It seems that curation is one of those ideas that’s captured many imaginations… Over the last few years I’ve become more and more interested in how we curate transformative ‘moments’ and spaces in public places – and I’m hoping there are people like me who want to read and talk and dream more about how to do these. One of my plans for this year is to develop an online learning community for those of us who are wanting to explore this area in much more detail.

I think the group would do the following:
– commit to a ‘program’ of regular reading and reflection on books, articles, videos etc
– be involved with intentional conversations exploring how transformation happens in public spaces, focussed around questions like this:
what kind of events create spaces where transformation might happen
what kind of transformation can ‘art’ effect?
how does transformation happen?
– share practical ideas and wisdom, building up a database of knowledge

The intention of the group would be to have fun, to network people with the intention of collaborations, shared imagination, action / reflection, and to create a bank of wisdom and resources

Some of those who participate in the group may also want to be part of the UK transformative spaces trip in August / September 2011. Last year we re-shaped the UK trip so that we could focus more on transformative spaces, and I think this year’s trip will be refined even more to think specifically about curation, rather than art – in particular, what spaces invite people in, and let them be different within them. The trip will include conversations with artists / curators; visits to galleries and spaces; participation at greenbelt festival.

The only cost for those being part of the learning group would be for any reading material that needs to be bought… and obviously for the UK trip should people go on that!

Send me an email if you’re interested. You don’t have to know anything or be doing anything to be part of this – just have an interest and commitment to learning together. if things go to plan it will be beginning in march.

edited to add: no, you don’t have to be australian to be part of this!