The Art of Curation

Technology is an amazing tool, but at the end of the day there is still no algorithm for cool. Cool is humans observing, selecting and sharing something because it moves them and they think it might move others, too. Join us on a weekly journey to understand tastemaking as a craft that can be learned, honed and expressed through the art of curation.  

Apsara DiQuinzio, curator at the Nevada Museum of Art, shares the process behind her thought-provoking exhibition 'New Time: Art and Feminisms in the 21st Century'. They discuss finding the pieces for each section, how to get the art you want, and the qualities of a great curator. Incorporating alternate viewpoints and the influence of New York on their development as a curator are also explored.

Ozi Uduma, Assistant Curator of Global Contemporary Art at the University of Michigan, discusses the connection between art curation and cultural stewardship. She explores how artists address social issues through their craft and shares her role in expanding the conversation. The podcast also touches on organizing ideas, favorite films/books/artists/music podcasts that highlight African and diasporic culture, and the speaker's longing for a connection to heritage and cultural exploration.

Guest Ramon Olguin Sanchez, a vibe curator at Hard Rock Hotel Los Cabos, talks about his role in curating music and creating a positive vibe. Topics include the definition of a vibe manager, curating music to create the desired atmosphere, the role of music volume, and other factors that contribute to a vibe. Ramon also shares his favorite memorabilia at the resort and places that inspire him for their vibes. Overall, a fascinating glimpse into the unique job of a vibe curator.

“Film curators definitely have the challenge of [their medium’s] temporal nature. With two dimensional objects, you can easily look at them at once and figure out [how to] arrange them. But when it comes to working with a time-based medium, you really have to watch it…and maybe multiple times to understand how the piece works.” — Leslie Raymond, Ann Arbor Film Festival  At 60 years old, the Ann Arbor Film Festival (AAFF) is the longest-running independent and experimental film festival in North America. Its director, Leslie Raymond, doesn’t just think about curating the best selection of experimental films each year. She also considers how the films fit into the festival’s rich legacy and Ann Arbor’s own cultural standing. (It’s been called the “Berkeley of the East.”)It was exciting to learn about the ways film curation differs from other forms of curation and how the AAFF team turns 2,700 submissions into a tight, six-day lineup that surprises and delights audiences. Highlights, inspiration and key learnings:What’s so cool about AAFFThe Ann Arbor scene and techno musicWhat does avant-garde film even mean these daysHow they decide what makes it into the festivalHow filmmakers can get a curator’s attentionConversation and dialogue as part of the curatorial processWhat’s unique about film curatorsHow roles as an artist and educator intersect with being a curatorWhy it’s sometimes taboo for a curator to put their voice in the mixHow the films fit together as a body of workWhat AAFF teaches new film reviewersWhether Leslie still watches movies for funLeslie’s culture picks👋 Say "hi" to Leslie. 🔎 Browse this Storyboard to get the episode, plus Leslie’s favorite book, movie, TV show, and podcast.➕ This podcast was created by Flipboard, the popular social magazine, where enthusiasts are curating stories they recommend across thousands of interests. Learn more. 

“To be a good curator, it's important to…be open to what you don't know and to be looking for people to tell you what the new important ideas are instead of going out and saying, I think I know what matters.” — Corey Hajim, TED Business CuratorShe didn’t know it while it was unfolding, but when you look back at Corey Hajim’s career trajectory, it makes sense that she became the business curator at TED. Prior to joining the conference and content company, Corey got an MBA at Harvard, spent a decade in finance in New York City, and was a reporter at Fortune. So when she saw the job description for a curatorial role at TED, it didn’t just speak to her for the skills it required. There was one other sentence that hooked her: “We only hire nice people.”Corey is most definitely a kind person, but what was fascinating to find out in this conversation is how niceness can make you a better curator. With that as a foundation, Corey dove into how she helps to program multiple events and online series each year, including working directly with dozens of speakers to make sure their TED talks shine. Learn from her deep curatorial experience while extracting some public speaking tips for yourself. Highlights, inspiration and key learnings:How she became the business curator at TEDWhy the role spoke to herWhat attributes make a great curatorWhat makes an “idea worth spreading” in a talkHow she finds and coaches people for TED talksHow she thinks about the talks as a holistic body of workReacting to news and cultural momentsPresentation tips for the rest of usWho she still wants to get for a TED talkUnderviewed talks worth your timeHow she tracks her ideas when she’s always consumingFavorite TED talks and other culture picks👋 Say "hi" to Corey. 🔎 Browse this Storyboard to get the episode, plus Corey’s favorite TED talks, books, podcasts, and more.➕ This podcast was created by Flipboard, the popular social magazine, where enthusiasts are curating stories they recommend across thousands of interests. Learn more

