NEW YORK, NY.- Marian Goodman Gallery will honor the late Okwui Enwezor with the launch of a new initiative to create educational and research opportunities for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) curators. The initiative is conceived by artist Steve McQueen, in partnership with Independent Curators International (ICI) and will support ICI’s professional development programs and research fellowships.
A curator, art critic, writer, poet, and educator, Enwezor (1963-2019) championed the agency of African art, challenged the long-established narrative of European and North American art, and embraced a global perspective which opened countless doors for new voices and critical inquiry in the curatorial field. In this spirit, the initiative will empower emerging curators and support their thinking and practice.
“I hope with all my heart that this initiative can help to bring about a shift – and, of course, I wish that Okwui were still here to guide us,” said Marian Goodman. “As the gallery navigates these momentous times, it is important to start to address the imbalance and injustice that is embedded in the gallery and museum system. We are proud to partner with ICI to move towards these goals of change.”
“Okwui was always thinking about the future, always thinking ahead in order to create a healthier environment for all, no matter what the challenges were or what he, as a pioneer, came up against. This initiative is very much in his spirit, championing innovators in a field that he reinvented.” – Steve McQueen
As part of the first phase of the initiative, ICI will develop one Curatorial Intensive in Africa and two Curatorial Research Fellowships every year for the next three years. The programs will empower and sustain a more diverse generation of curators, and forge collaborative networks among curators, artists, and art spaces internationally.
The Curatorial Intensive is ICI’s professional development program for emerging curators. Each Intensive provides a group of 12–14 participants with the critical and logistical tools needed to develop and realize their ideas, and with access to continued learning, mentorship, and peer-support opportunities through ICI’s international network of curators. Since it was established in 2010, the Curatorial Intensive has provided a broader entry point into the field and served more than 450 curators. It has taken place in cities around the world and, since 2013, every year in Africa in collaboration with ICI partners: The Bag Factory in Johannesburg, South Africa; ZOMA in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Dar al-Ma’mun in Marrakesh, Morocco; RAW Material Company in Dakar, Senegal; The Contemporary Art Foundation in Accra, Ghana; and Infecting the City at the UCT Institute for Creative Arts in Cape Town, South Africa.
This Spring, ICI will announce the first two Curatorial Research Fellowships for BIPOC curators based in the U.S. and curators of African descent based anywhere in the world. This will enable early-to-mid career professionals to advance their practice and develop new knowledge in contemporary art. ICI’s Fellowships encourage independent research study towards the development of a curatorial project, and provide mentorship specific to the fellow’s needs, financial support, and travel opportunities.
