RFQ - Co-Curator for San Francisco Opera Monkey King Exhibition
monkey king art exhibition
Qualifications Due: Thursday, August 21, 2025 at Noon (EXTENDED DEADLINE)
Illustration by Brian Stauffer
Application Extended Due Date: Thursday, August 21, 2025 at Noon
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San Francisco Opera (SFO) is seeking two (2) community curators to co-curate an exhibition with Art Builds Community. The exhibition will take place in the entrance hall of the for the upcoming production of the Monkey King.
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The Monkey King:
Based on the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, The Monkey King makes its much-anticipated world premiere at the War Memorial Opera House. This new, action-packed opera combines high-energy music and text with puppetry, dance, Peking opera, and Buddhist sutras to tell the tale of the Monkey King’s beginnings.
The Monkey King is a beloved figure and has inspired countless interpretations in popular culture. A monkey born from stone, Sun Wukong (the Monkey King) is determined to find immortality for his tribe. Many scoff at his aspirations, but he is set on proving them wrong with his signature cunning and charm. He wins every battle against legendary warriors, but the respect he longs for is always out of reach. What will it take for the gods to recognize him as an equal?
Award-winning director Diane Paulus and puppeteer Basil Twist conjure up a whimsical world of gods, tricksters, superheroes, and rebels. Huang Ruo’s soaringly beautiful, energized score and David Henry Hwang’s incisive libretto blend traditional Chinese and contemporary Western styles into an extraordinary work that gives new voice to this enduring story. Carolyn Kuan makes her Company debut on the podium.Project:
This RFQ is open to art curators of all curation experiences located in the Bay Area, including but limited to community curators, pop-up art show curators, gallery curators, and more. This is also an opportunity for emerging curators to gain experience in professional standards of art curation.
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Promotion for the call for artists as well as overall marketing for the Monkey King production and exhibition.
Artist curation and selection
2-3 check-in meetings
Installation (optional, but a good opportunity for emerging curators to shadow and gain experience)
Participate as a gallery experience representative during the China Town Night Markets on Friday, November 28, 2025, or Sunday, November 30, 2025
Cover a shift during pre-show and intermission as a gallery experience representative for one of the Monkey Production dates :
FRI, November 14, 2025, at 7:30 PM
SUN, November 16, 2025, at 2 PM
TUE, November 18, 2025, at 7:30 PM
THU, November 20, 2025, at 7:30 PM
SAT, November 22, 2025, at 7:30 PM
TUE, November 25, 2025, at 7:30 PM
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Selected curator(s) will receive an honorarium of up to one thousand and two hundred dollars ($1200) for their time, travel, and participation in the planning and production of the Monkey King Exhibition.
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The deadline to submit your Qualifications by Thursday, August 21, 2025 PST at Noon via email to Quynh-Mai Nguyen, at
Quynh-Mai [at] ArtBuildsCommunity [dot] comThis RFQ is open to art curators of all curation experiences located in the Bay Area, including but limited to community curators, pop-up art show curators, gallery curators, and more. This is also an opportunity for emerging curators to gain experience in professional standards of art curation.
All interested curators should submit their applications as PDFs and electronically via email to be considered for this commission.
Application Submission Requirements:
Letter of Interest - please provide a brief bio, speak on your experience as a curator, your connection to the Bay Area, and what interests you about this curatorial project. (limit 1 page)
Resume – professional resume or artist CV
3-5 Work Samples – showing previous curatorial work, including title, date, and brief description, if applicable. If you provide a video, please limit it to 3 minutes. Please identify your role in the project examples.
Please email your application materials to Quynh-Mai Nguyen, at Quynh-Mai [at] ArtBuildsCommunity [dot] com
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Applications will be reviewed with the consideration of the following criteria:
20% Demonstrated evidence of professionalism
30% Relevance of past curatorial projects
20% Experience or ability to work on community projects
30% Collaborative spirit, cultural sensitivity, and experience in working with diverse communities.
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Request for Qualifications (RFQ)
August 2025 - RFQ Open
Friday, August 15, 2025 - Last Day to Ask Questions
Thursday, August 21, 2025 at Noon: Request for Qualifications Due
August 21 - August 26, 2025: Commission Notifications + Contracts
Production & Curator Program
August 2025: Artist Call
September 2025: Artist Selection
November 2-4, 2025: Art Drop-Off
November 5-6: Art Installation
Monkey King Run & Exhibition
FRI, November 14, 2025, at 7:30 PM - Show
SUN, November 16, 2025, at 2 PM - Show
TUE, November 18, 2025, at 7:30 PM - Show
THU, November 20, 2025, at 7:30 PM - Show
SAT, November 22, 2025, at 7:30 PM - Show
TUE, November 25, 2025, at 7:30 PM - Show
FRI, November 28, 2025, at 5:30PM - Show + China Town Night Market
SUN, November 30, 2025, at Noon - Matinee Show + China Town Night Market
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Artists interested in other public art opportunities are encouraged to visit the Art Builds Community website at www.ArtBuildsCommunity.com or follow Art Builds Community on:
Instagram:
Facebook:
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Art Builds Community (ABC) is a woman-led public art planning, consulting, policy, curation, placemaking, and community engagement firm that brings critical thinking and artists’ perspectives to the creative design of cities, buildings, and infrastructure. - https://www.artbuildscommunity.com
San Francisco Opera (SFO) has been thrilling audiences in San Francisco since 1923. San Francisco Opera is known for commissioning numerous world premieres, training some of opera's greatest young artists, and creating innovative programs and events to inspire a new generation of opera goers. - https://www.sfopera.com/