This panel discussion will bring together curators from the five regional arts institutions across the US who worked with ICI on developing the exhibition Peoples Biennial. Curated by Harrell Fletcher and Jens Hoffmann, Peoples Biennial is a survey of artists in five regional communities that resulted from a year of research carried out in collaboration with local art institutions, which are now hosting the exhibition during its tour. As such, the panelists represent a unique network of collaborative curatorial practice stretching across the country. They will discuss their role as the curators on the ground who spearheaded the research about local artists beyond the conventional structure offered by MFA programs and commercial galleries. They will share their experiences with the exhibition and talk about how the exhibition model has started to build the potential for the expansion of this network of institutions, artists, and curators on a local and national level. Moderated by Jens Hoffmann, Director, CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, and co-curator of Peoples Biennial. Panelists include Matthew Callinan, Campus Exhibitions Coordinator, Haverford College, PA; Cassandra Coblentz, Associate Curator, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, AZ; Kristan Kennedy, Visual Art Curator, Portland Institute of Contemporary Art, OR; Steven Matijcio, Curator of Contemporary Art, Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art, NC; and Mary Maxon, Curator of Exhibits, The Dahl Arts Center, SD.
