OBORO: Methods, Theories and Tools for Emerging Media Arts Curators

Fridays from 1pm to 4pm January 15, 22, 29 and February 5, 12, 19
  • Erandy Vergara
  • Workshop: 22 hours
  • Due to the pandemic, the workshops will take place via video conference.
  • Registration: December 8, 2020 to January 14, 2021

Towards the end of the 20th century, the notion of “new media” burst into the creative community with so-called “new” technologies. If new media has been mainly limited, in the last twenty or thirty years, to video, photography and experimentation with robotics, the increasing accessibility of personal and portable workstations, programming software and digital development languages has increased the possibilities for designing interactive environments or works whose technical components are based on digital creation. From multimedia was born hypermedia, robotics, interactivity, and digitization, not to mention many important works that circulate in international fairs and exhibitions.

This workshop aims to present the tools and methodologies necessary to accompany artists in media or digital art as a curator, author or agent. What are the methodologies, strategies, policies and ethics surrounding the creation of exhibitions using technology? What are the challenges presented by online exhibitions and what can we learn from the examples that emerged during the Covid-19 epidemic? This will be followed by a series of open discussions on the different histories of curating from a variety of perspectives. Participants will be invited to bring individual projects in development for which they will receive individualized support from the facilitator.

This training is rooted in a feminist and postcolonial approach that seeks to develop an acuity for inclusion and representation of the multiple discursive and critical perspectives present in the digital arts milieu.

Among the topics covered are
– The role of the media arts curator and its challenges;
– Exhibition venues;
– Is the medium the message?
– The basics: research, selection, commissioning, dissemination;
– Developing stimulating theoretical discourses;
– Preparing a schedule and budget;
– Developing projects that are far-reaching;
– Feminist and postcolonial methods;
– Exhibition planing, editing, technical equipment;
– Working with the venue team.

The workshop aims to provide emerging curators with practical and theoretical skills to develop their own curatorial projects. It will provide a historical overview of significant exhibitions in media and digital arts.

The workshops will be spread over 6 weeks, from January 15 to February 19, 2021: 6 meetings of 3 hours, a group visit of 3 hours, and one hour of personalized guidance.

Number of participants: maximum 12
Registration period: December 8, 2020 to January 14, 2021
Contact the New Media Laboratory by phone or by email: 514-844-3250, ext. 230 or lab@oboro.net.

The workshop will be given in French, but English comprehension is recommended.

Cost: $125 plus taxes

Read more