CALL TO ARTISTS

We are currently looking for artists interest in being considered for the second Curiouser exhibit at Providence's Museum of Natural History, curated by Erik Carlson and Erica Carpenter. If you would like to be considered, please submit an email/letter of interest by midnight on Sunday September 4th, following the directions for STAGE 1 below. This opportunity is open to New England artists, though preference may be given to Rhode Island-based artists due to Museum and funding stipulations.

Artists will be selected in a two-stage process:

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STAGE 1: Expression of Interest

EMAIL TO: curiouser@areacmusic.com

If you are interested in being considered for this exhibit, please submit a SHORT note of interest by midnight on September 4th (an email to curiouser@areacmusic.com is preferable), introducing yourself and briefly letting us know why you are interested in the Curiouser exhibit.
You must also include the following in your email:

1. LINK to artist's website or examples of your work
2. LINK to your resume, CV, bio, or other credentials
(you may also send this as an attachment -- PDF is preferable, or Word document)

LINKS are preferred; if you must send images, embed them in a PDF or make sure the file size is very small.

If you need to mail a hard copy, you mail send it to the following address, by September 4th:

Curiouser Exhibit RFQ
Museum of Natural History
Roger Williams Park
1000 Elmwood Avenue
Providence, RI 02907

DO NOT send originals or expensive copies -- submissions will not be returned.

The goal of this exhibit is to creatively and compellingly utilize items from the Museum's vast collections -- items that are rarely seen by the public. Also, due to the nature of the Museum's collections there will be specific restrictions on their use that artists must abide by -- artists will be encouraged to find creative approaches to these limitations. Also, all installations must be created on-site at the Museum; artists will be given a work area to use for the creation of their work. Please keep these things and the important dates below in mind when deciding to submit!


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ADDITIONAL INFO for ARTISTS:

DOWNLOAD info on the Museum's Collections (PDF document) > > >


DOWNLOAD the Exhibit Prospectus + Curators' Bios (PDF document) > > >


LINK to Museum of Natural History WEBSITE > > >


Feature article on the 2010 exhibit in the Boston Globe > > >

Interested artists are free to visit the Museum and see the current Curiouser exhibit (NOTE: the Museum archives will only be open to finalists). If you are visiting to check it out, please stop at the admissions desk and let the attendant know -- you will not be charged admission for your visit.

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STAGE 2: Semi-Finalist Proposals

From the pool of interested artists, we will select approximately 15 semi-finalists to submit short, specific proposals for the 2011 Curiouser exhibit. These finalists will have an opportunity to visit the museum's archives, meet the curators and museum staff, and learn more about the collections, Finalists will be asked to submit a specific proposal, consisting of a one-page description and one visual component describing their plan for an installation utilizing the Museum's collections.


SELECTED ARTISTS:

We will select between 4 and 6 artists to participate in the exhibit. Participating artists will receive a stipend (approx. $400 - 600) plus a materials budget (approx. $200). The exhibit will open in early November 2011 and be on display for approximately 10 months.


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IMPORTANT DATES: (dates are subject to change)

Sept. 4th @ midnight: Expressions of Interest are due
Sept. 7th - 17th: Semi-Finalist visits to the Museum will be scheduled
Sept. 24th: Semi-Finalist's proposals are due
Sept. 28th: Artist Selection and Notification
Oct. 1 - Nov. 6: Work period for creation of installations
Nov. 7 - 9: Final installation in gallery
Nov. 10: Exhibit Opening + Reception

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Museum of Natural History Website > > >

Last year's Curiouser exhibit > > >

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Curiouser is made possible in part through funding from the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts

The Museum of Natural History + Planetarium are owned and operated by the City of Providence's Parks and Recreation Department. Angel Taveras, Mayor.

Erik Carlson + Erica Carpenter are independent curators and artists based in Providence, RI. They created the Curiouser exhibit in 2010 as an ongoing collaboration with the Museum of Natural History.

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The Museum of Natural History and Planetarium are owned and operated by the City of Providence's Parks and Recreation Department. Angel Taveras, Mayor.

Museum of Natural History and Planetarium
Roger Williams Park
1000 Elmwood Avenue
Providence, RI 02907
401.785.9457 Ext. 221
401.461.5146 fax