The British Council is looking for a curator who will work with the community of cai luong artists and performers, to plan and stage a multi-media exhibition telling the oral history of cai luong theatre in Ho Chi Minh City. The objective of this exhibition is to collect stories of the cai luong theatre and share with members of the cai luong community and the wider audience. This exhibition forms part of the Community Cultural Heritage component of Heritage of Future Past or Di Sản Kết Nối, a Cultural Heritage for Inclusive Growth project in Vietnam.
This call is open to all nationalities. We especially encourage submissions from Vietnam and UK-based curators.
Location: Ho Chi Minh City and southern provinces of Vietnam
Delivery time: Between December 2018 and June 2019
Background
Cultural Heritage for Inclusive Growth is a two-year pilot initiative, working in Colombia, Kenya, and Vietnam, exploring the use of cultural heritage for growth to benefit all levels of society.
Cultural heritage in this context means many things, from the constructed environment through to cultural traditions such as music and language. Inclusive growth means working with and for all levels of society in order to reconcile the divide between economic growth, and rising poverty and inequality.
We believe that when people engage with, learn from, value and promote their cultural heritage, it can contribute to both social and economic development. An inclusive way of working, that engages individuals at every level, can lead to economic growth and better social welfare. Heritage employed in this way can be a source of sustainability; a way to embed growth in the fabric of society and to celebrate the past in today’s evolving world.
For more information on the research and approach which forms the basis for this cross region, multi-national programme please visit www.britishcouncil.org/arts/culture-development/cultural-heritage.
In Vietnam, through engaging with elements of the country’s music and film heritage, especially those currently under-threat or under-represented, the project consists of two interconnected strands: Community Cultural Heritage, and FAMLAB (Film, Archive and Music Lab). Launched in April 2018, the project seeks to create opportunities for communities across the country to contribute to, and benefit from, the safeguarding and reinvigoration of their cultural heritage.
Activities include research, documentation, conservation, training and capacity building (including oral teaching techniques), experimentation and innovation, advocacy, policy and community dialogues, and support of the re-imagination and revitalisation of cultural heritage elements via contemporary practices.
Scope of work
- The curator to work with the research team (see scope of work for the research team here) to incorporate research results in the curatorial process of the exhibition.
- The curator to engage with members of the cai luong community and/or other artists and creative practitioners to either collect or re-create objects, stories, audio and visual materials for the exhibition. It is understood that some materials will absolutely need to be re-created in consultation with the cai luong artists and performers.
- The curator to work with the venue partner (to be identified together with the British Council project team) in planning and staging the exhibition. Attention should be paid to ensuring that key elements of the exhibition are contributed and owned by the cai luong community (i.e. the exhibition will become a permanent part of a physical community organisation or institution engaging with cai luong theatre).