The 2025 Curationist Metadata Summit: Metadata Outside The Box on September 18 was a success with nearly 250 attendees! 
 
If you missed it, you can now watch the [**video of it on Youtube.**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyflskBFvyU&t=3887s) 
 

Curationist's **Sharon Mizota** moderated the discussion with **Kyle Parry**, writer and professor, History of Art and Visual Culture, UC Santa Cruz; **Lydia Mardirian**, Arab Image Foundation and **Hailey Loman**, Los Angeles Contemporary Archive (LACA). Each presented their innovative and transformative approaches to using metadata. 
 
 
Check it out!

2025 Metadata Summit: Metadata Outside the Box. Now on Youtube

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If you missed the 2025 Curationist Metadata Summit: Metadata Outside The Box, you can now watch the video of it on YouTube. 

Watch the 2025 Metadata Summit 

## Our Panelists
 
**Hailey Loman** is the Co-Founder and Director of Los Angeles Contemporary Archive (LACA), an artist-run archive and non-circulating library in which contemporary creative processes are recorded and preserved.
 
**Lydia Mardirian** is a researcher at the Arab Image Foundation, an independent association that collects, preserves and researches photographs from South West Asia and North Africa (SWANA) and its diasporas. AIF is based in Beirut, Lebanon.
 
**Kyle Parry** is Associate Professor, History of Art and Visual Culture, UC Santa Cruz and the author of A Theory of Assembly: From Museums to Memes, and the essay, "Metadata Is Not Data About Data."
 
#### Have a question for our panelists?
Email us in advance at [curationist@curationist.org](mailto:curationist@curationist.org).
Reserve your spot today and be part of the conversation!
[Register Here](https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_AUGuc7g6T4-xdtaS6TIBcA#/registration)

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**Thursday, September 18th 2025 from 12-1:30pm EST. **
 
Mark your calendars for the 2025 Curationist Metadata Summit! This year’s theme, “Metadata Outside the Box”, invites you to explore subversive, unconventional, and unexpected approaches to metadata creation and use.

Save The Date! 2025 Curationist Metadata Summit: Metadata Outside the Box

###**THIS POSITION HAS BEEN FILLED.**
 
 
#### **Curationist is building a free, open-access digital archive that helps people around the world connect to art, culture, and history—with equity and justice at the core.**
 
#### We’re looking for a Grants & Fundraising Director who knows how to open doors. You’ll lead our fundraising strategy, build and nurture relationships with funders and champions of the arts & humanities , and craft compelling proposals that bring in the resources to power cultural change.
 
####You’ll thrive in this role if you:
 
- **Have a strong network—or the savvy to build one—in the GLAM, philanthropy, or cultural sectors**
- **Know how to match bold ideas with aligned funding**
- **Can write proposals that move funders to action**
- **Care about decolonial approaches, equity in heritage, and digital openness**
- **Love working independently, across teams, and toward big goals**
 

####**Join us if you believe access to culture can change the world.**
 
 
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### **Grants & Fundraising Director**
 
**Employment Type:** Remote, Part-time Contractor 

**Time Commitment:** 70 hours per month, billed to actuals worked

**Hourly Rate:** $75.00US per hour

**Reports to:** Executive Director

**Proposed Start Date:** Immediate
 
 
#### **Position Overview:**
 
We are seeking a talented and experienced Grants & Fundraising Director to join our dynamic team. The Grants & Fundraising Director works across all areas of the Curationist.org’s programs and offerings with a focus of finding funding opportunities. The Grants Director will be the lead in researching, writing, and submitting grant proposals to secure funding ranging for the Foundation itself to particular programs or projects. This role requires excellent writing skills, specific working knowledge and contacts in the Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums (GLAM) sector with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and the ability to translate complex technical information into clear and compelling narratives.
 
This position requires the ability to work on multiple projects with a range of partners, collaborators, and stakeholders, simultaneously.
 
