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from e-flux

Submission deadline: March 31, 2025, 10am

Contour Biennale
Onder den Toren 12
2800 Mechelen
Belgium
info@contourbiennale.org
https://contourbiennale.org

Since its founding in 2003, Contour Biennale has carved out a singular space in the landscape of moving images and time-based media, engaging with the shifting contours of artistic practice with each edition. Over ten iterations, it has evolved into an internationally widely acclaimed biennale—one that resists fixity, continuously reimagining itself to resonate with both local rhythms and international currents.

Deeply entangled with its surroundings, Contour has always been more than an exhibition; it is a site of inquiry, a critical lens on the questions of our time. The curators of the recent editions, Auguste Orts (2023), Nataša Petrešin-Bachelez (2019), Natasha Ginwala (2017), Nicola Setari (2015) and Jacob Fabricius (2013) have each shaped the biennale’s trajectory, and have unfolded its expanding enquiry, scope and vocabulary.

Contour 11
As Contour steps into its 11th edition, it enters a phase of transformation. A new organizational structure marks not just a shift in approach but also an opportunity to rethink the essence of what a biennale can be. Sustainability, in every sense, takes center stage: how do we develop formats that endure without stagnation, that challenge conventions while remaining porous and responsive? What does it mean to gather, and can we question the temporalities of exhibition-making? How do international and local dimensions converge and connect with a diverse audience?

This next phase for Contour is a call to reflect on the urgency of building a sustainable platform for audiovisual arts, with a commitment to site-specificity. Contour 11 does not arrive with a fixed blueprint but with the open question: How can we sustain critical art practices and how can a biennale not only reflect the world but also contribute to positive change? This edition will adopt a small-scale approach in an effort to rethink the future of Contour and relaunch the biennale.

Contour 11 will take place from late August until November 2026. To navigate the delicate balance between sharp, uncompromising artistic choices and the need to reach a broad audience we are seeking to create an act of balance, resistance, and generosity. At its core, Contour is committed to inclusivity, fair practice, and ecological awareness, anchoring itself in both local and global contexts.

Curator call for Contour Biennale 11
The curator of Contour Biennale 11 will shape its concept, content, and form and steer the biennale into new territories of engagement. We are looking for a curator with a strong affinity for moving images who will develop a concept that will strengthen the biennale from a place of care, based on a sustained dialogue with the group that re-established the biennale in 2024. This process of exploration and collaboration will happen in conversation with the biennale’s general and artistic director.

In the first phase the curator will develop a concept, artists list and location selection, due on August 15, which will serve as the base for further fundraising in close collaboration with the biennale team. The next phase will entail the production of new works, the planning of the installation and writing of texts to conclude in a final phase with overseeing the opening and public programming of the biennale. This will include talks, events and an international visitor’s programme.

We are looking for a curator who:
—Brings an expansive network and a critical understanding of the international visual and audiovisual arts landscape.
—Holds the capacity to articulate curatorial standpoints with clarity and conviction.
—Is able to dedicate time to present and represent the biennale across its full arc.
—Possesses strong leadership and project management skills, with experience in guiding teams.
—Can navigate a predefined financial framework and is resourceful in seeking additional funding.
—Will design a public program with both breadth and depth, inviting dialogue and reflection.
—Knows how to reflect and engage with the evolving format of the biennale.
—Understands and engages with the specificities of hosting the biennale in a medium-sized city like Mechelen.

Timeline
Monday, March 31: deadline submissions
Friday, April 11: notification about selection
Monday, April 14: online interview shortlisted candidates

Applications
To apply, submit the following to info@contourbiennale.org

—A motivation letter (maximum 1 A4 page).
—A project proposal outlining your vision for the biennale, including a selection of artists whose work you wish to present (maximum 1 A4 page).
—A CV that summarizes your professional experience as a curator (maximum 1 A4 page).

The deadline for submissions is March 31, 2025, 10am CET. For any inquiries, please reach out to info@contourbiennale.org.

More information on our website.

Contour Biennale is supported by Flanders State of the Arts.