Curatorial Exhibition Scholarship

Submit Using Unique Link by April 1:    https://app.oxfordabstracts.com/stages/77960/submitter
ITAA members are invited to submit abstracts describing original curatorial exhibition scholarship to present at the ITAA annual conference.

Curatorial Exhibition Scholarship Research: A digital or physically mounted public exhibition that contributes new knowledge to the textile and apparel field through rigorous research methods where curators study, interpret, and display objects. The scholarship is grounded in theory and/or literature, and the exhibition considers aesthetic and material aspects of curatorial design.

Curatorial Exhibition Scholarship Teaching: A digital or physically mounted public exhibition with a pedagogical and/or curricular innovation and purpose where curators use rigorous research methods to study, interpret, and display objects. The scholarship is grounded in disciplinary approaches (e.g., history, anthropology, design, etc.) that may intersect but always engage with appropriate theory and/or literature. Teaching focused exhibitions center students as the audience and/or curators, where student learning is the focus of the curatorial process and designed outcome. Aesthetics, conservation, and other material considerations are part of evaluation criteria of curatorial design.

General guidelines:
ITAA scholars are invited to submit abstracts to present CES (teaching or research) at the ITAA annual conference. Scholarship must be completed at time of submission and not previously presented at an ITAA annual conference or in other similar peer-reviewed opportunities (e.g.,Costume Society of America). All submissions will be juried in the same professional category level. There is no limit on the number of entries per author, but each exhibit can only be submitted in either the teaching or research track, not both. At least one author on the abstract whose work is accepted must register and attend the ITAA annual conference. Accepted and presented papers will be included in the ITAA Conference Proceedings.

Criteria for textiles and apparel curatorial exhibition scholarship:

1. Be a mounted or digitally curated public exhibition,
2. At least 60 percent of the objects in the exhibition must be clothing, textiles, accessories, and/or other dress-related objects or representations thereof
3. Has been completed within the last 3 years
4. Contributes new knowledge to the field (research) or has a pedagogical and/or curricular innovation with the purpose to serve the student and/or broader community population (teaching)
   

Abstract instructions:
Include the following in your abstract.  Please note that you do not have to use these headings in your paper.

1. Identification of whether exhibition was curated at an academic institution (university or college) or a non-academic institution (e.g., historical society, city museum)
2. Identify whether exhibition is physical, digital, or both
3. Purpose/argument/theme/narrative of the exhibition
4. For CES teaching, must include curricular innovation, how students were involved, and where in the curriculum students engaged with these processes (e.g., course(s), independent studies, assistantships, theses, dissertations, etc.)
5. Theoretical underpinning and/or literature informing the exhibition research
6. Research methods used to curate exhibition
7. Curatorial process with consideration of target audience, institution budget/resources, and available exhibition space(s)
   a. Brief outline of exhibition including themes and display aesthetics
8. Engagement with iterative revision process
9. Description of implications for improving future exhibitions
10. Description of exhibition layout, installation/mounting/web design considerations
11. Description of conservation methods used or digital interface considerations
12. Accessibility successes or challenges
13. Exhibition reach and/or visitor response with consideration of target audience
14. References
15. Up to 10 images of the exhibition with captions (collaging images is allowed; each image with caption can be as large as an 8.5”x11” page); reference the images within the text.
    

Curatorial exhibition scholarship evaluation criteria
Jurors will evaluate submissions by reading the text and by viewing the figures. Each criterion is ranked 0-5, where 5 is the highest and 0 is the lowest. Authors should consider and address the following criteria in their abstract preparation.

1. Contributes new knowledge to the field (research) or has a pedagogical and/or curricular innovation with the purpose to serve the student and/or broader community populations (teaching) (0-5 points)
2. Theoretical engagement and argument and/or engagement with literature (0-5 points)
3. Use rigorous research methods (0-5 points)
4. Demonstrate curatorial selection (0-5 points)
5. Engage in iterative revisions (0-5 points)
6. Designed outcome (physical and/or graphic design) (0-5 points)
7. Accessibility, retrievability, and reach (0-5 points)
8. Compliance of abstract preparation directions and clarity/organization of the writing (1-5 points)
   

Acceptance or rejection for ITAA Curatorial Exhibition Scholarship abstract will be based upon the jury’s score and in relation to the number of submissions that the conference venue will allow. Submitters will be notified via email to the first author of the outcome of the jury.  Accepted abstracts will be invited to present their work in an oral or poster presentation.  Accepted entries may be disqualified at any time before the conference. The following is a list of instances in which a submitted or accepted abstract might be disqualified. Please note this list is not exhaustive.

1. Abstract is over the page limit.
2. Abstract includes image(s) of installation processes.
3. If at least one author or co-author has not registered for the conference by the required date.
4. If the registered author or co-author is not present at the conference.
   

Prepare the following abstract file before beginning the Online Submission Process.

1. Format the abstract on an 8.5” x 11” word processing document with 1-inch margins on all sides, Times New Roman font type, font size 12, for all text, including titles.
2. The title should be centered on the top of the page. The title should be 30 words maximum, capitalizing only the first letter in the first word and major words. Do not use all capital letters or special characters, such as colons (:), asterisks (*), or forward slashes (/). These symbols mean something else in HTML language and cannot be included in the title so that it translates correctly for the online Proceedings.
3. Excluding references and images, the document text (including title) must not be over 5 pages (single spacing) in length.
4. References/Bibliography (single spacing) can start on the 6th page. References should use either APA or Chicago style (author/date or endnotes).
5. The paper must be a finished copy and show no editing marks.
6. Do not use bold or all uppercase letters; capitalize all appropriate letters according to APA/Chicago style manuals.
7. After references, put figures (up to 10) and captions. Put captions below each figure and in consecutive order. Each figure must be referenced in the text. Put figures in order in which they appear in the text. Figures can be any orientation (portrait or vertical). You can collage photos together into a single figure, but the figure size and caption must fit on one 8.5”x11” page of your abstract.
   a. Authors have full responsibility related to copyrights, research ethics, and publishing rights, and ITAA does not have any liabilities if any infringement is discovered.
   b. Required photos include: the exhibition with objects on display; didactic examples; examples of conservation methods implemented; corresponding graphic materials such as flyers.
   c. Optional photos include individual objects against a solid color background; object close-up details; programming events such as openings, workshops, tours, or other exhibition-related outreach.
   d. Do not include photographs of installation processes.
8. Because exhibitions are purposefully visible to the public, the review might not be anonymous. Due to this, jurors will be asked
   a. Are you at arms-length from the authors? For example, have not published with the authors, served as their advisor, and/or work at the same institution. [yes] [ no]
   b. Do you think you are in a position that could compromise your fair, ethical judgement of the submission? [yes] [ no]
9. Save the final version to be submitted as a single PDF file using the following naming protocol: CES-Abbreviated Title-Research.pdf or CES-Abbreviated Title-Teaching.pdf
10. Your single PDF file must not be over 30 MB. Therefore, please reduce the size of your images/file if necessary.

Curatorial Exhibition Scholarship Award 

Marilyn DeLong Curatorial Exhibition Scholarship University Excellence Award

The Marilyn DeLong Curatorial Exhibition Scholarship University Excellence Award recognizes outstanding research or teaching through a digital or physically mounted public exhibition that contributes new knowledge to the textile and apparel field. Awardee receives $2,000.