 
#### **About Curationist:**
 
Curationist.org is an emergent free-knowledge ecosystem made for curating and sharing global art and cultural heritage. Our goal is to deepen cultural awareness by creating accessible and equitable content about art and cultural heritage.
 
Curationist is developing a free digital archive of art and cultural heritage images culled from
leading institutions from around the world. We are a non-profit organization dedicated to
producing educational content that responsibly and respectfully updates and challenges the historical record. All of the digital works on our site are open access, and in the public domain. We aim to help people learn about cultural heritage in fun, engaging, and inclusive ways. We envision an open collaborative platform where people can situate themselves in an artistically and culturally diverse, dynamic, and expanding world.
 
Curationist is dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. We are guided by our commitment to geographic diversity, anti-colonial, anti-racist, feminist, and queer practices in building our team, delivering content, and cultivating community. Transformation and innovation occur when varied ideas, perspectives, and backgrounds emerge as a collective voice.
 
 
####**Responsibilities:**

 
**Research and Identify Funding Opportunities:**
- Conduct thorough research to identify relevant grant opportunities from government, organizations and private sources.
- Stay updated on changes in funding guidelines, policies, and program requirements.

**Relationship Building **
- Be the key point of contact for the organization's sponsors and donors. Cultivating these relationships, ensuring their satisfaction, and retaining their support are crucial for continuous fundraising.
- Build relationships with donors, oversee fundraising events, and collaborate with other departments to maximize fundraising efforts.
- Keep major donors and companies informed of the impact of their donations and key milestones.
- Raise awareness of the organization's work with donors and communicate with potential donors.
- Create marketing and promotional materials to support fundraising efforts and enhance donor engagement.


**Donation Strategy Development:**
- Work with the Platform and Community Directors to define overall strategy for donations and funding for Curationist from private and public organizations. 
- Advise on unexplored areas of opportunity for solicitation and grant development.


**Grant Proposal Development:**
- Collaborate with Platform and Community Directors to understand their projects and funding needs.
- Write compelling and persuasive grant proposals, ensuring they align with funding requirements and criteria.
- Develop timelines, and other supporting documents required for grant submissions.


**Grant Calendar Management:**
- Manage the entire grant application process, including coordinating with Curationist internal teams to gather necessary information and documentation.
- Track and report on the status of all grant applications, ensuring deadlines are met.
- Provide post-submission follow-up, including responding to funders' inquiries and submitting additional information as needed.


**Documentation and Compliance:**
- Ensure all grant proposals are thoroughly documented and compliant with funders' guidelines.
- Maintain accurate records of all grant submissions and outcomes.


**Communication and Support:**
- Act as the primary point of contact for the team throughout the grant application process.
- Provide regular updates and reports to the team on the status of the applications.
 


#### **Qualifications and Strengths:**
- Proven experience in community outreach or development in the arts or GLAM (galleries, libraries, archives, and museums) or similar sectors across and outside of North America.
- Proven track record of securing grants from government and private sources.
- Demonstrate a thorough understanding and professional commitment to social justice through anti-racist and decolonial work in GLAM spaces, open education and “copyleft” movements in digital spaces, and knowledge parity between Indigenous knowledge holders and institutional authorities.
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in communications, development, grant writing, external communications, and project management.
- Exceptional writing, editing, and proofreading skills with attention to detail.
- Strong research and analytical skills.
- Ability to translate complex technical information into clear and compelling narratives.
- Excellent project management and organizational skills.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and grant management software.
- Track record of taking initiative, working independently, and being resourceful.
- Approaches challenges with creativity, pragmatism and innovation.
- Capable and confident in building collaborative and effective working relationships with a wide range of internal stakeholders.
- Strong problem-solving skills.
- Adaptability and flexibility.
- Education or Related Experience could include; Bachelor's degree in English, Communications, Business, or a related field. Or proven experience in successful fundraising and grant submissions. 
 

#### **Where:**
 
This is remote work, via Zoom, Slack, Google Drive, etc., with weekly synchronous meetings and co-working sessions to be set by the team.
 
