The Scottish Contemporary Art Network (SCAN) and Outset Scotland have this week announced a new project to support and develop curatorial ambition within Scotland’s collecting institutions.

Dr Dominic Paterson, Hunterian Curator of Contemporary Art and Lecturer in History of Art at the University of Glasgow, will be one of the first participants to take part in the new programme.

Curatorial Leadership in Collections encourages museums and galleries to be enterprising in the pursuit of sustainable and ambitious collecting of contemporary art.

The project brings together curators and directors from eight collecting institutions across the
Scottish sector including key independent, university, local authority and national collections.
The project aims to strengthen a curator’s leadership role in activating public collections for contemporary audiences and building imaginative public, commercial and philanthropic partnerships.

The programme takes place over 18 months with curatorial research visits, advocacy forums and participant workshops. Curatorial Leadership in Collections enables new action research and advocacy to highlight and quantify the wide-­ranging impact of contemporary collecting and programming in Scotland. The project will support participants working individually and collectively to advocate for enhanced investment and fresh thinking, and will lead to the creation of new national initiatives that will aim to unlock partnership and funding opportunities.

The project will be delivered by SCAN, with Kirstie Skinner, Director of Outset Scotland as lead consultant, and Rachael Browning, Senior Programmes Manager at Art Fund as adviser.

Curatorial Leadership in Collections is made possible through the generous support of Creative Scotland, Art Fund, Outset Scotland and Museums Galleries Scotland.

Project Partners

Scottish Contemporary Art Network (SCAN) is Scotland’s member-­led network championing and supporting the contemporary art sector through research, advocacy and the development of strategic sector-­wide projects. SCAN has an ongoing interest in promoting leadership and supporting innovative curatorial development. SCAN is supported by Creative Scotland.

Outset Scotland is an independent philanthropic fund dedicated to the support of contemporary art in Scotland, and part of a global network of Outset organisations that encourage artistic ambition, experimentation and fresh approaches. Drawing on extensive research into Scotland's contemporary collections over the last ten years, director Dr. Kirstie Skinner has framed this project in response to current institutional challenges and opportunities.

Art Fund is a national fundraising charity for art. Working with museums and galleries across the UK, Art Fund support acquisitions, training and development, and the display of art through tours and exhibitions. In an advisory role, Art Fund is uniquely placed to encourage the participation and engagement of policy makers and senior museum management, and to ensure that our collective research is contributing to a conversation that extends beyond Scotland and UK contexts.

Funders

Creative Scotland
Creative Scotland is a public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland on behalf of everyone who lives, works or visits Scotland.
Creative Scotland distribute funding from the Scottish Government and The National Lottery.

Museums Galleries Scotland
MGS is the National Development Body for the Scottish museums sector. They support more than 400 museums and galleries, whether it’s through strategic investment, advice, advocacy, skills development or other means.

Museum Partners

The full list of museum partners is:

Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow
Katie Bruce, Producer/ Curator

Glasgow Women’s Library
Adele Patrick, Lifelong Learning and Creative Development Manager

The Hunterian
Dominic Paterson, Lecturer in History of Art, Curator of Contemporary Art

The McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery and Museum
Anna Robertson, Fine and Applied Art Section Leader

Paisley Museum and Art Galleries
Andrea Kusel, Curator of Art

Pier Arts Centre
Neil Firth, Director

Scottish Maritime Museum
Fiona Carmichael, Curator of Art

University of Edinburgh
Neil Lebeter, Art Collections Curator/ Deputy Head of Museums

First published: 27 June 2017

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