Colección Patricia Phelps de Cisneros Travel Award for Central America and the Caribbean

Application deadline: February 1, 2012

The Colección Patricia Phelps de Cisneros Travel Award for Central America and the Caribbean, created by the Colección Patricia Phelps de Cisneros and Independent Curators International (ICI), will support a contemporary art curator based anywhere in the world who wishes to travel to conduct research about art and cultural activities in Central America and the Caribbean. Intending to generate new collaborations with artists, curators, museums, cultural centers, and/or collections in the region, the Travel Award will support curatorial residencies, studio visits and archival research.

The first award will be given in honor of curator Virginia Pérez-Ratton (1950-2010) who was internationally renowned for her work with contemporary artists in Central America and the Caribbean, as well as her dedication to ensuring their practices be recognized beyond the region. Author of many influential publications and essays, and curator of numerous exhibitions and projects around the world, Pérez-Ratton was the founder of the art space, library, and foundation TEOR/éTica, and the director of the Museo de Arte y Diseño Contemporáneo de Costa Rica.

The travel period can be anywhere between 3 weeks to 3 months, and take place between March and September 2012. The grant will cover costs of up to $10,000. Independent curators and those with institutional affiliations may apply. Applications from established and emerging curators (3+ years professional experience) will be considered. The award will support travel to either one or multiple locations in Central America and the Caribbean. A jury of professionals who live in, or have extensive knowledge of the region, will select the successful applicant.

Travel can be requested to the following countries:
* Central America: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.
* Caribbean: The Greater Antilles (Cuba, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Puerto Rico and Cayman Islands); The Lesser Antilles (Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Curaçao, Dominica, Grenada, French Antilles- Guadeloupe, Martinique, France La Désirade, France Marie-Galante, France Les Saintes, Saint Barthélemy-, Saba, Sin Eustatius, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, U.S. Virgin Islands, Venezuelan Islands); The Bahamas, Colombia (Caribbean region), and Turks and Caicos Islands.

TEOR/éTica
In addition to the grant, TEOR/éTica has offered a 2 to 4 week residency to a curator selected from the shortlist of candidates. This opportunity is designed to introduce curators to the contemporary art scene of Costa Rica through studio visits, meeting arts professionals and visiting exhibitions. Airfare, accommodations and a travel stipend will be provided by TEOR/éTica, which will also organize a public program where the curator will present their past or current projects.

For further information, contact Sofia Olascoaga at sofia@curatorsintl.org or visit ICI’s website www.curatorsintl.org