Call for Guest Curator identifying as BIPOC Black, Indigenous and Persons of Color

Call for Guest Curator identifying as BIPOC Black, Indigenous and Persons of Color

Portland Public Library announces a project that expands the curatorial perspective in the Lewis Gallery by contracting a Guest Curator to curate the annual Illustration Exhibit for 2024. For this Guest Curator role, we are seeking an individual or individuals who identify as BIPOC and reside in Maine.

The goal of this project is to expand the perspective of the annual illustration exhibit at Portland Public Library and to collaborate with artists and curators from the BIPOC - Black, Indigenous and Persons of Color - community to make sure the gallery, and specifically the Illustration Exhibit, is able to include diverse perspectives.

The annual illustration exhibit is held in the last quarter of the year each year and is scheduled for November and December 2024. Previous illustration exhibits have consisted of solo and group exhibits, including: Elegant Enigmas: The Art of Edward Gorey; Maurice Sendak: 50 Years, 50 Works, 50 Reasons; The Pulps; Wake Up Alice; Picture This: The Art and Workings of Illustration Institute; Dahlov Ipcar: Stories; The Art of Rube Goldberg; Folkland; Illustrated Monsters by Monster Illustrators; A Blue: Daniel Minter and the Layered Narrative of Illustration; and most recently, Why We Make Comics: Reflections on Storytelling.

A competitive stipend of $3500 is provided to the Guest Curator for their creative contribution. Additional funds to support artist honorariums and exhibit rental will be provided. The Guest Curator will be responsible for exhibit content, design, and installation oversight with support from library staff.

Timeline:

April 15, 2024: deadline to submit resume

April 30, 2024: Curator will be selected by the selection committee / other applications will be notified

May 1 - October 1, 2024: Curation

October 1 - November 15, 2024: pre-installation planning and installation

Please reach out with questions: [email protected]

Portland Public Library fosters learning, discovery, joy, and conversation to enrich our diverse community and advance literacy.