Short Description
In 2026, the Contemporary at Blue Star will focus in on a theme of “community” in its exhibition program as we celebrate our 40th anniversary. Our intention is to both explore this theme in the content of the projects on view and to actively build local, national, and international networks that generate lasting connections and opportunities for artists and curators. The Sister City guest Curator Collaborations focus on international cultural exchange and expanding the Contemporary’s reach and network. We invite curators from the following cities to propose a solo or group project by living, contemporary artists from their city. San Antonio, TX’s Sister Cities include:
- Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico (1953)
- Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico (1974)
- Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain (1975)
- Gwangju, South Korea (1981)
- Kaohsiung, Taiwan (1981)
- Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain (1983)
- Kumamoto, Japan (1987)
- Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India (2008)
- Wuxi, People’s Republic of China (2012)
- Windhoek, Namibia (2016)
- Darmstadt, Hesse, Germany (2017)
- Baguio, Philippines (2023)
- Queretaro, Mexico (2025)
- Lanzarote, Spain (2025)
Eligibility
For this opportunity, we are seeking curators and artists working together in the same city and/or in relationship to the same city. This framework holds potential for an impactful exhibition that will result in a project that provides a perspective from the inside out, rather than an outside curator coming in and only accessing the surface of an art ecosystem.
- Curators must be based in one of the Sister Cities of San Antonio or have strong ties to the city and share how they are connected to it if they do not currently live there.
- Artists featured in the exhibition must be located in one of San Antonio’s Sister Cities.
- Curators may be independent curators or affiliated with an institution.
Submission Requirements
- Project description 500-1,000 words detailing the curatorial vision for the exhibition with name(s) of the artist or artists you will feature in the exhibition.
- Curator bio
- Links to artists’ websites and artist bios.
- Curator’s CV, including contact info for 2 references of past collaborators/institutions you’ve worked with
- Proposed exhibition checklist of work with estimated space required for the exhibition. We understand the final checklist may change
- Proposal will be received through AnyArtist.org
- If a curator’s proposal is selected the Contemporary will require a proposed budget.
How to Apply
Online Application
Program Benefits & Awards
The Contemporary is a W.A.G.E.-certified (wageforwork.com) organization and will contribute a percentage of total annual operating expenses in honoraria. This number ranges depending on number of artists in the exhibition, the scope of the project, and exhibition space. Both curators and artists are paid an honorarium.
Contemporary provides basic programming support. Basic programming costs are the costs associated with the essential requirements of mounting exhibitions and programs as defined by Contemporary’s mission and are irrespective of specific content. Curator and exhibiting artists must provide advance, detailed, and adequate notice of their needs for exhibiting artwork. The provision of basic programming costs and services include:
- Providing of exhibition, performance, or projection space
- Preparation of exhibition, performance, or projection space for the program
- Shipping and insurance costs when necessary
- Presentation infrastructure, including display equipment, exhibition furniture and lighting
- Documentation of exhibition or event
- Promotion of exhibition or event
- Travel and accommodation, when necessary and if artist/curator is invited for programming and/or requested for installation
- Obtaining and paying for image rights for commissioned and existing texts
Curatorial Honoraria Fees for what curators will be paid for their project and labor on the exhibition are outlined below. (See exhibition floorplan and photographs for square footage and layout of galleries). Additionally, in the event the Contemporary invites curators for the opening or programming, the Contemporary covers travel and accommodations expenses. Full terms of support will be outlined in agreements once projects are selected.
- Main Gallery – 5,000 USD
- Middle Gallery -2,500 USD
- Project Space – 3,000 USD
- Gallery 4 – 1,200 USD
Artist Honoraria Fees estimate for what artist will be paid for their project and labor on the exhibition are outlined below.
Main Gallery solo exhibition – 2,500 USD
Middle Gallery solo exhibition -1,500 USD
Project Space solo exhibition – 1,500 USD
Gallery 4 solo exhibition – 1,500 USD
Group exhibition 3-5 artists – 625 USD each artist
Group exhibition 6+ artists – 375 USD each artist
Honoraria are calculated as a percentage of the Contemporary’s total annual operating expense.
Entry Fee
None
Location
San Antonio, United States
Timeline
- Application Deadline: 30 May 2025
Website Link: https://contemporarysa.org/events/open-call-for-sister-city-curatorial-exhibition-proposals/
