Festival Curator: Nocturne 2024 - Request for Expressions of Interest

Melany Nugent-Noble
Posted on February 28th, 2023
by Melany Nugent-Noble

The opportunity:

Curator(s) will develop a vision/theme for the 2024 festival and curate the Anchor Project program. Nocturne’s Anchor Project program consists of site-specific installations and performance art activations at sites across Halifax and Dartmouth.

Nocturne highly encourages curator-selected projects that are site-specific in nature, are conceptually experimental or innovative, further ongoing efforts to be a barrier free festival and introduce new artists to Nocturne’s audiences. The selected curator or curatorial team will work directly with Nocturne and Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) staff to secure the siting of the Anchor Projects.

Budgets for Anchor Projects, including artist fees for Anchor Project artists, will be developed by the curator(s) (and collaborators, where applicable). The curator will be responsible for the development of a comprehensive Anchor Project proposal to include confirmed artist participants, detailed project descriptions, individual project budgets, project schedules, and site confirmations. Funds for the Anchor Projects are administered directly by the HRM at their sole discretion. Nocturne will further support the curator(s) and Anchor Projects with promotion, marketing, installation assistance, and documentation.

Selected curators will also be expected to:

  • Participate on the Nocturne Programming Committee, including assisting with the jury of Beacon Projects.

  • Promote the festival through their network.

  • Attend artist information sessions.

  • Be available to present updates to the Nocturne Board of Directors and staff members.

  • Take interviews with local and national media.

  • Host 1-2 public presentations regarding the curatorial vision leading up to the festival.

  • Work with project partners, as required.

About Nocturne

Founded in 2008, Nocturne: Art at Night Festival (Nocturne) is a free, independent, contemporary art festival in Kjipuktuk (Halifax) that brings art and energy to the streets of our city, showcasing and celebrating the visual arts scene in Mi'kma'ki (Nova Scotia).

Annually, Nocturne brings 60,000+ people to the streets of Halifax and Dartmouth. At the core, Nocturne’s mandate is to provide equal opportunities to artists from all over to show their work to new audiences. Nocturne is pleased to announce this call for a curator or curatorial team to organize Anchor Projects to be presented at Nocturne 2024. In 2024, Nocturne will take place from October 18-20.

Compensation:

The selected applicant(s) will receive a curatorial fee of $10,000 CAD for the development of the theme, selection of artists, and administration of the curator-selected Anchor Project program. Should the selected applicant wish to partner with an organization (or collaborator), these funds are left to the discretion of the selected applicant and their partners and should be reflected in the application.

Application materials:

  • A brief letter of intent, including a curatorial direction for the festival. This vision can be further fleshed out after selection, we want to know the general direction you plan to take the festival. In this letter, you can also let us know if you plan to partner with a collaborator or partner organizations, and it should include written indication from the named partner reflecting support for the application.

  • Biographies of the curator(s) (max 300 words) and CVs (max three pages).

  • Images/links to completed exhibitions/projects (max five total) that convey an impression of your curatorial approaches, achievements, and interests.

  • Experience in curating large festivals is considered an asset but is not required.

Submission process:

Please compile your materials into a single PDF (max file size 20MB) and email the PDF to [email protected] and [email protected]. Please use the subject heading: NOCTURNE CURATOR PROPOSAL 2024 when you submit. A jury comprising Nocturne and HRM members will review all complete proposals received by the submission deadline.

Submission deadline: Jun 1, 2023, midnight.


Image: Nocturne 2022: Creative Minds Curator talk with 2022 Festival Curators Stephanie Yee and Lux Habrich.
Oct 6, 7 pm-8 pm By the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia (AGNS).