Open Call: Emerging Curators

Smack Mellon seeks proposals from Emerging Curators based in the New York City area for their annual Emerging Artists Summer Group Exhibition. The exhibition will take place across Smack Mellon’s two gallery spaces and is slated to open during the summer of 2027.

We define Emerging Curator as someone either independent or affiliated with an institution who is beginning their career as a curator. This exhibition will be curated by the selected Emerging Curator and should only include works by Emerging Artists. In addition to providing a curatorial framework, the curator will work in collaboration with Smack Mellon’s staff to develop an open call for artists that will be announced during fall 2026. Curators must select more than 70% of their artists from the open call, and exhibitions must include at least 60% artists who identify as women (inclusive of trans and nonbinary individuals) in accordance with Smack Mellon’s mission.

Smack Mellon advises potential curators to be familiar with our mission and programs before submitting a proposal. They are interested in engaging with projects that consider relevant political, social, or environmental issues.

Prospective Timeline:

August 15, 2026 – Open Call for Curators closes
Early September 2026 – Curator selected and notified
October 2026 – Open Call for Emerging Artists announced and open
June–August 2027 – Exhibition open to the public
Specific dates to be confirmed with the Curator through the process.

Please note:

The curator should realize that Smack Mellon expects a hands-on approach at the gallery. Because of this, they are currently only accepting proposals from curators based in New York City, or the greater New York area. The curator is expected to be present at the gallery throughout the installation, as well as at designated times leading up to the exhibition, and must understand that the artists involved in the exhibition are responsible for the execution and installation of the artwork. The curator should clarify to all artists when invited to participate that they are responsible for delivering their work to the gallery, installing, and de-installing their work.

Curators will not be able to include their own artwork in the final exhibition.

Smack Mellon does not have a full-time staff of preparators. They will hire freelance preparators to help with the installation of the artwork, but the amount of time available to each artist is limited. Smack Mellon has media equipment available for our exhibitions. They can provide details of the equipment as well as specifics about the installation of work after the proposal has advanced to the final round.

Smack Mellon provides curators a stipend of $2,000, and a modest budget for artists’ honoraria. Smack Mellon cannot provide funding for shipping, travel, or artwork production.

Requirements

Curators must live within New York City’s five boroughs or within reasonable commuting distance. This opportunity is not a position with regular work hours, but it will require curators to be on site repeatedly throughout the process. Proposals must show a history of at least three prior curatorial projects successfully presented to a public audience. If Curators also have their own artistic practice, they may not include their own work in the final exhibition. Those currently enrolled in a degree seeking program are not eligible for this opportunity.

Application Instructions

Curators do not have to propose a fully actualized exhibition, but your submission should include:

1. Curatorial Statement (350 words maximum): This statement should narratively describe your research interests, curatorial methodology, and how you envision your work fitting into Smack Mellon’s programming. As an artist-centered organization, we would also like for you to describe your relationship to the artists that you work with.

2. Brief Proposal Idea (350 words maximum): This should outline the overall idea and stakes of the project, its relevance to our current moment, and why it should be shown at Smack Mellon. You do not need to have a confirmed artist list, as this will be developed through the open call, but please include the language and framework that you would like to use as a starting point to develop this exhibition.

3. Curatorial CV: Please include exhibitions, programs, publications, and related projects as well as educational background. You can include employment history as long as it is relevant to the field. If you are an artist applying with a curatorial proposal, you should only include exhibitions that you have developed as a curator. PDF only.

4. Work Samples: You may include up to 10 images that are representative of your work as a curator. Images should be saved as .jpeg or .png, 1000px maximum in any direction. You may include a description of each image, up to 100 words each. Image descriptions should include: the exhibition title, date, location (name of the space and city), and names of artists involved/pictured.
   Image files should be formatted as follows:

5. Two professional references: Include name, phone number, email address, and relationship to you.

Image files should be formatted as follows:

• 01_FirstLastName.jpeg
• 02_FirstLastName.jpeg
• 03_FirstLastName.jpeg

…etc.

A floorplan is available for download here.

The side view of Gallery One (the large space) is available here.

The deadline for applications is August 15, 2026 at midnight, EST. Submit your application here.