In the second half of 2027, The Centre for the Less Good Idea hosts its 12th Season — a combination of live performance programmes at The Centre, and a multi-venue exhibition programme across Johannesburg.

British curator, writer and art historian Iwona Blazwick is organising an exhibition on the theme of play as a form of creative experimentation, wilful absurdity and exuberant interaction. Playtime features the work of artists who take play as a subject – and those who offer the chance for us to engage in playful acts. Running parallel to Season 12, the exhibition engages the city through its disparate creative sites – from downtown Johannesburg and inner-city studios, to galleries and suburban cultural project spaces.

We seek applications from Johannesburg-based individuals for the role of ASSISTANT CURATOR. The selected individual will receive mentorship from Blazwick as well as The Centre for the Less Good Idea team, and will help to curate the South African programme of artists for the exhibition.

This is a paid, temporary position and will involve both in-person and remote work.

WHO SHOULD APPLY

We are looking for a Johannesburg-based individual with experience and interest in performance, visual art, and curatorial practice. Interested individuals should enjoy working with a team, have good communication skills, and a penchant for finding solutions, meeting deadlines and adapting to the unforeseen.

HOW TO APPLY

Please send an expression of interest to: lessgoodidea@gmail.com 

The subject line of the email should read: APPLICATION: ASSISTANT CURATOR

Your expression of interest should be compiled as ONE PDF DOCUMENT that contains:

• A statement of motivation (250 words)

• A summary of your professional practice (350 words)

• Links to your professional practice and previous projects (max 5 links)

• Contact details (email and phone number) 

Shortlisted applicants will be contacted for an interview, in which they will be asked to pitch three concise ideas around how they might respond to the theme of play in Johannesburg, and which artists they would propose.

The successful applicant will begin on 1 March 2027 and will work towards The Centre’s 12th Season in November 2027.

PLEASE NOTE: IF YOUR APPLICATION IS NOT COMPILED AS ONE PDF DOCUMENT, YOUR APPLICATION WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: 17h00 (SAST) SUNDAY 10 JANUARY 2027 

Photographer | Christa Holka

Iwona Blazwick is a curator, writer and art historian. Formerly Director of the Whitechapel Gallery, Head of Exhibitions and Displays at Tate Modern and Director of Exhibitions at ICA London, she has curated numerous solo surveys of living artists and group shows of modern and contemporary art around the world. She is Lead Curator for Wadi AlFann, Arts AlUla, where she curates art in the public realm. Blazwick was founding editor of Phaidon Contemporary Artists monographs and Whitechapel Gallery/MIT Documents of Contemporary Art. Her writings on the art and artists of our time have been published worldwide.