Online Courses

Curating as an Act of Translation

Course dates: Sa 3  +17 May 2025, 2–6pm (CEST)
Maximum participants: 20

⮕ Enrol here until May 2, 2025
Fee: EUR 250

Curating as an Act of Translation. Towards a Curatorial Translation Zone

In a globalizing world, as data, people and objects move across borders, translation has become part of our daily life. Meanwhile, all creative expression can be seen as a form of translation. It describes shifts by artists and curators working internationally across media, disciplines, locations, languages, cultures and worldviews. Yet, who benefits from translation? What do we lose, or gain, in the process?

This course introduces curating as an act of translation within the field of contemporary art. The first session offers an in-depth introduction to the subject, exploring the different forms of translation that occur within curating including semiotic, cultural and pluriversal movements. The second session delves into the limits of translation, including its ethical challenges and implications. Together, we will reflect on the creative possibilities that (mis)translation can offer and consider the curatorial space as a translation zone.

Through a balance of readings, theoretical discussions, and workshop activities over two sessions, the course aims to foster a collaborative environment. We will collectively reflect on the curatorial as a translation zone – a temporary space of negotiation where hybrid languages, new forms, knowledges and relationships can emerge, in the process celebrating pluriversality. By the end of the course, participants will gain new tools and deeper insights into the translations and movements that influence curatorial and artistic practices.

Emily Butler is a freelance curator and writer based in London She is a Curating PHD candidate at the University of Reading researching the topic of artists and curators as (mis)translators, as they work increasingly across borders, between languages, sign systems and cultures. Previously she was the Curator of the Platform Talks program at Art Toronto, 2024; Conversations Curator at Art Basel, 2021-2023 and Curator at the Whitechapel Gallery, London, 2010-2022. She held roles in the Visual Arts team at British Council, Antony Gormley Studio and the Centre Pompidou. She contributes to international publications and projects.

Preparation for the course:
To ensure a smooth experience, please use a headset (or headphones) and choose a quiet place with a stable internet connection. You will receive access to the required reading materials after booking the course; please review them in advance.

Procedure
This intensive, two-part live course will be conducted via Zoom on two consecutive Saturdays from 2:00 to 6:00 PM CEST. Please prepare a brief introduction of yourself and your projects (3-5 minutes). The first session will focus on an in-depth introduction to the topic and workshop research. Assignments for the second session will be provided at the end of the first session. In the second session, you will receive feedback and evaluations. Upon successful completion, you will be awarded a certificate worth 1 ECTS credit.

Technical instructions
Download the Zoom application. You will find a detailed installation guide here. Zoom can also be accessed through a browser on Mac, PC, iPad, iPhone, Android tablet, or Android phone. You will receive a Zoom invitation with a link to join the workshop.