Art Chicago and NEXT are pleased to announce public seminars as part of CONVERGE Chicago.  Programmed to foster dialogue, panels will address current topics in curatorial and museum such as programming in the new economy and recent trends in critical art practices.  CONVERGE seminars are open to the public. 

Crisis and Opportunity: Programming and Exhibitions in the New Economy
May 1, 11am: NEXT Talk Shop

In recent months, museums and art centers have been forced to shave budgets, reduce programs and exhibitions and even cut hours and staff. Many curators, however are successfully and creatively mounting ambitious and well-executed shows and projects. In this panel, curators discuss innovative uses of the exhibition space and fresh approaches to programming that are fueled by big ideas rather than big budgets.

Moderator:  Brian Sholis, Artforum
Panelists:  Ruba Katrib, Museum of Contemporary Art, Miami; Dean Sobel, The Clyfford Still Museum; and Benjamin Godsill, New Museum


Art and Critique in an Obama Climate
May 1, 2:30-3:30pm: Art Spot, Art Chicago Show Floor

Panelists will address art, curating and criticality in the changing political climate.  Has there been a noticeable shift in critical practices or artistic strategies?  

Discussion will be led by Daniel Tucker, AREA Chicago, Naomi Beckwith, The Studio Museum and Benjamin Godsill, New Museum.
 

Past Present Future: Regional Curators Speak to the Greatest Challenges and Opportunities They Face Today
May 2, 11am: Merchandise Mart Conference Center

Four dynamic curators from regional museums will discuss their thoughts on the three biggest challenges and opportunities—from cultivating the generation of museum supporters and young collectors to dealing with growing permanent collections—facing their institutions and curatorial practices.  

Moderator:  Stephanie Smith, Smart Museum of Art
Panelists:  Peter Eleey, Walker Art Center; Anthony Huberman, Contemporary Art Museum Saint Louis; Jane Simon, Madison Museum of Contemporary Art; and Margo Crutchfield, Cleveland Museum of Contemporary Art

Curating and Context
May 2,1pm: NEXT Talk Shop

This panel discussion will address how to support local/emerging artists in the context of an international exhibition program.  How does a curator negotiate the integration of local and/or emerging artists into such a platform alongside globally well known artists?  When is it right to present young practices alongside those that are more developed?   Curators discuss their strategies. 

Moderator:  Helena Reckitt, The Power Plant
Panelists:  Kris Douglas, Rochester Art Center; Shamim Momin, The Whitney Museum; and Christopher Cook, The Kemper Art Museum


Museums on the Line: Cutbacks, Closures and Opportunities
May 2, 2:30pm: Merchandise Mart Conference Center

Michael Rush, director of the Rose Museum of Art at Brandeis University will lead a discussion about how recent and dramatic shifts in the economic and political climate have profoundly affected virtually every aspect of museum practice. Panelists include Anthony Hirschel, director of the Smart Museum of Art at the University of Chicago and artist Mary Lucier.  Using the Rose Museum de-accessioning controversy as a starting point for an extended dialogue, this panel will address museum de-accessioning practices; the symbolic value of public collections; institutional transparency; and the role of the museum in tough times.

Beyond Collecting: New Models for Contemporary Art Collections
May 2, 4-5:30pm: NEXT Talk Shop

Just as institutions are taking more inventive approaches to collecging, there have been remarkable shifts in the building of private and corporate collections which exemplify new, alternative models for collections.  Moderated by Paige West, The West Collection, panelists include Victor Zamudio-Taylor, Jumex Collection; Jacqueline Lawrence, curator, UBS Art Collection; Sandy Kemper, The Collectors Fund; and Jennifer Phelps, art director, Chambers Luxury Art Hotel.   

In Conversaton: Hamza Walker and Ben Gest
May 2, 5:30-6:15pm: NEXT Talk Shop

NEXT Talks Shop Lounge kicks off this one on one series of emerging artist and curator conversations with curator Hamza Walker, the Renaissance Society and artist Ben Gest. 

Participating curators and panelists at CONVERGE, Art Chicago Speaks and NEXT Talk Shop include:

Michael Rush, The Rose Museum; Victor Zamudio Taylor, Jumex Collection, Mexico City; Shamim Momin, The Whitney Museum; Benjamin Godsill, New Museum; Naomi Beckwith, The Studio Museum; Heather Pesanti, Albright Knox; Michael Danoff, Neuberger Berman;  Ruba Katrib, Miami MoCA; Anthony Huberman, Contemporary Art Museum Saint Louis; Peter Eleey, Walker Art Center; Margo Crutchfield, MoCA Cleveland; Jane Simon, Madison MoCA; Stephanie Smith and Anthony Hirschel, The Smart Museum; Aimee Chang, Hammer Museum; Julie Rodrigues Widholm and Dominic Molon, MCA Chicago; David McFadden, Museum of Art and Design, New York; Jennifer Phelps, Chambers Luxury Art Hotel; Jacqueline Lawrence, UBS Art Collection; Debora Wood, Mary and Leigh Block Museum