TYPOLOGY Fact Sheet (updated July 2016)

MISSION
Providing opportunities for curators and artists to mount fully realized exhibitions within a critical framework, TYPOLOGY is a not-for-profit initiative which seeks to advance curatorial inquiry and build curatorial community at the local, national, and international levels. Through a wide-ranging annual program of exhibitions supported by the production of original publications, editions, and related events, TYPOLOGY is an open platform for diverse curatorial and artistic practices and perspectives, and a forum for the exchange of ideas on exhibition-making as a way to engage and inform audiences from all walks of life.

HISTORY & PROGRAM
Founded in 2011 by independent curator and exhibition designer Shani K Parsons, TYPOLOGY opened its brick-and-mortar doors on the third floor of Artscape Youngplace in November 2013. Since then TYPOLOGY has produced thirteen highly focused exhibitions featuring 25 artists working in all media, including five guest/co-curated exhibitions since launching this key aspect of our program in mid-2014. In the process TYPOLOGY has established a track record as much for its commitment to professional and intellectual integrity (e.g. payment of artist’s and curator’s fees, publication of original critical writing in exhibition catalogues) and inclusivity (i.e. encouraging the participation of women, visible minorities/poc, local and international curators and artists, and audiences of all ages and from all walks of life) as for the quality and variety of our presentations and programming. For a statement of our values and intentions that was published from the outset, see our archived page titled Why TYPOLOGY?

AUDIENCES & PARTNERS
Nearly 6500 visitors have attended our exhibitions and events over the past two and half years, with positive critical attention and responses from Canadian Art, NOW Magazine, Artoronto.ca, the CONTACT Photography Festival, the Images Festival, and Independent Curators International, New York. Currently we have over 1700 followers on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and nearly 300 subscribers to our mailing list. We’ve hosted over 60 events including talks, tours, screenings, launches, school visits, workshops, and more, including a series of peer-led discussions on presenting time-based media co-presented with the Images Festival. Organizational partners for this and other events include InterAccess, MercerUnion, The Power Plant, Artscape Youngplace, the Koffler Gallery, Paperhouse Studio, Graven Feather, Small World Music Centre, and Cinema on the Edge. (Thank you to everyone listed above!)

OUR TEAM
In addition to working with curators and artists in the context of our annual program, we provide hands-on experience in the not-for-profit gallery environment to a growing team of interns, curatorial residents, and volunteers. All participants receive individualized projects, guidance, and opportunities to contribute to the long-term development of the organization, including possible inclusion in a future exhibition program and invitations to join the Executive or Advisory Boards. This August we will launch Summer Sessions, a new program through which we will support emerging curatorial and artistic practices by offering space and staffing support for graduate student thesis exhibitions.

VISION
Building on the foundation we’ve established in our first 30 months, TYPOLOGY is adapting our model and mandate in response to the need, voiced by local and national curators, for a truly vital collegial community—one which pursues, shares and supplies information, advocacy, opportunity, and resources for practitioners at all stages in their professional development.

This will be an exciting, open, and inclusive process for which we invite curators, artists, audiences and peer organizations to join us, get involved, and help shape and sustain your new centre for curatorial inquiry and practice in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and beyond. Roundtable discussions, focus groups, committee meetings, and casual conversations are just some of the ways we will share information, identify opportunities, establish priorities and develop programming. Subscribe to our blog or follow TYPOLOGY on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates and invitations.