 
#### **Sounds Like a Good Fit?**
 
**Send your cover letter and resume to [jobs@curationist.org.](mailto:"jobs@curationist.org") with the subject line: _Grants & Fundraising Director._**
 
Let us know about you, your applicable experience, relevant skills, how you connect with this job posting, and your interests in arts and culture.
 
Please put the title of the position you are applying for in the subject line.

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-- THIS POSITION HAS BEEN FILLED --

We’re looking for a Grants & Fundraising Director who knows how to open doors. You’ll lead our fundraising strategy, build and nurture relationships with funders and champions of the arts & humanities, and craft compelling proposals that bring in the resources to power cultural change.


Curationist Seeks a Grants & Fundraising Director

The Curationist Foundation is thrilled to announce the appointment of **Jennryn Wetzler** as Chair and **Evelin Heidel** as Vice Chair of our Board of Directors. These two remarkable leaders bring deep experience in open knowledge, cultural heritage, and global collaboration—values that are at the heart of our mission.
 

![Screenshot 2025-05-20 at 12.20.04 PM.png](https://curationist-prod-strapi-images-bucket.s3.amazonaws.com/Screenshot_2025_05_20_at_12_20_04_PM_41d8f8eccb.png)
 
This transition follows the completion of **Dr. Manu Samriti Chander’s** term as Board Chair after six years of dedicated service. Manu has been a guiding force in the Foundation’s growth, helping steward our transformation from MHz Foundation to Curationist Foundation and advancing our commitment to equity, access, and innovation in the cultural commons.
 

“Manu brought vision, rigor, and a deep commitment to cultural equity that helped shape Curationist into what it is today,” said Christian Dawson, Executive Director. “We’re deeply grateful for his leadership, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome Jennryn and Evelin. They are exactly the right people to lead us into our next chapter.”
 

At the Curationist Foundation, we work to connect people with global cultural heritage through open-access tools, metadata innovation, and editorial storytelling. Under Jennryn and Evelin’s leadership, we look forward to expanding our reach, strengthening our museum services, and building new partnerships to support inclusive, responsible digital culture.
 

Please join us in celebrating this leadership transition and welcoming Jennryn and Evelin into their new roles.
 

![Signature_christian.png](https://curationist-prod-strapi-images-bucket.s3.amazonaws.com/Signature_christian_940037cc71.png)
 

Christian Dawson
Executive Director
Curationist Foundation

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The Curationist Foundation is thrilled to announce the appointment of Jennryn Wetzler as Chair and Evelin Heidel as Vice Chair of our Board of Directors. These two remarkable leaders bring deep experience in open knowledge, cultural heritage, and global collaboration—values that are at the heart of our mission.

Curationist Foundation Welcomes New Board Leaders

In this insightful piece, Amanda explores how metadata—the descriptive language tied to cultural objects—can play a vital role in confronting colonial legacies within museums. She shares how Curationist is adding context that challenges dominant narratives and makes space for historically excluded voices, especially around issues like the male gaze, exoticism, and erasure in digital collections.
 
The article underscores metadata’s potential as both a tool for access and a pathway toward equity and ethical stewardship in the digital age.
 
 
_It is a compelling articulation of how metadata—so often treated as a technical afterthought—is in fact central to equity, access, and cultural accountability in the digital age. Her writing highlights not only the importance of our work at Curationist but also the values that guide us: transparency, inclusion, and critical engagement with history._
 
– Christian Dawson, Executive Director, Curationist

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[Read Amanda’s article,](https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/04/14/comment-%7C-metadata-is-not-just-a-major-pillar-of-online-access-it-is-a-step-towards-decolonising-the-museum) “Decolonising the museum through metadata", published in this month's _The Art Newspaper's_  print and online versions. In this insightful piece, Amanda explores how metadata—the descriptive language tied to cultural objects—can play a vital role in confronting colonial legacies within museums. 

 

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