Swedish Curators’ Association has developed a model for digital portfolio reviews over the autumn, commissioned by Regionsamverkan Syd Bild och Form. This initiative serves as the first step in a long-term initiative to strengthen the regional cultural scene, promote professionalization and internationalization within the visual arts sector, and create more opportunities for visual artists to meet and showcase their work.
The event targets professional artists residing in Blekinge, Halland, Jönköping, Kalmar, Kronoberg, and Skåne, providing them with the opportunity to present their artistic practice and initiate dialogue with curators from the Baltic States and the Nordic region.
This initiative aims to foster collaboration between curators and visual artists, focusing on the Nordic and the Baltic countries as the first phase of offering a platform for exposure and dialogue. The Swedish Curators’ Association has acted as an advisory body, a jury, and provides support through its curatorial network.
The portfolio review is one component of a broader endeavour to strengthen the infrastructure for the arts in more rural settings, and to bridge the gap between urban and rural areas. As a first step these portfolio viewings will take place digitally as a means to bring together an international cohort of curators to encounter the work of artists working in southern Sweden while economising on time and natural resources since neither curators nor artists are obliged to travel.
Total Value: Balancing Passion and Financial Realities in Curatorial Work
19 September 2024
Kiruna, Sweden October 25–27, 2024
The Swedish Curators’ Association in proud collaboration with the Kin Museum of Contemporary Art, announces its third curatorial gathering in Kiruna. This pivotal event continues our advocacy for improved working conditions for curators and the equitable dissemination of curatorial knowledge. Building upon our previous gatherings in Boden and Malmö as well as the last two years of advocacy work, this assembly will mark a significant stride forward in our mission to empower curators across Sweden by introducing suggested tariffs for diverse curatorial work. These tariffs are not mere recommendations but a clarion call for the recognition of the invaluable contributions made by curators and yet another step towards desired MU-Agreement for curators.
The event will highlight the critical issue of curatorial copyright, – often overlooked topic that has lingered in the shadows for far too long. Protecting intellectual property is a fundamental right, and as curators, it is esential that our contributions are safeguarded against appropriation and misuse.
The Third Curatorial Gathering echoes the timeless call for solidarity among curators. We extend our deepest gratitude to the Kin Museum of Contemporary Art for generously hosting this momentous event.
Recorded audio materials from the gathering are available for our members upon request.
On January 10th, the Swedish Curators’ Association published its report on curators’ working conditions, which was followed by a panel discussion at Bonniers Konsthall in Stockholm
Panel Participants:
Tanja von Brünken, Independent Consultant Anna Johansson, Curator at Malmö Konstmuseum and Board Member Emmeli Person, Operations Coordinator, Bildkonst Sverige Camilla Larsson, Freelance Curator and Researcher, Södertörn University Moderator: Karin Bähler Lavér, Independent Curator
Bringing Art to Audiences – Curators’ Working Conditions in Sweden
The report, conducted by the Swedish Curators’ Association during the winter of 2022-2023, was based on a comprehensive survey addressing the working conditions, needs, and demands of professional curators active in Sweden. Its primary objective was to provide an initial assessment of the professional environment faced by curators. The findings aim to deepen understanding of curators’ roles and working conditions, while also serving as a foundation for the association’s continued efforts to advocate for and support the curatorial profession.
This report was commissioned by the Swedish Curators’ Association in September 2023.
Report Author: Tanja von Brünken, independent consultant and former Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, responsible for visual arts and art museums. Survey Research: Sarah Rodrigues, curator and board member (2022–2023). Graphic Design: Thomas Bush.
Dream Contract Workshop with Professor Ann Szefer Karlsen
13 December 2023
On December 14, the Swedish Curators’ Association organized a ‘Contract Event’ for its members, in collaboration with the MA Program in Curatorial Practice at Bergen University, led by Professor Anne Szefer Karlsen and hosted by IASPIS. The event focused on contracts for curatorial work, with “The Dream Contract for Curators” serving as a model—a dynamic document used as a pedagogical tool within the MA program to share insights and knowledge on curators’ contract negotiations and processes.
