CURATORIAL MENTORSHIP PROGRAM 2022
WITH DIASPORIC FUTURISMS

Diasporic Futurisms, Galvanized Suns, 2020
Call: Subtle Technologies Curatorial Mentorship Program 2022
with Diasporic Futurisms (Vanessa Godden and Adrienne Matheuszik)
Deadline: May 9, 2022, 11:59pm EST
EXTENDED: May 23, 2022, 11:59pm EST

INFO SESSION: April 28, 2022, 7pm EST
A recording can be found here: https://vimeo.com/704615546

Subtle Technologies is a platform for community building and knowledge sharing at the intersection of art, science, and technology. The organization invests in programming that critically engages with digital spaces and online audiences.

Subtle Technologies invites Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for participation in the organization’s virtual Curatorial Mentorship Program 2022 – an initiative that pays emerging artists and curators to propose, develop, and submit a robust grant application for a project that speaks to our mandate and could eventually be produced in partnership with Subtle Technologies. Applicants may be current students, recent graduates, or new to the field of curation.

The Curatorial Mentorship Program is a virtual three-phase program: EOI submission, proposal development, and project grant submission. Applicants may apply as individuals or collectives. Honoraria is awarded to candidates selected for continued participation in progressive phases, but fees are distributed on a per-project basis, and are not multiplied for collective members. 

  • Phase One
    • Apply with an EOI (see details below).
  • Phase Two: 3 candidates to be chosen from pool of Phase One EOIs
    $500 honoraria each

    • Develop a detailed project proposal describing the curatorial project described in the EOI, prepared with the active mentorship of the Subtle Technologies’ Programs Director, Board of Directors, and the Curatorial Mentorship Program 2020 Phase 3 award winners Diasporic Futurisms.
  • Phase Three: 1 candidate to be chosen from Phase Two participants
    $2000 honoraria

    • Polish the project proposal into a robust, submission ready grant proposal and submit it to various targeted grants identified by the participant.

Mentees from the 2022 Curatorial Mentorship Program accepted into Phase 3 will return as mentors in the next cycle of the Curatorial Mentorship Program under paid contract by Subtle Technologies, encouraging reciprocity, sustainability, and continuity in supporting arts community and pedagogy.

Include in your EOI:

  • A project statement (500 words) that describes your curatorial concepts, contemporary relevance, themes, and general information about projected scope, including:
    • Indicating the intended audience and how you propose to reach them.
    • Demonstrating your capacity to realize your ideas and any experience you may have with digital curation and programming.
    • How and why Subtle Technologies’ platform would be a good fit for you to disseminate your ideas (read more about our mandate, history, and past Curatorial Mentorship Program proposals at on the website under Curatorial Mentorship Program 2020 Phase 2).
  • An artist biography (100 words).
  • Examples of past work (maximum 3 artworks/projects) relevant to your proposal (eg. audio/visual documentation, publications, designs, online citations, etc.).
  • CV and/or website.
  • The names of 3 artists/curators/creatives you admire and hope to work with in the future. (If possible, include at least 1 that is based in Ontario.)
  • Specify where you saw this call.

The EOI should be a single PDF under 2GB in size and can be emailed directly or sent using a file transfer service (such as WeTransfer or Google Drive). Should you need special accommodations, video and audio statements will also be accepted with notice of needs.

Submit these documents to programming@subtletechnologies.com by Monday, May 9, 2022, 11:59pm EST. 

An info session with an example of a successful EOI was held on Thursday, April 28, at 7pm EST. The session was recorded, and is available for review until May 9.
Watch it here: https://vimeo.com/704615546

Subtle Technologies is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in all our programming and organizational activities. We encourage proposals from equity-seeking communities including women; Black, Indigenous, and racialized persons; persons with disabilities; and persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities/expressions.

This project is funded in part through Codes of Contact, a collaborative initiative by the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival, OCAD U and Digital Justice Lab, supported by the Digital Strategy Fund at the Canada Council For the Arts.

Subtle Technologies acknowledges the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.