HOUSTON, TX.- Houston Center for Contemporary Craft announced the appointment of Zaynab Hilal as the HCCC Curatorial Fellow for the next three years. From Houston, Texas, Hilal is a first-generation, Arab American writer, poet, and curator who holds an MA in museum and exhibition studies from the University of Illinois, Chicago, and a BS in anthropology from the University of Houston.
During her studies in Chicago, Hilal served as a coordinator for catalog publication and the scholarly series for the second Veteran Art Triennial & Summit, Surviving the Long Wars. This multifaceted project brought together the creative practices of Indigenous American, Middle Eastern, and veteran artists to explore the overlapping histories shaping contemporary understandings of warfare, while fostering alternative visions of peace and justice. She also gained experience in community organizing and public programming as a team leader for the Circle of Trust program and as an outreach and development coordinator for the Fwd: Museums journal. In Houston, she completed several internships in the areas of curatorial research, communications, and art administration at institutions such as Lawndale Art Center, DiverseWorks, and Asia Society Texas. Hilal's writing has been featured in Fwd: Museums and a student-organized zine, Et. All, and she enjoys sharing her insights on her blog, Around Art.
On June 25th, Hilal will begin working with HCCC Curator + Exhibitions Director Sarah Darro and other staff to learn the ins and outs of planning and installing exhibitions, conduct curatorial research, develop relationships with exhibiting artists, and contribute ideas for meaningful exhibitions and programming. Darro noted, “We are delighted to have Zaynab join our team at HCCC. She brings a strong interdisciplinary background and focus on material culture to the position, as well as an eagerness to learn more about all aspects of a nonprofit art center. We look forward to working with Zaynab to hone her talents as an emerging curator.” Hilal, who is passionate about exploring themes of identity, cultural narratives, and interpretive strategies, is enthusiastic about her new role: “As the next curatorial fellow, I am excited to develop exhibitions celebrating the rich cultural narratives and innovative techniques in contemporary craft. I look forward to collaborating with the HCCC team, resident artists, and the community to create and curate meaningful experiences that resonate with diverse audiences.”
Generously supported by the Windgate Foundation, HCCC’s Curatorial Fellowship Program trains and supports the next generation of curators in the field of contemporary craft. Fellows join HCCC for a three-year term, working alongside the curator in the development, organization, and implementation of the organization’s exhibitions program as well as partnering with staff across departments in support of education and artist residency initiatives. Previous fellows have gone on to hold leading positions in the field, including those at The Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, NY; the Center for Craft, Asheville, NC; and locally at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Lawndale Art Center; Project Row Houses; and HCCC.