Participants gathered around a long table to engage in a critical review of the document, actively contributing to discussions on the key aspects and experiences that should be prioritized in contracts, both nationally and internationally. The event concluded with a networking session and dinner for invited guests, providing an excellent opportunity for Stockholm-based members to participate, as the previous workshop had been held in Boden earlier the same year.
Curatorial visits to Barcelona
24 November 2023
In the autumn of 2023, four Sweden-based curators embarked on a research and study visit to Barcelona, exploring several institutions and artist studios. This opportunity was offered through an open call process organized by Index – The Swedish Contemporary Art Foundation, made possible with support from Institut Ramon Llull in Barcelona and several local partners. The project was developed by board member Martí Manen (Director of Index Foundation) in collaboration with the Swedish Curators’ Association.
Alba Baeza: On Curating
13 October 2023
Curator Alba Baeza has contributed an insightful and immersive text on the challenges and conditions of curatorial practice, written exclusively for the association.
To foster effective collaboration across various fields of expertise, a curator must possess a diverse skill set, including research, critical analysis, conceptual and aesthetic sensitivity, writing, public speaking, as well as strong communication, diplomacy, and negotiation abilities. So, what does a curator do? They research, mediate, connect, facilitate dialogue, interpret, reframe, present, and advocate. Ultimately, curating is about building relationships and creating meaningful narratives.
The association is committed to exploring curatorial practices and fostering meaningful dialogue that reflects developments within the field of curating and contemporary art. By promoting a deeper understanding of artistic work methods, particularly within a Swedish context, the association presents curatorial approaches that incorporate diverse methodologies and making innovative and challenging contemporary art accessible to a broad audience.
In October 2023, the second international network meeting took place in Skåne, spanning both the city of Malmö and the small village of Knislinge, where Wanås Art Center is located. The event featured an open seminar and visits to local art institutions, galleries and organizations. The seminar, titled “Vad gör en curator?” (What Do Curators Do?), was hosted at the Malmö Konstmuseum’s project room Mitt nya museum (My New Museum). It included presentations on curatorial practices and open discussions, encouraging dialogue and exchange. The seminar was well-attended, and the positive response from colleagues, art professionals, and other participants highlighted the significant demand for such gatherings.
The Swedish Curators’ Association (SCF) serves as a supportive organization for curators and acts as an advisory partner in regional initiatives aimed at strengthening the role of art and fostering societal transformation. Commissioned by and in collaboration with Bild och Form Region Kronoberg, SCF has been working since 2023 on the development of the interdisciplinary residency program HULT. This program is designed for curators and artists interested in exploring complex contemporary issues related to the climate emergency and social sustainability. The project is carried out in partnership with Linnaeus University – Center for Intermedial and Multimodal Studies (IMS) and Växjö Art Gallery. SCF contributes to the development of this pilot project, running from 2023 to 2025, and is also part of the selection jury for participants.
[Image: Inland by HULT artist in residence 2024, Kibandu Pello-Esso.]
Working conditions & Dream contracts
27 May 2023
On May 9 and 10, the association organized an open symposium at Havremagasinet Länskonsthall in Boden, featuring both national and international curatorial guests. The event included presentations and roundtable discussions that explored working conditions for curators abroad, as well as responses to the Swedish Curators’ Association’s questionnaire regarding the financial situations and working conditions of curators.
On the second day, Professor and Curator Anne Szefer Karlsen from Bergen University, alongside Silja Leifsdotter of the Norwegian Association of Curators, led a workshop titled Dream Contracts for Curators. This workshop delved into the challenges facing curators within the Baltic-Nordic network, focusing on the question: “What does the future hold for curators in the Baltics and Nordics?” Discussions covered new avenues for collaboration, the MU-Agreement (Agreement on Originators’ Rights to Compensation when works are shown, and for Participation in Exhibitions) for curators, and the importance of strengthening the role of curators without compromising the interests of artists or the broader visual arts community. Additionally, participants examined how curators can contribute to the development of art infrastructure and exhibition history within a Swedish context.
This initiative was funded by Kulturstödet support from Region Norrbotten. As part of our long-term efforts to encourage greater inclusivity in the field, the association actively highlighted the vulnerabilities of the profession during the network meetings, workshops, and open talks, emphasizing how social security influences who can pursue a career as a curator today.
