(PR.co.nz) Three New Zealand curators will learn about the contemporary arts scene in China and Korea after being selected to participate in a three-week curatorial tour supported by Creative New Zealand and the Asia New Zealand Foundation (Asia:NZ).
After a successful inaugural year, support has been renewed for three emerging to mid-career curators to immerse themselves in the contemporary art of both countries, build their professional networks, and explore opportunities for future collaborations and artist exchanges.
The successful curators are Aaron Lister, curator of New Zealand art for City Gallery Wellington; Emma Bugden, senior curator and programmes manager for the Dowse Art Museum, Lower Hutt; and Karl Chitam, art collection curator for the University of Waikato.
The tour in October will include leading museums, galleries, and artist spaces in Shanghai, Beijing and Seoul in an itinerary developed in conjunction with the curators. As well as learning about the arts in both countries, they will share information about their organisations and provide their perspective on contemporary New Zealand art.
“This is a chance for New Zealand curators to explore a new arts environment, build ongoing links, and develop their curatorial practice. We’re pleased to be working again with Asia:NZ to provide this development opportunity,” said Creative New Zealand Arts Policy, Capability and International Manager Cath Cardiff.
Asia:NZ’s Director of Culture Jennifer King said exciting developments were happening in the art scenes of both countries, particularly with the rapid changes that had taken place in China. “New Zealand needs to be part of all that energy. The curators who went on last year’s tour came back bubbling with ideas.”
She thanked Creative New Zealand for supporting the tour again this year.
Information on the curators:
Aaron Lister has been a curator at City Gallery Wellington since 2009, recently curating the exhibition Crown Lynn: Crockery of Distinction. Prior to joining the gallery he was exhibitions curator at the National Library Gallery in Wellington and has worked as a freelance curator and arts writer. Aaron also lectured in the art history departments of both Victoria University of Wellington and the University of Otago in Dunedin.
Emma Bugden joined the Dowse Art Museum as programme manager and senior curator in April this year. Previously she was Director of ARTSPACE in Auckland, regarded as a leading contemporary art project space in New Zealand. Prior to ARTSPACE, Emma was curatorial director at the Te Tuhi Centre for the Arts, Manukau City; curator at the City Gallery; and Director of The Physics Room in Christchurch. She has written for numerous publications and catalogues in New Zealand and Australia.
Karl Chitham joined the University of Waikato as art collection curator after lecturing at Unitec Institute of Technology. He is a practicing artist and freelance curator. He has curated exhibitions at the Dowse Art Museum, Lopdell House Gallery and for the Christchurch Arts Festival, and in 2010 he curated the Te Taumata Series as part of the Auckland Matariki Festival.
Media Release 12 July 2011 from Asia NZ.