In focus with Biljana Ciric and Trần Lương: Learning and unlearning spaces

Join curator Biljana Ciric and artist Trần Lương for a weekend workshop for emerging artists, curators, arts workers, and cultural practitioners. Participants will explore perspectives in curatorial practice, exhibition making, and community organising across two half day sessions. On day one, Lương will present on his experience curating in different localities and communities in Vietnam and lead a workshop on curating community art projects. On the second day, Biljana will draw on approaches, tools, and methodologies from the educational programme What Could/Should Curating Do?, which she established in 2018. The session will start with an introduction to the programme’s methodologies, followed by discussion and practical experiments.

This workshop is delivered in association with Govett-Brewster Art Gallery and Trần Lương’s upcoming survey exhibition Tầm Tã – Soaked in the Long Rain (1 November 2025 – 8 February 2026) curated by Biljana Ciric and in partnership with Te Wai Ngutu Kākā Gallery.

To apply write an expression of interest which includes:

• A brief statement of interest outlining why you would like to participate in this programme (200 words max).
• Any experience or projects you have undertaken that might be relevant to the programme (200 words max).

This opportunity is open to people across Aotearoa but please note we are unable to cover any travel costs for those wishing to participate outside of Tāmaki Makaurau. Priority will be given to those who are able to attend both sessions.

Booking is essential as space is limited.

Please contact robbie@artspace.org.nz to express your interest by Sunday 12 October.

WHAT TO EXPECT

This event is free.
Space is limited to 15 participants
This session requires an expression of interest, there are no drop ins.
This event will be held in the Kit, which can be accessed by the main gallery entrance or alternatively by our car park on 8 East St for assisted access.
This location is accessible with assistance.
Wear comfortable clothing.
Light refreshments will be provided but please bring lunch.

BIOGRAPHIES

Biljana Ciric is an interdependent curator. Ciric was curator of the Pavilion of the Republic of Serbia at the 59th Venice Biennale in 2022, where she presented Walking with Water by Vladimir Nikolic. She conceived of the inquiry for the first Trans-Southeast Asian Triennial in Guangzhou, Repetition as a Gesture Towards Deep Listening (2021/2022), and has curated numerous projects internationally. Since 2018, she has led the annual educational programme What could/should curating do? She holds PhD in Curatorial Practice, Monash University, Melbourne.

Trần Lương was born Hanoi (1960) and is a visual artist and a key figure in the creation of spaces for critical contemporary art in Vietnam. Lương was a founding member of the Gang of Five (1983–1997), and in 1998, co-founded Nhà Sàn Studio, the country’s first experimental art space. He was the founding director of the Hanoi Contemporary Arts Center in 2000, a position he resigned from in 2003 in protest against corruption in the state-run arts agency. In 2020 he co-founded the Center for Arts Patronage and Development, an organisation focused on cultivating opportunities for artistic and social development.