Launching during Frieze Week 2020, the Frieze x Deutsche Bank Emerging Curators Fellowship is a new initiative to support UK-based Black and People of Colour (POC) emerging curators, established in collaboration with Chisenhale Gallery and artist Idris Khan.
Aiming to support UK-based Black and POC emerging curators through paid placements and help address racial disparities in the UK visual arts sector, the fellowship is launched in partnership with British artist Idris Khan and London's Chisenhale Gallery. Khan has designed a sustainably made protective face mask and case, available to purchase now, with 100% of proceeds benefiting the fellowship. A new edition by British filmmaker and artist John Akomfrah will follow in October, also in support of the programme.
Fundraising through face masks
The fund to support the inaugural fellow is to be launched with a sustainably made protective face mask and case, designed by celebrated British artist Idris Khan.
Khan’s mask features a work titled Time Past, Time Present (2020) and has been made using blue watercolour layers of sheet music from Vivaldi’s ‘Four Seasons’. The work was conceived during the COVID-19 lockdown, during which Khan watched 'the vivid colours of nature changing intensely'. By photographing each page and superimposing them on top of one another, Khan has attempted to capture the passing of time through colour and musical marks.
Made from sustainable linen and cotton, the masks are priced at £40 and are available for purchase here, and at Frieze Week locations in London from 5–11 October. 100% of sales proceeds will benefit the fellowship. Details of the John Akomfrah edition will be available in the coming weeks.
Idris Khan
Face mask and case designed by Idris Khan
About the fellowship
The inaugural 2020 fellowship will be realised in partnership with Chisenhale Gallery, which has a well-established track record of providing high-quality training and professional development for emerging curators. The fellow will gain significant experience across the gallery’s range of expertise, including areas such as their ongoing exhibitions and education programme. Throughout the fellowship, the fellow will have access to additional mentoring sessions with members of the Frieze team and Deutsche Bank business support.
UK-based Black or POC curators will be eligible to apply for the inaugural fellowship from January 2021. An initial fundraising target of £45,000 has been set to support the initial fellowship, to include the fellow’s salary, travel, research and professional development, with any further funds raised to be put towards future fellowships.
To support the fellowship, purchase your limited-edition face mask and case in the Frieze online shop.
