WAG-Qaumajuq awards inaugural curatorial fellowship

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This article was published 16/08/2024 (419 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In a significant step towards fostering inclusivity and innovation, the Winnipeg Art Gallery Qaumajuq announced the appointment of Nawang Tsomo Kinkar as the inaugural recipient of the TD Curatorial Fellowship.

This two-year fellowship, supported by a $200,000 contribution from TD Bank Group, is designed to help emerging racialized curators develop their curatorial voice and engage deeply with local and broader artistic communities.

“We are committed to acknowledging our colonial history and actively working to examine and interrogate the gallery’s colonial ways of being,” said Stephen Borys, WAG-Qaumajuq director and CEO. “This fellowship is part of our ongoing efforts to ensure that our work is directed and encouraged by the knowledge keepers of each nation.”

Kinkar, a curator, writer and researcher of Tibetan descent, brings a wealth of experience to her new role. Born in Kathmandu, Nepal, where she was part of the Tibetan exile community, she immigrated to Toronto, where she earned degrees in art history, English, and book and media Studies from the University of Toronto and a master’s in photography preservation and collection management from Toronto Metropolitan University.

Her curatorial experience includes work at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Canadian Centre for Architecture in Montreal.

“I am deeply honoured to have this opportunity,” Kinkar said. “The gallery’s commitment to addressing critical issues in our society is fundamental to me and aligns closely with my own personal and professional values.”

Kinkar, who moved to Winnipeg just three weeks ago, has already felt warmly welcomed by her new colleagues. “It’s a very friendly city, and I can see a lot of potential for growth and collaboration.”

During her fellowship, Kinkar will work on curatorial projects, exhibition development and building community relationships. She plans to use her research background, particularly in the histories of photography and displacement studies, to explore connections between the Himalayan region and Canada’s northern communities.

“I’m interested in drawing parallels between the visual landscapes of these regions — snow, ice, cold — and how they influence the lives and art of the people there,” Kinkar explained.

“Supporting emerging artists and curators is also one of my main goals. This fellowship allows me to do just that while also learning and collaborating with an incredible team here.”

thandi.vera@freepress.mb.ca