Sunday 12 January 2025, 23:59pm GMT.
All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by Friday 31 January 2025.
Open Call: Engagement Fellowship for South West-based Curators 2025-26
Spike Island and Hauser & Wirth are pleased to invite applications from independent curators, art workers and creative practitioners based in the South West of England to develop and deliver a programme of events and activities as part of Spike Island’s Engagement programme from April 2025 to March 2026.
Working closely with the Spike Island Programme team and local partners, the successful applicant will cultivate an inclusive approach to engagement, specifically working with community groups, children and young people.
The Engagement Fellowship 2025-26 should explore the relationship between urban and rural communities, landscape, sustainability and ecologies. The proposal must include a range of public-facing outcomes, including discursive and participatory forms of engagement, such as workshops, tours, talks and reading groups. Events can take place across Spike Island and Hauser & Wirth Somerset’s premises or at another relevant location.
This is the first of three Engagement Fellowships for South West-based curators taking place between 2025 and 2028, kindly supported by Hauser & Wirth.
This is an exciting opportunity for a curator or creative practitioner wanting to further their career working with local audiences.
The successful applicant will receive:
The delivery of the programme will be supported by Spike Island’s Curator and Assistant Curator: Artist Development and Engagement; the Hauser & Wirth Learning team; as well as other members of staff when necessary.
ELIGIBILITY
The Fellowship is for an independent curator, art worker or creative practitioner based in the South West of England, with experience of running engagement and public programmes for a broad range of audiences.
You will have good knowledge of contemporary art, visual arts engagement practice and a clear understanding of current debates in the sector. Please note that we are not able to accept applications from anyone currently undertaking an undergraduate course.
The selected applicant will need to pass a basic DBS check. If you do not already have a basic DBS certificate dated within the last three years, we will support you to apply for one.
Spike Island is committed to anti-racism and to addressing inequality in the arts sector. We strongly encourage applications from people who identify as D/deaf, disabled or neurodiverse, part of the Global Ethnic Majority, and/or come from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds.
We will provide an information session on Friday 13 December, 3-4pm. This session will allow you to hear about the opportunity in more detail and to ask us questions. The session will be held on Zoom and will be recorded, so please sign up if you would like to be sent the recording.
All applicants will receive an automated email to confirm that their application has been received successfully.
SELECTION PROCESS
All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by Friday 31 January 2025.
Applications will be reviewed by a panel consisting of members of the Spike Island programme team and a member of staff from Hauser & Wirth.
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend an online interview with Spike Island and Hauser & Wirth staff in the week commencing 20 January 2025. Questions will be sent in advance. The panel will value applicants’ experience of running education, learning or engagement activities for a wide range of audiences, an inclusive approach to audience development and the relevance of the proposal in the context of Spike Island’s wider programmes.
FAQS FOR APPLICANTS
Is there any support available to help with submitting an application?
We are happy to receive applications in alternative formats (video, audio file). We may also be able to find other ways to make the application process more accessible to you.
If you require access support with your application please contact Saphia Abrahamovitch-Venner, saphia.venner@spikeisland.org.uk.
How do I let you know what my access needs are?
We welcome all artists we work with to share their access documents with us. This can help us accurately forecast timescales and budgets for the production and delivery of projects. If you do not have your own access document but would like to submit one along with your application, you can use our template available here.
Will my access costs be covered?
Any access costs you incur as an artist or practitioner should be covered by Access to Work* if you have self-employed artist status or work as part of an organisation or company.
*Access to Work is a government scheme that is designed to meet the additional costs of employing a disabled person where they are directly a result of that person’s impairments. For more information go to: www.gov.uk/access-to-work/overview
If you do not draw an income from your work, we will work with you to meet your access costs if you are selected.
About Spike Island
Spike Island supports, produces and presents contemporary art across an 80,000 square foot former industrial building near Bristol’s harbourside. Our artistic programme includes free exhibitions, events and engagement activities taking place on-site and online. The programme champions outstanding work by emerging and underrepresented local, national and international artists, and enhances access to contemporary art and culture for audiences from all backgrounds.
Spike Island directly supports artists through ambitious new commissions, subsidised studios and critically engaged artist development opportunities that widen access to our programme and facilities. Our Exhibition Services business supports the bespoke production and installation of artists’ film and video throughout the UK and internationally. Spike Island is home to a dynamic community of hundreds of artists and creative businesses, working in flexible, affordable workspaces, alongside UWE Bristol’s Fine Art programmes and Emmeline Café Bar.
About Hauser & Wirth
Hauser & Wirth is committed to inclusive learning programs that create a dialogue between art, artists and diverse audiences. Ongoing global projects are centered on three core pillars: to engage with communities; enrich academic courses; and foster better access to art careers through a series of meaningful partnerships. Operating beyond the physical spaces of Hauser & Wirth locations, the longstanding learning program recognises art as a vehicle for personal and collective discovery, driven by the work of the gallery’s artists. The learning team collaborates with a range of cultural organisations and non-profit partners, facilitating an exchange of ideas and new perspectives to bring an expanded learning experience.
Find out more: hauserwirth.com/learning
About the Fellowship
This opportunity is one of three Engagement Fellowships for South West-based curators taking place between 2025 and 2028, kindly supported by Hauser & Wirth. The three-year initiative will connect Spike Island and Hauser & Wirth’s Learning and Engagement programmes, aiming to support the professional development of artists, young people and independent art workers based in the region.
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