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Song Tae Chong is a lecturer for Media Theory at the Berlin Campus of the University of Europe for Applied Sciences. More Information here.
Song Tae Chong, PhD.
Field of Expertise: History and Theory of Photography and Visual Culture
Campus: Berlin
- November 2020 – Present: Advisory Trustee | Martin Parr Foundation, Bristol, UK
- The Foundation supports emerging, established, and overlooked photographers who make work focused on the British Isles. With an emphasis on preservation, acquisition, and publishing, the directive of the Foundation is to amplify the voices of BIPOC and BAME artists. As a Trustee of the Foundation, she strives to make photography engaging and more accessible to all through commissions, a bursary fund, and by creating platforms of visibility for underrepresented voices in British photography. Special Projects include the Books on Photography Festival and Zine making workshops.
- January 2020 – Present: Freelance Consultant | New York City / Berlin / Los Angeles / London / Paris
- With an emphasis on photography and cultural collaborations, her projects include curatorial work, content strategy and advisement for artists, exhibition design, book editing & project management, education, and programming. Clients include Public Space Berlin, West End Production Berlin, Forecast Platform Berlin, Thomas Hoepker, Magnum Photos, Denis Laner, Eric Johnson, Luis Alberto Rodriguez, Tamara Santibanez, Mana Contemporary, Galerie PCP Paris, British Centre for Photography, Villa Noailles, Marquet Klee, Jermaine Francis, Ho-Am Art Hall, The Korean School of Southern California, and Fashion Nova.
- August 2018 – Dec 2019: Director and Curator of Photography | Mana Contemporary, Jersey City
- As the director and curator of photography, she curated exhibitions both online and in the gallery, created photography and art-driven content for the Mana Contemporary website and social media, and developed annual public and educational programming for this newly created division within the Mana Contemporary organization. She managed relationships with photographers and institutions including The DIA Foundation, Dan Flavin Estate, Magnum Photos, Anastasia Photo, Irving Penn Foundation, Aperture Books, Griffin Editions, and Juxtapoz Magazine. She also curated and managed the Mana Decentralized Bookstore: responsible for inventory curation and management, artist and vendor contracts, production of special events, P&L, and budget management.
- June 2017 — August 2018: Curatorial and Archive Consultant (Freelance) | Boo-Hooray NYC
- With an emphasis on post-war counterculture archives, she worked with major institutions such as the Victoria and Albert Museum UK, The New York Public Library, Cornell University, and Yale University for placement of major archival acquisitions such as the Hip Hop Archive at Cornell, the Afrika Bambaataa Record Archive, The Living Theatre Archive, and Prince’s tour costumes. Special projects included the production and installation of the Boo-Hooray booth at the PS1 Art Book Fair and the Boo-Hooray pop-up summer gallery in Montauk, Long Island.
- Oct 2010 — May 2017: Director and Curator | MILK Gallery, MILK Group, NYC
- She curated and managed the production of 60+ photography exhibitions and special events. She worked closely with artists for projects both inside and outside of the MILK Group. She directed all photography and art-related content across the MILK Group channels, including MilkMade, Milk, and Milk Gallery social media. She worked closely with both internal and external PR agencies to deliver image content for Milk Gallery exhibitions and events. She managed all partnerships, including Magnum Photos, New York Magazine, American Express, MADE Fashion Week, and Lexus. She managed the creation and maintenance of the Milk Gallery Archive and management of photographic assets including prints, digital files, and ephemera. She managed over $1 million in art and book sales. She was also responsible for budget management, timelines, and quarterly P&L reports. With our charitable partners including Global Citizen, Autism Speaks, the Magnum Foundation, OXFAM, Fashion Cares, and AMFAR, she produced annual charity auctions and worked closely with the MILK group’s marketing and social media teams to amplify the messages of volunteerism, advocacy, and awareness to promote local and global change. She directed the content sharing between all stakeholders and made sure all timelines and budgets were met. She was a book editor and Project Manager for MILK x Michel Comte: A Collaboration. She negotiated a partnership between MILK and Damiani Editore to create the MILK DAMIANI imprint. She led the project in all aspects of book production from concept to print and distribution of 1500 limited edition monographs.
- January 2006 – June 2016: Education Manager and Corporate Assignments | Magnum Photos Inc. NYC
- She managed all aspects of production and execution of Magnum workshops, masterclasses, and lectures. She managed all scheduling, budgets, and deliverables across the Magnum Photos organization. She managed all logistics for Magnum photographers, cultural partners, and guests. She managed sponsorships with HP, Milk Studios, CONTACT Photography Festival, and Scotia Bank. She also represented Magnum photographers for corporate and the Magnum Archive for commissioned work. Special projects included the production and management of photography projects: Feeding America (SNAP) in conjunction with AARP, The Global Fund, Malaria No More, Fashion Magazine, The Magnum Festival, and Rodarte x Alec Soth x Catherine Opie Book Project.
- July 2007 — Oct 2010: Curator | The Half King Photography Series NYC
- Organization of monthly photojournalism series including photographer and image selection as well as installation and opening night lecture.
- Sept 2001 – Dec 2005: Freelance Photography Producer NYC
- Clients included, Kate Ryan Inc,. Management Artists, L’Oreal, NYT Magazine. As a producer of photography shoots, she handled all aspects of contract negotiations and budgets and all pre-production, casting, scheduling, and post-production.
- Distinguished Teaching Award, Faculty | New York University | New York University Steinhardt School of Education | Department of Media, Culture and Communication
- Outstanding Teaching Award, Graduate Student | New York University Steinhardt School of Education | Department of Media, Culture and Communication