Sitar Stories
The Art and Craft of Curating: A Conversation with Camille Brown
On June 12, 2024, Sitar Arts Center’s hosted the final engagement of its 2024 Artists at Work Speakers Series. Moderator Charis Gomez, executive producer and host of “Living Local DMV,” sat down with special guest Camille Brown, assistant curator at The Phillips Collection. The evening provided an intimate look into Brown’s journey, artistic influences, and experiences in the art world.
Brown, who was born in Bowie, Maryland, and considers New Orleans her home, shared insights about her early life. Reflecting on her childhood, she described herself as “a little introverted,” with a deep interest in “narratives and storytelling from a really young age.” Her journey into the art world wasn’t linear. Initially drawn to history and literature, it wasn’t until college that she recognized her passion for the arts. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do my entire life when I was a kid, I was not someone that was like racing to the museums,” she confessed, explaining how a college internship at the World War II Museum in New Orleans ignited her love for art curation.
Brown credited her parents as a significant influence in her artistic upbringing, recalling how they bought works from local artists in D.C. This early exposure to art subtly shaped her, though she didn’t fully realize it at the time. A poignant moment in her career was when she was asked to write an essay on Joseph Holston, an artist whose works her parents had collected, describing it as “a full-circle moment.”
Discussing her professional development, Brown emphasized the importance of internships, particularly paid internships. “Do not take an unpaid internship; you are doing work and you should be compensated for that,” she urged young audience members. She further highlighted the accessibility issues associated with unpaid internships (a firm and unintended reinforcement for the need of Sitar’s paid workforce development programs). She noted that not everyone can afford to work for free, which can limit their ability to gain the necessary experience to advance in their careers. However, she expressed optimism that this challenge is improving.
As the conversation continued to unfold, Brown helped demystify what it means to be a curator. “It’s a lot more administrative than people realize; there’s a lot of logistics involved in organizing exhibitions,” she shared, noting that her job is to conceptualize, develop and implement special exhibits. Brown spoke about the subjective nature of curation and how her Southern upbringing influences her work. “I continually find myself drawn to artists engaging with the southern landscape or depicting the South,” she said. Her work aims to reflect diverse experiences and backgrounds, striving for inclusivity in museum spaces.
When asked about her goals for the next 10 years, Brown’s words echoed Sitar’s mission of building a community creative community of learning and belongs. She expressed a desire to support living artists and mentor aspiring curators while uplifting diverse voices and fostering inclusive spaces within the arts. “My path towards working as a curator has been paved with people who took time an energy that they did not have to spend time with me and work with through things, so I want to be able to create that space for someone else,” she affirmed.
Camille Brown’s journey and insights offered a captivating look into the world of curation, emphasizing passion, perseverance, and the power of storytelling in the arts. And as the evening came to a close, she encouraged the audience to see museums as welcoming spaces. “Museums are ultimately a public service; they’re for the public,” she reminded, inviting more people to engage with these cultural institutions.
The “Artists at Work” series aims to provide a platform for the diverse voices and artistic disciplines that contribute to D.C.’s vibrant cultural landscape. Audiences learn about the inner workings of performing, visual, and digital arts companies through the personal stories of their career journeys and current roles.
To watch the recordings of the February 21 talk with casting director Danica Rodriguez and the April 10 talk with DC JazzFest at the Wharf co-producer Omrao Brown, please visit https://www.sitarartscenter.org/news-events/artists-at-work/.