Clare Butcher

Clare Butcher (she/her) is a lecturer at the Centre for Curating the Archive, University of Cape Town, and curator of the 'We Contain Multitudes' (Other Voices) programme at BEAR, ArtEZ, Arnhem. Previously, she served as curator of Public Programming and Learning for the Toronto Biennial of Art (2019-2021) and was part of the aneducation team for documenta 14 (2016-2017).

Butcher's research interests span art education, curatorial studies, and archival practices with a critical focus on language and terminology. She explores how words shape our understanding of art and culture, often examining etymologies with students. Her work engages with decolonial theory, intersectionality, and collaborative methodologies, emphasizing accessibility and ethical practice in artistic contexts.

Her recent scholarly contributions include 'How to Read an Exhibition' (2022) and 'There's a Leak in This Whole Building: Resisting Normative Exhibition Practices' (2022), which reflect her interest in exhibition practices and institutional critique. Butcher's curated selection 'Invisible Infrastructures: Revealing Terminologies' for APRIA highlights works that expose the power dynamics embedded in language.

Known for her commitment to clear communication, Butcher previously implemented a 'bullshit jar' in classrooms to discourage unnecessary jargon, with collected funds going toward end-of-year party snacks. Her teaching approach emphasizes inclusion and collaborative learning, aligning with her broader engagement with critical pedagogy and ethical practice in art education.