COURTESY THE NEW SCHOOL
The New School in New York has named Eriola Pira as curator of its Vera List Center for Art and Politics, a nonprofit research organization. In her new role, Pira will develop the annual Vera List Center Forum, which is slated for October.
Pira most recently served as director of programs at Art in General, where she oversaw the New York–based nonprofit’s collaborations, residencies, events, and fellowship programs. She has also worked as program director and curator at the NARS Foundation and program director for the Foundation for Culture and Society.
Pira is a curatorial adviser for the 2019 BRIC South Brooklyn Biennial, and she has collaborated with entities such as Independent Curators International in New York, the Center for Contemporary Art Futura in Prague, the Slought Foundation in Philadelphia, and Istanbul Modern.
Pira said in a statement, “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.”
Carin Kuoni, director and chief curator at the Vera List Center, added, “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. 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.”