DUBLIN, IRELAND.- The finer points of the curator’s craft are set to come under the spotlight at a major international symposium at the Irish Museum of Modern Art from 10 to 12 November 2004. Curating Now, one of the most important events of its kind ever staged in Ireland, has already generated considerable interest among artists, curators, arts administrators and others, with more than 220 bookings received to date.

The symposium will focus on curating contemporary art in public museums and galleries and will bring together ten leading international curators from Europe, North and South America and Japan. These will included such noted art world figure Hans Ulrich Obrist, Curator for Contemporary Art at the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, Fumio Nanjo, Deputy Director of the Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, and Iwona Blazwick, Director of Whitechapel, London.

Topics will range from programming and acquisitions policies to relationships with other museums and galleries and current global trends. Hans Ulrich Obrist will address the future of the museum and what he sees as the very real threat of the spread of a global homogenisation, already evident on other areas of life, to the world of museums. He will also explore the paradox inherent in museums being at once preoccupied with the seemingly moribund acts of collection and preservation, while at the same time being potential laboratories for experimentation and catalysts for change.

Kevin Powers, Deputy Director of the Reina Sofía Museum in Madrid, will reflect on how that museum is redefining the nature of its collection to give greater visibility to the art of Latin America and the Arab world, with which Spain has important historical links. Ivo Mesquita, Curator of Projeto Octógono at Pinacoteca do Estado, São Paolo, Brazil, will discuss the opportunities and difficulties associated with setting up a contemporary art space in an art history museum. Curating Now is supported by the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaion, the Morrsion Hotel, Circa Art Magazine, Irish Arts Review, the French Embassy, the Italian Cultural Institute, the Japan Foundation and Dublin Bus.

The fee for the symposium is €150.00, concession €130.00. In addition to the presentations, this includes a wine reception, tea/coffee and a light lunch over two days and the symposium pack. For bookings please contact Aoife Ruane or Simona Lecce at Tel: +353 1 612 9900; Email: ed.comm@imma.ie.