Short Description

Since 2012, the Visual Arts Department of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation has had a stand at Art Brussels, one of the largest contemporary art fairs in Europe.

This presence is determined on the basis of a call for curatorial projects and pursues the objective of contributing, each year, to the dissemination of the work of the artists of the FWB, both nationally and internationally.

The curator is expected to:

  1. Demonstrate experience in the field of the most contemporary art.
  2. Propose a project involving one or more artists who must:
    • Be domiciled within the territory of the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles (FWB) in the case of a solo show.
      In the case of a duo or group exhibition, at least 50% of the participating artists must meet this requirement.
    • Demonstrate a connection to this territory through their artistic, educational, or professional background.
    • Have exhibited at least three times in Belgium.
    • Not represented by a gallery participating in the fair.
  3. Oversee the design, spatial layout, and supervision of the exhibition project, including the installation and dismantling of the show.
    It is strongly recommended to include on the booth a 2 m² enclosed storage space with a lockable door.
  4. Manage the booth’s daily operations.
    The presence of the curator and the artist(s) during the preview and opening is mandatory.
    For the fair’s public opening days, the curator must organize booth management if not personally handled by them and the artist(s).
  5. Write and design an informational brochure (in French and English) presenting the artist(s) and the exhibition.
  6. Prepare a promotional text (in French and English) for use by the fair and by the Contemporary Visual Arts Department’s communication platforms.
  7. Arrange insurance coverage for the booth and artworks (nail-to-nail coverage).
  8. Attend a meeting with the administration immediately after the appointment and ensure smooth collaboration throughout the project’s implementation.
  9. Submit an activity report at the end of the fair.

The Department of Contemporary Visual Arts, for its part, will:

  1. Provide candidates with the booth layout plan. This plan may be subject to modification.
  2. Provide candidates, for reference purposes, with an estimate of basic technical service costs, including:
    • LED spotlights (30 or 50 W): €66.20 or €69.20 (mounted on arm)
    • Additional wall panel (H 3.50 m × W 1.00 m): €250 (same price for 0.5 m width)
    • Lockable door: €273
    • Carpet: €14/m² (price per square meter only)
    • Wall painting (price per linear meter): €79.50
  3. Convene a selection jury, composed of:
    • A representative of the fair, the curator of the booth from the previous year, A member from each session of the Visual Arts Commission, and representatives of the Department of Contemporary Visual Arts.
    The jury will designate the winning project based on two main criteria:
    A. The quality of the curatorial project
    B. The quality of the exhibition’s spatial design
  4. Communicate the results, notifying both the selected and non-selected candidates.
  5. Hold a meeting immediately following the selection.
  6. Process a payment of 80% of the total budget after the administrative meeting, and the remaining 20% after the submission of the final activity report.
  7. Oversee and promote the project, in collaboration with the Ministry’s press office, through the department’s various communication channels.
  8. Provide a driver and van from the Cultural Heritage Department (DPC) for the transport of artworks to and from the exhibition venue.
    Practical arrangements are to be agreed upon with the assigned staff.
    However, the artist(s) must assist with handling the artworks, which must not exceed 2 m in height, 3.5 m in length, and 50 kg per piece (with a total maximum of 400 kg). Additionally, artworks must be gathered in a single location and properly packaged by the artist(s) to ensure protection during transport.
    The artist(s) must also reserve a parking space of 11 m for the van at both pickup and delivery locations, close to the loading area.

All these conditions must be strictly observed; failure to comply will cancel the transport arrangements.

Submission Requirements

  • A statement of intent describing the identity and nature of the work of the artist(s) and the proposed curatorial concept.
  • A CV of the artist(s) (indicating their home address) and of the curator.
  • A schematic plan of the booth, showing the proposed spatial layout and placement of the artworks.
  • A projected budget.
  • A 1,500-character text (in French and English) intended for the communication of the project to the fair and the administration.
  • A copy of the curator’s ID card and bank account details (relevé d’identité bancaire).

How to Apply

The file must be sent as a single PDF document to the following address: pascale.viscardy@cfwb.be

Program Benefits & Awards

The budget allocated for this purpose is €12,000 (excluding VAT).
The booth rental and transportation costs are covered by the FWB (see below for details regarding transport arrangements).

Entry Fee

None

Location

Brussels, Belgium

Timeline

  • Application Deadline: 1 December 2025

Website Link: https://creationartistique.cfwb.be/actualites

Art FairCuratorialGrant