The Art Fund & AAMC Foundation Conference Travel Fellowship will provide full funding for eight UK-based curators to travel to and attend the AAMC & AAMC Foundation annual conference in New York in May 2019.

This programme has been developed with an aim to enable UK curators to engage meaningfully and with authority on the international stage, developing their own experience and learning while also raising the profile of their institutions and collections abroad. Through the programme we hope new relationships will be brokered between institutions in the UK and internationally, stimulating collaboration on all areas of activity from loans to public programmes.

As well as attendance at the AAMC & AAMC Foundation annual conference, curators will be invited to take part in introductory weekend tours; benefit from a pairing with a peer US-based curator to offer collegial partnership throughout the conference; receive an invitation to the AAMC Foundation’s Program Alumni Reception, a networking event allowing attendees to connect with others engaged in professional development and with AAMC; and enjoy a 2-year AAMC membership allowing access to AAMC’s suite of curatorial development opportunities.

Following the conference, recipients of the travel fellowships will be eligible to draw down additional research and development grants to activate ideas and develop relationships established through the conference.

This year’s conference will take place 4-7 May 2019 in New York City, with events and sessions at over 20 organisations throughout the city. The sessions for the programme will discuss topics around internal and external engagement within art organisations and look at the possibilities and responsibilities of the curatorial role within inclusive and accessible engagement practices. Sessions include Donors and Evolving Missions, The Public Library: New Curatorial Perspectives, Diverse Educational Pipeline Programs Now, and Inside Out: Cultural Institutions & Communities.

The 2019 Keynote Dialogues will feature Dr Andrea Barnwell Brownlee, director, Spelman College Museum of Fine Art and Dr Mary Schmidt Campbell, president, Spelman College; and Dr William D Adams, senior fellow, Andrew W Mellon Foundation, former chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities and Dr Jane Chu, PBS arts adviser and artist, former chair of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be art curators at non-profit organisations, with direct responsibility for works of art. In addition, curators and others that work a minimum of 50% of the time for/with non-profit organisations will be considered. Please note that curators working in four-wall collecting and non-collecting, community-based, and non-four wall organisations are eligible. Multiple curators from one museum are eligible.
• Applicants must live and work in the United Kingdom.
• Curators without existing strong ties to US partners and the overall international curatorial network are the ideal candidate(s) for this programme.
• Applications from curators without access travel funding and/or without professional development support are particularly encouraged to apply.
• Programme recipients should also reflect AAMC Foundation’s commitment to diversity: “All of AAMC & AAMC Foundation programming and overall efforts shall strive to be representative of diversity: across self-identifications (by nation, gender, creed, race), socio-economic backgrounds, fields of expertise, types of institutional mission, and regional position, of participants. The more diverse our voices, the more dynamic our offerings.”
• All applicants must be able to commit to attending the conference from 4-7 May 2019 in New York City at the time of application, including the all deadlines (non-negotiable), timelines and travel. For information about the 2019 conference, including a full schedule, hotel blocks, flight discount information and registration, click here.

Funding range

Funding and other benefits include:

• a flat stipend ($2,765 USD) to be used towards conference registration and event fees, travel (airfare, train, etc), accommodation, and per diems
• pairing with a US-based curator while at the conference to offer peer-on-peer guidance
• an invitation to the 2019 AAMC & AAMC Foundation Program Alumni Reception, a networking event to connect with others engaged in professional development and with AAMC. Currently programmed for Sunday 5 May 2019 while the conference is in session
• complimentary 2-year AAMC membership, giving full access to professional development activities and includes professional resources

Following the conference successful applicants will be eligible to apply to Art Fund for follow-up grants of up to $5,000 USD to make the most of the opportunity of attending the conference.