When I am asked what I do, I think to myself, “where do I start?” How do I define what an art curator is and how my brand of art curation operates? It is especially hard because I work with both contemporary art and historical art research. These two, sometimes competing, disciplines offer different definitions of what it means to be a curator. What is a curator? Is it someone who curates art exhibitions at a museum? What about the new terminology content creation? What about a curator who works outside of an institution? What about art historian?

As I try to explain all the different and unique facets of my life as an “independent” or “freelance” art curator and art historian, I am faced with either skepticism or optimism. Some are not sure what I do and how I do it. Some are optimistic for all the doors that this kind of work opens. In case this is not your field, it is extremely hard to get a job in this field. I will let you know just how hard in a future blog! But for those reading this who are in my boat, it is really hard to use a degree in art history, to make it in the art world and to be taken seriously! But, it is also a lot of fun and I am so fortunate to be where I am today and working on the projects I am working on!

So, I want to share with you, whether you are a fellow art historian or not, what I do and how I do it? Hopefully, you can come along with me on this journey and get excited about the projects that bring me so much joy! So, today I am sharing my 5 w’s of art curation!

You are likely familiar with the five w’s of problem solving and information gathering! It’s a typical principle taught in school to encourage kids to gain the information they need! The five w’s are:

who, what, when, where, and why.

These are my 5 w’s of art curation to help you understand what it is I do! Fellow artists, entrepreneurs, etc, let me know what your 5 w’s are in the comments!

Who

Hi! My name is Caroline Haller. I’m an Art Historian and Art Curator! I have an MA in Art History, 5 years of curatorial experience and am finding my way in the art world! My interests include provenance research, women artists, hand fans, conceptual art and intertextuality! If you want to learn more about what I have done, published, etc. check out my about page.

What

Curate: to take charge of (a museum) or organize (an art exhibit).

So, first and foremost, an art curator typically organizes an art exhibit or takes care of a collection of art, though that might fall under the purview of a collections manager at a larger institution. Art curators try to bring art to the public. In the case of contemporary art, where artists are still alive and their bodies of work are still growing, art curators typically seek to be that voice that acts as a bridge between the artists intentions and the public’s understanding. As someone who represents artists, I work to curate and submit exhibition proposals to show their work in galleries, fairs and to publish about their work.

With historical art, art historians are researching and writing, attempting to bring new ideas about art and culture of the past to viewers in the present. This involves lots of research and detective work. I have several ongoing research projects from 19th century hand fans to a 17th century Italian painting and you can read more about them on my blog!

Across my many projects I do a little of all of this. In fact, some of my “titles” include or have included Art or Provenance Researcher, Art Historian, Art Consultant, Assistant, Collections Manager, Content Manager, Art Installer, Proofreader, Inventory Manager, Interior Designer, Foundation Manager, Inventor, Teacher, Tour Guide, Custom Framer, and of course, Art Curator. Perhaps, I’ll just use that last one to sum it all up and explain that I use my experience and expertise to help people learn about and experience art!

When

In 2017, I was a bright-eyed college student who had just studied abroad in Spain. That year, I also began writing my undergraduate thesis and thinking about MA programs or jobs after school. I already had a curatorial internship under my belt, a 4.0 gpa, was an inductee into Phi Beta Kappa, etc. I thought perhaps I could get a few years of experience (and work for some money to pay off my student loans) for a few years before getting my MA. Boy was I wrong. I did work for some money, but not in anything related to my field!

So, I went back for my MA! I worked for three years as an *unpaid* intern at both the North Carolina Museum of History and the North Carolina Museum of Art! After finishing my degree, again with a 4.0, and writing a second thesis, I spent a year applying for jobs and trying to fill the time with related projects! First, let me say, that I have yet to even get an art museum job. I have spent hundreds of hours on resumes, cover letters and reaching out to hiring managers or trying to establish connections to art museums. So, I’m not sure why, but it has been harder than I thought, or even than they said it would be, to find a job.

That being said, I have been incredibly grateful for the art related projects and jobs I have been able to take on this year. I am nervous to pave my own way, but if there are not any museum jobs open to me at the moment, I will make my own projects and jobs! I also hope to encourage any others in my field to work toward your dream no matter what kind of oddball path that takes you on!

Where

Anywhere! And I don’t say this lightly! I have worked from North Carolina, my home base, Phoenix, San Fransisco, the Hamptons, Chicago, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Washinton D.C. and even Las Vegas! I am hopeful for some European trips this upcoming year!

The beauty of remote work is that you can work from an office or outside. You can work whenever you want as well! I have worked as early as 6:30 and as late as 11:00 some days. The work gets done and I increase productivity based on real life things!

Why

In 7th grade, we watched a documentary. Admittedly, the documentary was about marine biology, but it told me that less than 10% of the ocean was undiscovered! The young and impressionable me thought that I could be the person to discover some of it. Or, like many before me, I wanted to find Atlantis. I was also an avid Nancy Drew reader. A unique combination which suggested I might grow up to solve mysteries. I could bore you with my detailed ambitions, but the gist of it is that I now channel my love of mysteries and storytelling into art historical research and curation! The traditional path in my field is to work in a museum, but there are many people out there with private collections of art and culture! It has come from somewhere! So, I set up this site to introduce the world to my ideas and services. First, I thrive at historical research and can help anyone discover more about their art, the provenance of it and or write about it! Two, I am offering my services as a contemporary art curator! I can help individual artists curate and sell themselves and their art! I wanted to start a blog, because I truly believe that all the research and writing I have done should be shared.

Most importantly, I believe it is my calling to help others with art! One, I definitely have the passion for it and two because wow can art bring ideas, emotions and understanding to people in a way that nothing else can!