Honours Seminar 2 Description, Artist Statement, Documentation and Exhibition Venues

 Honours Seminar 2 Course Description

A continuation of STDO 4910, Honours Seminar 1. Issues of professional practice are examined against contemporary art theory. Students document their work and create artists statements and interact with visiting artists. May not be held with STDO 4890. Co-requisite: STDO 4820. Prerequisite: STDO 4910. 



Artist Statement and Documentation of Work
The artist statement and documentation of your work will be your currency in the art world. In most cases your documentation and your artist statement along with a project proposal will be the primary introduction of your work to curators, arts administrators, selection committees and or jurors who will assess you for potential grants, exhibitions and other arts related jobs. 

Ideally professional documentation with clear and concise writing and of course having exceptional and innovative work will all be key in the success as an artist and cultural worker. Once out of school an artist requires persistence, patience and a broad range of participation and thinking when navigating the art world. 



Potential Exhibition Spaces and Arts Organizations
In Canada there are various types of arts organizations which you may potentially get involved with in terms of showing your work, volunteering as a board person, or just general volunteering at various arts events. Whether an organization is not for profit or emphasizes selling in a market, each organization will have a specific mandate, research arts organizations mandates and  begin to explore which mandates may best connect with your work now or work you are striving  for in a long term trajectory of your career. Keep in mind that for the long term forecasts things will change: organizations will change and your work will evolve and change. 

A small sample of different types of exhibition institutions:

Artist Run Galleries/Centres
Typically non profit spaces which present work which is less market driven and strives more on work which advances art practice and ideas with in contemporary culture (innovative, experimental and contemporary ideas in relation to various art practices and art theories) Operations and programming is supported through various public and private funding.
Link to a national list of artist run centres in Canada: https://directory.arca.art


Museums
Both public galleries and art museums present works of art to the public, exhibiting a diverse range of art from more established artists to emerging artists. Usually exhibitions are assembled by a curator who organizes the exhibit and overseas the installation of the works in the gallery space. Art Museums collect historical and modern works of art for educational purposes and to preserve them for future generations. Public galleries on the other hand, do not generally collect or conserve works of art. Rather, they focus on exhibitions of contemporary works as well as programs of lectures, publications and other events. 

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