Curating practices have become an integral part of contemporary art. They are generally associated with critical research and writing, but they are evolving to take on a variety of new forms – artists take on the role of curator, and curating itself becomes an art form. Bridging research, creation, critical thought and writing, contemporary curators work between in-studio and out-of-studio practices and renewed locations for presentation.

In a desire to support curatorial research in new media and digital arts, Laboratorio Arte Alameda (Mexico City) and OBORO (Montréal) created the M&M Curatorial Research Residency Program. Over the course of 4 to 6 weeks in the Fall of 2015, one curator from Mexico D.F. and one curator from Montreal will be traveling to the sister city to investigate the contemporary art practices of the host location. During their stay, the curators will either pursue or begin a research project using the resources available locally.

The goals of the M&M Curatorial Research Residency Program are to encourage dialogue and the sharing of knowledge and to instigate a means of creation and exchange between the active players of the contemporary art milieu in two major poles of contemporary art in North America. While allowing curators in Montreal and Mexico – established or emerging – to put forward ideas, concepts and innovative initiatives in current art, this program will act as a strategic platform for bridging the two communities together.

Call for proposals

The selected curator’s visit will be organized and hosted by the partner organization (LAA in Mexico City and OBORO in Montreal), which both have extensive experience in hosting artists. Each organization will connect the curator with relevant people and institutions locally to pursue their research. The residency should take place over a maximum period of 4 to 6 consecutive weeks between the months of September and December 2015. The expenses are covered as follows:

– Travel fees, up to $1000
– Per diem: $200 per week
– A residency fee of $2000
– Materials, up to $200, if applicable (upon presentation of receipts)
– Accommodation included.

Note: Applicants for Montreal should have a minimal knowledge of French and/or English, and applicants for Mexico City should have minimally a functional base in Spanish so they can be autonomous on location.

Please submit your project electronically only by May 4, 2015; results will be announced no later than June 20, 2015. Your proposal should include:

– A text summarizing your main research interests of 2 pages maximum, as well as a 200-word summary;
– A short text indicating your interest in pursuing your research in the host city;
– A CV (3 pages maximum);
– A 150-word biography;
– Up to 3 published articles or any relevant press clippings or publications about previous projects, if applicable;
– A maximum of 10 digital images and 2 videos (3 minutes maximum), if applicable;
– A list of your specific technical needs, locations you wish to visit or individuals you would like to meet in the host city, if you have targeted any at the moment of applying.

For Montreal applicants: Proposals should be sent digitally only by email or via Dropbox, Yousendit, or other web bulk sender at the email address mm@oboro.net. You may submit in English or in Spanish.

Laboratorio Arte Alameda is a space dedicated to the presentation, documentation, production and research in artistic practices that use and create contact between art and technology. Its specialty is to produce site-specific works and to promote the commission of new works on a national and international scale. LAA completes its programming with several parallel activities such as artist talks, concerts, film projections, seminars and workshops. It also maintains the Priamo Lozada documentation centre on-site, which is specialized in documenting new media practices.

Founded with the conviction that living transcultural artistic experiences contribute to the betterment of humankind, OBORO is an artist centre that furthers the development of intergenerational art practices in visual and media arts as well as experimental performing arts. OBORO promotes awareness and dialogue within the art community and society at large and wishes to contribute to a culture of peace.

www.oboro.net