Fondazione Pistoletto Cittadellarte ONLUS along with UNIDEE Residency Programs is recruiting a Visiting Research Curator responsible for shaping the research arc of the UNIDEE Residency Modules program activity in 2025/2026.

In 2024, UNIDEE Residency Programs celebrated 25 years of fostering educational encounters for artists involved in art and social transformation at Fondazione Pistoletto Cittadellarte Onlus in Biella (Italy). Founded in 1999 by Michelangelo Pistoletto, the residency programs have hosted thousands of artists and cultural professionals from 52 countries, exemplifying what art historian Gregory Sholette considers “a far-sighted and vibrant investment in the future of innovative, intellectually stimulating, and socially engaged cultural practices.”

We are now looking for a curator who is able to progress this legacy and, with us, take the first step on the path towards the next 25 years. The Visiting Research Curator will shed new light on the core themes and questions that have underpinned UNIDEE Residency Programs since its inception (art for the responsible transformation of society, artistic practices in the liminal regions of the art system or other social spheres, sustainability) through the lens of their own self-defined field of inquiry.

We are especially interested in proposals that acknowledge and depart from the previous research arcs of the UNIDEE Residency Modules (modes of instituting, embedded arts practices and the “non-issue” of the Mediterranean), incorporate the learning from our most recent modules of the “Ways of becoming: 25 years with UNIDEE” programme -ways of instituting through art practices, ways of learning through art practices, ways of hosting research and art practice-, and resonate with UNIDEE’s current projects exploring artistic research and production in response to contemporary ecological and geopolitical challenges.

ROLE AND DUTIES OF THE VISITING RESEARCH CURATOR

The Visiting Research Curator is responsible for shaping the research arc of the UNIDEE Residency Programs’ activity, which includes the UNIDEE Residency Modules (weekly residential modules) and the residencies, in agreement with UNIDEE’s Advisory Board and Cittadellarte’s director, according to Fondazione Pistoletto Cittadellarte’s vision.

The primary duties are:

• Proposing an overarching theme/curatorial proposal for the duration of the research arc 2025 – 2026.
The general curatorial proposal, must bring a meaningful contribution to the research carried out by Cittadellarte since it was established, as well as by Michelangelo Pistoletto himself, and delineate the traces of a theoretical and practical development specific to the context of a basic vision that can be summarised with the sentence “Art for a Responsible Social Transformation”.

• Designing, planning and helping deliver the UNIDEE Residency Modules that make up the programme.
Definition, in collaboration with the mentors of the UNIDEE Modules content and specific methodologies, dates, guests to be involved (one per module), and any other necessary activities and communications. This includes:
• Writing the curatorial statement and open call that will be used to attract residents
• Identifying, approaching and organising mentors and artists who will help deliver residencies/labs/modules
• Helping to disseminate this open call through your own networks and social media channels
• Selecting the residents from the applications
• Preparing welcome packs and preliminary information required by the residents and mentors
• Hosting and facilitating the various workshops, presentations, discussions, critiques, one-to-ones, visits and other activities that constitute each UNIDEE Residency Module (in presence)
• Communicating with mentors, guests and residents prior to, during and after the activity
• Documenting, evaluating, and reflecting on the experiences and learning generated throughout the research arc.

The conception, editing and production of publications (web-based and/or hard copy) that document the activity of the research arc for both the participants (residents and mentors) and a wider audience.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply for selection, please fill out the online form: https://form.jotform.com/243154622579360
• A project containing a general statement of their vision for the UNIDEE Residency Modules program and an indication of the strategy for its development (maximum 3000 characters).
To be considered that the Research and Production residencies could follow the same subjects.
• Their CV and a portfolio (with a maximum of 3 relevant projects pertaining to the role for which they are applying).

Applications must be received by 23:59 CET on 15th December 2024.

Applications will be acknowledged with a reply of confirmation and all subsequent communication will be sent to the email address used for the application.