“Ever since I was at Amazon, I've been intrigued by the way in which discovery needs to be a bit more than search, and how curation is almost the flipside of knowing what you want…Helping you identify what you would get delight from is very often the result of curation.” — Spencer HymanAs a “craft chocolate DJ” who runs a subscription service called Cocoa Runners, Spencer Hyman has plenty to say about the art of curating delicious, ethical chocolate bars. He’s deeply immersed in everything about the subject, from its history and the science of taste to how its cultivation impacts local farmers and the planet. Add in his experience as a general manager at Amazon and chief operations officer of Last.fm, and you’ll quickly hear that Spencer’s perspective on curation actually goes way beyond cacao. He sees curation as a solution for many categories of goods — like music, film, wine, coffee, gardening — where consumers don’t typically know how to find the best stuff out there.Highlights, inspiration and key learnings:Through-line of curation in his careerWhy choose chocolateThe meaning of “craft chocolate”How to be an effective chocolate curatorInvolving his team’s expertise and taste budsThe difference between flavor and tasteHow humans experience flavor and taste differentlyThe allure of packaging for a curator — yay or nay?The “no repeat” rule for curationProgramming engaging online virtual tastingsWhy the U.S. has a poor reputation for chocolateDark vs. milk chocolate How he tracks his ideas and inspirationSpencer’s culture picksA detour into Spencer’s early career making Cabbage Patch Dolls👋 Say "hi" to Spencer. ➕ This podcast was created by Flipboard, the popular social magazine, where enthusiasts are curating stories they recommend across thousands of interests. Learn more. 

“I’ve learned how to choose the people who have the most interesting voices and stories and not just the ones that make $500,000 a year…I've really learned to mine for story and interesting tidbits and different kinds of people.” — Hannah RimmIf you’ve ever read a Money Diary on Refinery29, you know they’re fascinating and a little bit addictive. Initially, it’s the scenario that draws you in; headlines like “I'm 25, I make $28,000 & I'm A Cowgirl For A Living” or “I'm 37, I Have A Joint Income Of $1.3 Million & I'm Shopping For A Second Home.” But quickly you’ll find yourself immersed in the juicy details of a stranger’s life — with the added benefit of picking up some personal finance insights along the way. It’s the same kind of pleasure as  watching (smart) reality TV.In this episode, we get to know Money Diaries editor Hannah Rimm. As the franchise’s only curator, Hannah sifts through more than 30 submissions per week in order to feed an ambitious publishing schedule of three weekly diaries. How she creates a column with such a rabid fan base — and a high-quality comment section, no less — is at the heart of this conversation. Highlights, inspiration and key learnings:“Money Diaries” for the uninitiatedThe psychology of why “Money Diaries” is so interestingHow she goes about deciding whom to featureThe tie between emotions and spendingHow she ensures entries are truthful and soundWhat’s important in someone’s money storyHow she cultivates such a high-quality comment sectionThe best way for a reader to make use of a Refinery29 money diaryWhat changes she’s made to her own financial habits after editing this columnOn being a credit card points wizardHow trends in the marketplace are influencing the stories being toldHow to manage “frivolous” spending (and the guilt that comes with it)What kinds of conversations she had about money growing upHer favorite money diariesWhat she learned about the art of curation from this jobHannah’s culture picks👋 Say "hi" to Hannah. 🔎 Browse this Storyboard to get the episode, plus Hannah’s favorite shows, podcasts, games and more.➕ This podcast was created by Flipboard, the popular social magazine, where enthusiasts are curating stories they recommend across thousands of interests. Learn more.

“Sometimes in the Jewish imagination, but definitely in the broader public imagination, people reduce all of Jewish history to the Holocaust. And so I think one of the responsibilities that curators have is to show the rich panoply of Jewish experience beyond just 1939-1945…and to create access points to those histories.” — Jason Steinhauer History Club founder Jason Steinhauer is a curator with such deep and varied experience that it’s hard to know where to start. Do we begin with the popular Clubhouse conversations he hosts on Thursday nights? His new book about how social media and the Web have changed the past? Or with any one of the curatorial/archivist roles he’s had at places like the Library of Congress, the New York Public Library, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and the Museum of Chinese in America? Instead, the conversation begins with a curatorial experience centered on a topic core to his identity, at the Museum of Jewish Heritage–A Living Memorial to the Holocaust. The grandchild of Holocaust survivors, Jason was part of the team behind an award-winning exhibition about American Jews in the Second World War. He brings a perspective to history — and how we experience stories from the past — that incorporates media, tech, culture and his own Jewish faith. Highlights, inspiration and key learnings:Growing up a “museum nerd”Unique pressures of curating for a Holocaust museumHow one begins to curate Jewish storiesWhat curators of Jewish history need to consider that other curators do notWhat makes a good historian and how that is different from what makes a good curator of historyCare for physical objects in a digital worldInside his book, “History, Disrupted”Consuming accurate, high-quality historical content on the Internet (and does Instagram count?)Founding History Club and curating conversations thereWhat inspires his Clubhouse conversationsThe through-line of his careerHow history might judge the current daySpeed round: Jason’s culture picks👋 Say "hi" to Jason. 💡Follow History Club on Flipboard. 🔎 Browse this Storyboard to get the episode, plus Jason’s favorite books, movies, and other cultural picks. ➕ This podcast was created by Flipboard, the popular social magazine, where enthusiasts are curating stories they recommend across thousands of interests. Learn more

Discover the process of curating a library from scratch and the importance of a diverse collection. Learn how curators find inspiration and new artists in the art world. Explore the platform for art and finding community spaces. Discuss the role of curators and recommendations for films. Highlight the addition of zines and magazines to the library.