I Hope This Message Finds You Well is a podcast on curating hosted by Kris Dittel and Eloise Sweetman.

In this episode we talk to curator and educator Clare Butcher. With Clare’s enthusiasm to discuss curatorial methodologies, we kick off our conversation by talking about her professional trajectory and early interest in a critical exploration of archival practices. We talk about institutional hierarchies, learning curves and the importance of collectivity and context-sensitivity. Clare also shared with us why she stopped making exhibitions and found her interest in the field of education and mediation, and the tension that can arise between exhibition making and educational practices in an institutional setting.

The episode was recorded in May 2021.

If you have feedback we’d love to receive your email at [email protected]; you can also follow us on Instagram @ihopethismessage and find us on SoundCloud @ihopethismessage. Our music is by Difficult and sound engineering by Nick Thomas. Graphic design by Christophe Clarijs.

Show notes:

Since this conversation was recorded Clare is no longer with the Toronto Biennial of Art and has moved on to independent projects. Here are some links for further reference to the work of her colleagues, practitioners and projects mentioned during the episode which continue to nourish Clare's methods and thinking.

This is Not An Archive (2021), Toronto Biennial of Art with Art Metropole, edited by Clare Butcher and Myung-Sun Kim https://thisisnotanarchive.ca/ aneducation–documenta 14 (2018), Archive Books, edited by Sepake Angiama, Clare Butcher, Alkisti Efthymiou, Anton Kats, and Arnisa Zeqo https://www.archivebooks.org/aneducation-%E2%80%A2-documenta-14/ Nourishing Knowledge (2017), part of aneducation program, documenta 14, with Ella Froemmel, Ayşe Güleç, Wanda Heimbs, Karl Leonard Heinemann, Carmen José, Lose Fäden, Ann-Kathrin Mogge, Otobong Nkanga, Emeka Ogboh, Nathan Pohio, Beat Sandkühler, Ahlam Shibli, Katerina Stefanidaki, Maya Tounta, Ida Westermann, Zafos Xagoraris, and more https://www.documenta14.de/en/public-education/25659/nourishing-knowledge unsettling rietveld sandberg, led by consultant Judith Leysner and coordinator Tracian Meikle https://unsettling-rietveldsandberg.net/about The Works of Art Collection at the University of Cape Town http://www.artcollection.uct.ac.za/art/purpose Linda Stupart, artist and previously curator Centre for African Studies Gallery, University of Cape Town http://lindastupart.net/

Institutions mentioned in this episode:Van Abbemuseum, EindhovenThe School of Missing Studies, Sandberg Institute, Amsterdam

People mentioned in this episode:Gabi NgcoboRenata CervettoSepake Angiama