Curator, Performance and Time-based Media

Curator, Performance and Time-based Media (M/W/X)

Background

KANAL is a new, interdisciplinary museum of modern and contemporary art in Brussels established by the Brussels Capital Region, developed and managed by the KANAL Foundation in partnership with Centre Pompidou. It is situated in a converted Citroen factory at the Yser square. 

Occupying galleries, auditoria and public spaces across and around the building KANAL’s programme of collection displays, exhibitions, live events and new productions bringing together established and emerging artists, will be conceived for and with our audiences. The programme will embrace art which crosses disciplines from music to film, painting to digital media, sculpture to performance. It will reflect the central position that time-based media, performance, immersive experience and participation occupy in contemporary art, tracing the history of pioneering art practices throughout 20^th century. The programme and research will challenge traditional institutional formats to mirror the needs of our constituents and artists’ visionary ideas, while also interrogating the established narratives about art and its histories. 

The Exhibitions and Research and the Live Department

The Curator works across the Exhibitions and Research Department and the Live Department, which work together with Audience Engagement, Collection, Library, Archive and Production teams to conceptualize and deliver the interdisciplinary programme of exhibitions, live events, film and sound programmes, collection displays, new commissions, research and publication activities that reflect KANAL’s values and the complexity of artistic practices and their histories. The curatorial team contributes to the development of the organization’s vision and mission, ensuring that KANAL’s programme aligns with and advances institutional objectives as a center for artistic innovation and forward-looking debates and distinguishes KANAL within the cultural sector and beyond.

Your Role

The post focuses on curating, developing new commissions, live events, music and sound programmes, film screenings, exhibitions and collection displays with focus on interdisciplinary practices. The role will manage the projects’ delivery and budgets when required. The role is also expected to be experienced in and capable of responding to the issues and challenges posed by time-based artworks within the context of a collection-driven institution.

What will you do

• In response to KANAL’s programme framework and in collaboration with Head of Live Arts, conceive, research, develop and present compelling live and time-based art programmes of varying scope and formats across KANAL’s galleries, public spaces and auditoria
• Develop related programming, including lectures, symposia, and other educational programs
• Manage projects’ delivery process assuring exact scheduling and precise budget planning
• Manage and coordinate project teams as required
• Line-manage and mentor assistant curators and curatorial interns 
• Identify funding options and partners for collaborations and co-productions of live projects
• Research and write texts of various scope and tone, including catalogue essays and in-gallery texts accessible for diverse audiences 
• Deliver public presentations, tours and talks to press, members, and the general public
• Build and cultivate relevant international network 

Qualifications & Skills 

• Diploma in art history or related field, or equivalent knowledge or experience
• 5-year minimum professional experience presenting and managing interdisciplinary projects, performances, music, sound and film programmes in museum or gallery context
• Expert knowledge of international art scene, acute awareness of contemporary debates in the area of expertise
• Excellent project and budget-management skills
• Highly organized approach to work and demonstrable ability to work under pressure and deadline
• Hands-on approach to work, ability to demonstrate enthusiasm, initiative and to offer solutions
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, ability to work as part of the team and to build effective working relationships with various constituents
• Proven ability to work on a number of projects at the same time with meticulous attention to detail
• Excellent writing and presentation skills
• Commitment to diversity and inclusion in institutional practice
• Proficiency in English, French or Dutch 
• Ability to work flexibly and outside of traditional office hours

We offer

• A permanent full-time contract.
• An attractive salary with extra-legal benefits:
  • Hospitalisation insurance
  • Pension insurance
  • Meal vouchers worth 8 euros
  • STIB network subscription
  • Phone contract
  • 8 days of additional annual leave

• One day of teleworking per week at a flat rate of €45/month
• Work in an exciting environment and in a museum under construction! 

The KANAL Foundation aspires to be a reflection of the Brussels population, with staff and audiences as diverse as the communities it serves. We encourage you to apply if you share these values of diversity. KANAL does not practice any form of discrimination. Your application will be processed on the basis of objective criteria directly related to the skills required and/or the experience sought for the position.

Interrested?

Send your application (cover letter and CV) by email in a single PDF file, for the attention of Jean-François LECONTE, Secretary General, at jobs@kanal.brussels, by April 24 at the latest. Please indicate in the subject line of your email “Curator, Performance and Time-based Media”. Interviews will take place on 22/05/2023.