Call Curators

APPLICATION OPENS:
Wednesday, July 15, 2026

DEADLINE EXTENDED:
Thursday, September 10, 2026

2027 Open Call for Curators

The Bronx Council on the Arts (BCA) invites independent curators, artists, and arts professionals to submit exhibition proposals for the Longwood Arts Project. We welcome bold, innovative, and thoughtfully conceived exhibitions that engage with personal, social, cultural, political, historical, or experimental subjects and reflect a clear curatorial vision.

All themes are welcome. Proposals will be evaluated based on conceptual clarity, artist selection, feasibility, and meaningful engagement with Bronx communities.

Guidelines Timeline:
Key dates for the Open Call are listed below.

• July 15, 2026:
  Call for proposals opens.
• September 30, 2026:
  Applicants notified
• February-July 2027:
  Selected exhibitions presented

• Independent curators, artists, and arts professionals residing in New York City are eligible to apply.
• Selected curators will be responsible for coordinating with participating artists, sourcing exhibition materials, and writing all exhibition text.
• Curators must be present during installation, deinstallation, and the exhibition opening. If they are unable to attend, they must designate a qualified representative.
• They seek curators who push boundaries and demonstrate familiarity with Bronx artists and communities.

Selection Criteria:
Proposals will be evaluated based on:

• The clarity and strength of the curatorial concept.
• The thoughtfulness and cohesion of the selected artists and artworks.
• Thoughtful curatorial research and a well-developed exhibition plan.
• Demonstrated feasibility of the proposed exhibition. Preference will be given to proposals with confirmed artists.
• The potential to engage Bronx audiences in meaningful ways.
• The extent to which the proposal supports emerging and historically underrepresented artists, including women, LGBTQIA+ artists, artists of color, and other marginalized communities.

All themes are welcome. Proposals will be evaluated based on conceptual clarity, artist selection, feasibility, and meaningful engagement with Bronx communities.

Eligibility & Proposal Requirements

• All visual arts media are welcome, including installation, video, sound, sculpture, painting, photography, and interdisciplinary work.
• Group exhibitions should feature between 4 and 8 artists.
• The majority of participating artists must be based in the Bronx.
• Curators may not include their own artwork in the proposed exhibition.
• Public programming, such as artist talks, workshops, screenings, or gallery tours, is encouraged but not required.
• Selected exhibitions will be presented between February and July 2027.
• Exhibitions will take place at BCA’s exhibition space and at partner venues, which may include non-traditional exhibition spaces. Curators should consider how their exhibition concepts can be adapted to different venues.
• The curator will receive a $2,500 honorarium for curating and organizing the exhibition, including coordinating with participating artists.
• Each participating artist will receive a $300 honorarium.
• The Longwood Arts Project covers the cost of artwork insurance and professional art handling.
• A BCA staff member will support the curator with exhibition logistics, including artist contracts, coordination with art handlers, and promotional activities.
• BCA is not responsible for shipping artworks to or from the exhibition venue, and travel stipends will not be provided.

Curatorial proposals will be selected based on the strength of the art and project.

• The panel will look for conceptual clarity, strong artist selection, feasibility, and meaningful engagement with Bronx Communities.
• The panel will be composed of BCA staff and will make the final decisions.
• Finalists might be contacted for a virtual or in-person interview before selections are announced. Applications will only be accepted through Submittable.

All applications will be kept in our files for future reference. For questions or technical inquiries, please contact Alejandra Delfin at alejandra .

No phone calls inquiring about the status of your submission, please.