WENDY GERS Phd
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WENDY GERS PhD Contemporary Art Curator 2 decades of curatorial experience on 3 continents 35 Westfields Avenue, London, SW13 0AT +44 7404176092 www.wendygers.org/ Academia.edu/WendyGers SKILLS MOST PROUD OF Leadership of academically innovative & A life of social engagement that has improved socially engaged curatorial projects in Israel, the conditions of women & minority artists China, South Africa, Taiwan, France etc. World Leading South African, 2014, City Press Research & publication of scholarly & accessible books, catalogues, & articles etc. CURATORIAL Excellent digital skills: Admin & management: MS suite (Word, Excel, 2018 Curator, Venice Biennale 2019 Collateral PowerPoint), Trello, Slack Exhibition for Dept. Culture, Youth & Media, Social media: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Belgium. Instagram, Pinterest 2017 Curator, First Central China International Ceramics Biennale, Henan Museum, China. Strategic planning & monitoring of projects 2016 Post-colonialism? Benyamini Contemporary Ceramics Centre, Tel Aviv, Israel. Outstanding communication & client services 2014 Curator: Taiwan Ceramics Biennale, Yingge kills: building rapport & loyalty Ceramics Museum, Taipei. 2013 Curator: Museomix, Musée des Arts International curatorial authority, over 60 Décoratifs (MAD), Paris lectures & key note addresses in 17 countries 2011 Associate Curator: Paysages d'ici, PASS, Frameries, Belgium. 2010 Associate Curator: Football et Immigration, EDUCATION CNHI, Paris, France. 2001 - Volunteer, Museo Comarcal de Manresa, 2018 PhD, University of Sunderland, England 2002 Barcelona, Spain. 2000 MA in Art History, University of Natal, 1996 - Curator: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Pietermaritzburg (UNP), South Africa. Cum Laude. 2000 Museum, Port Elizabeth, South Africa. 1993 Advanced University Diploma in Information Studies, UNP. Distinctions in 3 courses. ACADEMIA 1993 BA in History of Art & Classical Civilisation, UNP. 2011 - present Research Associate, University of Johannesburg, South Africa. LANGUAGES 2014 - 2017 Academic Director, ENSA, Limoges, France 2006 - 2015 Lecturer, ESAD Valenciennes, France. English ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ 2004 – 2006 Lecturer, Ecole d'Art de Douai, France. French ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ 2003 - 2004 Lecturer, Chamber of Commerce & Spanish ☺ ☺ ☺ Industry, Cambrai, France. Afrikaans ☺ ☺ ☺ 1 FULL CV Curatorial Experience…………………………………..……………………………………………………………..p. 03 Over two decades of curatorial experience in Europe, Asia & Africa Academic Experience…………………………………..……………………………………………………………..p. 06 Over a decade of teaching in higher education Grants & Prizes………..…………………………………..……………………………………………………………..p. 08 Accolades for professional achievements in Africa, Asia & Europe. Research: Peer-reviewed Books & Catalogues……………………………………………………………..p. 09 Author of 6 books & catalogues Research: Peer-reviewed Book Chapters & Journal Articles………………………………………….p. 09 Over 15 scholarly texts about contemporary art & design Research: Exhibition & Book Reviews, Translations & Editing etc.…………………………………p. 11 Over 15 scholarly reviews, and translations from French Research: Public-facing scholarship………………………………………………..…………………………….p. 12 Over 15 public-facing texts Conferences, Guest Lectures & Round Tables……………………………………………………………….p. 14 Over 60 presentations in 17 countries Biography: Interviews…………………………………………………………………………………………………..p. 20 Personal interviews in European, American, African & Asian publications Biography: Select Exhibition & Book Reviews……………………………………………………………....p. 21 Exhibition & Book Reviews in European, American, African & Asian publications Consulting, Voluntary & Extra-professional collaborations……………………………………………p. 22 Numerous collaborations with NGOs & higher education institutions Board Positions………………………………………………………………………………………………………………p. 24 Memberships…………………………………………………………………………....……………………………………p. 24 Personal Interests…………………………………………………..………………………………....……………..……p. 25 2 Curatorial Experience PROJECT DIRECTOR & CURATOR Project 08/2018 - 11/2018 Votive Studies, Concurrent Exhibition, Venice Biennale 2019, Exhibition for Department of Culture, Youth & Media, Belgium. Responsibilities o Strategic planning & resources management. Leading the Department of Culture, Youth & Media, Belgium in strategic planning for all aspects of the Exhibition including hiring staff, scheduling, transport, partnerships, contracts, opening and closing events, press, advertising, marketing, publication, etc. Achievements o Fundraising and budget management, 150K £. PROJECT DIRECTOR & CURATOR Project 09/2015 - 04/2017, Exhibition 12/09/2016 - 03/12/2017 Cont{r}act Earth, First Central China International Ceramics Biennale, Henan Museum, Zhengzhou, China 