International curator eriola pira appointed vera list curator at the new school
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New York, NY, March 8, 2019 - The New School is pleased to announce the appointment of Eriola Pira as Curator at the Vera List Center for Art and Politics, the university’s research center and public forum on art, culture and politics. As Curator, Pira will bring to both the center and The New School, her extensive international experience in supporting emerging artists, developing collaborative curatorial programs, and strategic leadership initiatives. Most recently, as Director of Programs, Pira led Art in General’s international collaborations, residencies, public events, and fellowship programs. Previously, she served as Program Director and Curator at the artist-founded NARS Foundation and as Program Director for The Foundation for Culture and Society, where she led a network and exchange program between twelve art organizations throughout Central and Eastern Europe. In this role, she also organized numerous international exhibitions, publications and symposia, created a curatorial fellowship for U.S. based curators to research and engage with the region's art and culture, and assisted in the establishment of the New Cuba Arts Connections Initiative and the Vaclav Havel Library Foundation. "Eriola brings to the position a broad international portfolio, extensive curatorial experience, and strategic institution-building skills with a particular focus on developing residencies and establishing fellowships," says Carin Kuoni, Vera List's Director and Chief Curator. "This will serve us well as we deepen the Vera List Center's international engagement through the Jane Lombard Prize, build out our fellowships and residencies, and continue structuring the biennial theme and programs as a public research platform and open campus.” Through a conference, concert, and installation, Pira will develop the annual Vera List Center Forum which in October 2019, will showcase the pan-African artist collective, Chimurenga, the recipients of the Jane Lombard Prize for Art and Politics She will take the lead of Vera List Center programs on women philanthropy that will be held during The New School’s Centennial Festival presented on October 6, 2019. “I am deeply honored to be joining the Vera List Center for Art and Politics as its Curator,” said Pira. “The center, situated within The New School, with its emphasis on social justice, has long lead the way locally and internationally with rigorous thematic and innovative programming at the intersection of art, culture, and politics. I am eager to work with the VLC team, the New School faculty, and students, as well as with the diverse curators, artists, and art organizations in the VLC’s global network to think about the role art can play in our contemporary moment to advance social justice. I’m looking forward to working on the center’s exhibitions and publications, public seminars, artist fellowships, and The Jane Lombard Prize for Art and Social Justice." A native of Albania, Pira has an M.A. in visual culture theory from New York University and is the recipient of a Fulbright Fellowship, a Global Cultural Leadership Fellowship, and a Jeannette K. Watson Fellowship, with appointments at the Conference Board, the International Institute of Education, and the Studio Museum in Harlem. She has presented exhibitions, talks, and collaborated with institutions worldwide including: BRIC (New York), Dokufest (Prizren), ExitArt (New York), Center for Contemporary Art Futura (Prague), Independent Curators International (New York), International Studio and Curatorial Program (New York), Istanbul Modern (Istanbul), Jindřich Chalupecký (Prague), Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (New York), New York Foundation for the Arts (New York), Residency Unlimited (New York), Rubin Foundation (New York), Slought Foundation (Philadelphia), Slovak National Gallery (Bratislava), Stacion Center for Contemporary Art (Prishtina), Swimming Pool (Sofia), Tirana Institute for Contemporary Art (Tirana), and many others. Pira is currently Curatorial Advisor for the 2019 BRIC South Brooklyn Biennial and has served as editor at Guernica magazine.
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The Vera List Center for Art and Politics is a scholarly research center and a public forum for art, culture, and politics. It was established at The New School in 1992—a time of rousing debates about freedom of speech, identity politics, and society's investment in the arts. A pioneer in the field, the Center is a nonprofit that serves a critical mission: to foster a vibrant and diverse community of artists, scholars, and policymakers who take creative, intellectual, and political risks to bring about positive change. Founded in 1919, The New School was established to advance academic freedom, tolerance, and experimentation. A century later, The New School remains at the forefront of innovation in higher education, inspiring more than 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students to challenge the status quo in design and the social sciences, liberal arts, management, the arts, and media. The university welcomes thousands of adult learners annually for continuing education courses and public programs that encourage open discourse and social engagement. Through our online learning portals, research institutes, and international partnerships, The New School maintains a global presence.
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