,000 may be used as a guideline, the current public and private funding climate may require that a lesser sum is available. A financial management and reporting structure will be set up by the Commissioner in agreement with the selected Curator.
Stages for Selection:
Stage one: Open Submission (see Brief for Submission)
Stage Two: Shortlist to be invited to interview by selection panel.
Selection Panel
The selection panel will be comprised as follows:-
Mary McCarthy, Chairperson of Selection Panel, Culture Ireland Board Member and Director National Sculpture Factory Cork
Nathalie Weadick, Director IAF (Curator/Commissioner 2008)
Prof. Hugh Campbell, Architect (Curator/Commissioner 2008)
Claire Doyle, Head of Visual Arts and Architecture, the Arts Council
John Graby, Director, Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland
An International representative - tbc
Deadline for proposals:
12 noon on Tuesday 2nd November 2009.
Please email your pdf proposal toinfo@architecturefoundation.ie
For further information on the Venice Architecture Biennale or the selection process, contact Nathalie Weadick at info@architecturefoundation.ie
Notes
Past Irish Participation International Exhibition of Architecture Venice
2008 11th International Architecture Exhibition
Exhibit: The Lives of Spaces
Commissioner: IAF, Curator: Nathalie Weadick and Hugh Campbell
Participants: Hasset Ducatez, Simon Walker+ Patrick Lynch, McCullough Mulvin, Gerry Cahill Architects, O’Donnell+ Tuomey, dePaor architects, TAKA, Dara McGrath (in assoc with Robinson McIllwane Architects), Grafton Architects.
2006 10th International Architecture Exhibition
Exhibit: SubUrban to SuperRural
Commissioner: Shane O’Toole (For IAF) Deputy Commissioner: Ciarán O Gaora Curators: Michelle Fagan, Paul Kelly and Gary Lysaght of FKL architects
Participants: Boyd Cody Architects, Bucholz|McEvoy Architects, dePaor architects, FKL architects, Henchion+Reuter Architects, heneghan.peng.architects, MacGabhann Architects, ODOS architects, Dominic Stevens Architects, Constantin Gurdgiev, Frank McDonald, Jennifer Keegan and City Models.
2004 9th International Architecture Exhibition
Exhibit: Letterfrack – Transformation of an Institution
Commissioner: Shane O’Toole, Deputy Commissioner: Paul Kelly
Architects: O’Donnell and Tuomey
2002 8th International Architecture Exhibition
Exhibit: Limerick County Hall
Commissioner: Raymund Ryan
Architects: Bucholz|McEvoy Architects
2000 7th International Architecture Exhibition
Exhibit: N”
Commissioner: Raymund Ryan
Architect: Tom dePaor
Irish Architecture Foundation was initiated in 2005. Its role is to be a vibrant and passionate organisation that
seeks to excite audiences about the cultural value of architecture. It is a focal point for people and organisations that wish to champion the power of architecture to transform lives. The stakeholders of the IAF are the Architectural Association of Ireland, Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Dublin City Council, Irish Architectural Archive, Office of Public Works and the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland. www.architecturefoundation.ie
Culture Ireland was founded by the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism in 2005 as the state agency for the promotion of Irish arts worldwide. Culture Ireland creates and supports opportunities for Irish artists and companies to present and promote their work at leading international festivals, venues, showcases and markets.
The Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon is the national agency for funding, developing and promoting the arts in Ireland. www.artscouncil.ie