3rd most important National Museum in China. LINK Responsibilities o Policy & planning. Leading the Henan Museum in strategic planning for all aspects of the Biennale including hiring staff, scheduling, transport, institutional partnerships, contracts, programmes, international conference, cultural tour, press, advertising, marketing, education, publications, etc. o Budget & resources management. Collegial monitoring of budget: 850K £. o Personnel. Determining requisite staff (number & professional profiles). Collegial supervision (with the Exhibitions Director) of 25 staff (17 museum + 8 external contractors). Hiring temp. staff. o Resources & facilities development. Managing 50 artists. Design of layout for the exhibition (11,500 sq ft). o Ambassadorial. Television interviews & other promotional activities. Achievements o Outreach to local communities & partners. Driving planning sessions with the Education Department to develop programs for life-long learning. o Personnel development. Mentoring & training both the curatorial & administrative teams. o Diversity & Diplomacy. Age, gender, geographical (local, regional & international), race, & other diversity targets were developed & met. o Best practices. With Curatorial Assistants & Senior Management, developed policies for dealing with sensitive issues including censorship & copyright. o Record visitor numbers, 25% increase in visitors, 335 000 total visitors. 3 o Legacy. Production of English & Chinese scholarly catalogues (185p). o Accolades. The Biennial is acknowledged by leading Chinese art world authorities, including Xu Bing (Artist & Director, CAFA Beijing) & Guangzhou Zhou (IAC China Representative) to be the best contemporary ceramics Biennale in China, to date. PROJECT DIRECTOR & CURATOR Project 08/2015 – 02/2017, Exhibition 25/11/2016 – 21/01/2017 Post-colonialism? Benyamini Contemporary Ceramics Centre, Tel Aviv, Israel. LINK Leading Israeli contemporary art center. Responsibilities o Policy & planning. Project conception, strategic planning and scheduling. o Project management. Management of 19 artists, collegial coordination of cultural and research tour, 2 international colloquia, demonstrations, seminars, digital catalogue, documentary film, website etc. o Budget & resource management. Budget: approx. 150 K £. o Diversity & Diplomacy. Age, gender, geographical, race, and other targets were developed and met. o Best practices. With Senior Management, developed policies for dealing with sensitive issues including identity politics, ‘breaking the silence’ and ‘speaking out’. Achievements o Accolades: Listed one of 10 best exhibitions in Israel during 2017 by Portfolio Magazine. o Increased public visibility, record visitor numbers and press attention. o Socially engaged: Making a bold political statement against occupation in an increasingly conservative political context. o Diplomacy: This is the first time that 6 leading Israeli Art Academies have participated in a common project. Partners were unanimous about the positive outcomes of the collaboration. PROJECT DIRECTOR & CURATOR Project 08/2013 - 05/2014, Exhibition 09/05/2014 - 12/10/2014 Terra Nova Taiwan Ceramics Biennale, Yingge Ceramics Museum, Taipei. LINK Responsibilities o Policy & planning. Project conception, strategic planning & scheduling. o Project management. Management of 65 participating artists. Coordination of international transport, exhibition design, Biennale installation, cultural tour, 2-day international conference with parallel demonstrations, catalogue, documentary film, website etc. o Personnel development. Training of Taiwanese Co-curator. Achievements o Record visitor numbers. 20% increase on previous Biennale, 660 000 total visitors. 4 o Diversity & Diplomacy. Age, gender, geographical, race, & other diversity targets were developed & met. CURATOR & RESEARCHER 11/2013 Museomix, Musée des Arts Décoratifs (MAD), Paris. LINK Achievements Conception, design, fabrication and installation of interactive digital intervention in the permanent collection within 3 days. ASSOCIATE CURATOR 2010 & 2011 Paysages d'ici, PASS, Frameries, Belgium. Responsibilities o Conception, design, & delivery of an exhibition on landscapes of the Hainaut region. Achievements o This project was intended to be a temporary exhibition, but has been indefinitely extended, & is still showing, due to its excellence. ASSOCIATE CURATOR 2009 & 2010 Football et Immigration, Cité Nationale de l'Histoire de l'Immigration, Paris. Responsibilities o Conception, design & delivery of an exhibition on French football & migration. Achievements o Rich & dynamic collaboration between a large number of different organisations, including nursery, primary & high schools, NGOs & higher education institutions. VOLUNTEER 2001 & 2002 Museo Comarcal de Manresa, Barcelona, Spain. Responsibilities Administrative and