Organizer Information

The Emerging Curator Fellowship is a professional development opportunity supporting the growth of early-career curators through the development of an original exhibition drawn from the AFA Art Collection. The fellowship aims to introduce new curatorial perspectives while increasing the visibility of artworks—particularly those in media and formats with limited circulation—within the TREX Exhibition Program and other AFA art placement initiatives. The final exhibition produced as a result of this fellowship will be displayed at the AFA art house in Calgary.
Who can apply
This opportunity is open to emerging curators with less than six years of curatorial experience but a strong interest in developing their practice. Collaborating curatorial teams/collectives who are artists, art historians, curators, arts administrators, educators or from any other related discipline are eligible to apply to this program if all project curators meet the individual eligibility criteria. Proposals will be accepted from any of the following applicants:
  • Applicants 18 years of age or older
  • Individuals with either a college degree or undergraduate studies from a recognized institution
  • Canadian citizens or permanent residents with a connection to Alberta. This includes:
    • Alberta curators – a curator, or curatorial team, with an Alberta address as their primary residence
    • Expatriate curators – curators who were previously an Alberta resident but no longer have an Alberta address
    • Non-Alberta curators – A non-Alberta curator may be considered to have a meaningful Alberta connection if they meet one or more of the following criteria:
      • Curated or contributed to exhibitions presented in Alberta
      • Collaborated with Alberta-based artists, Indigenous communities, or cultural organizations
      • Conducted research or published work relevant to Alberta’s cultural or historical context
      • Participated in Alberta-based residencies, fellowships, or professional development programs
      • Self-identify as Indigenous and have family, cultural or Treaty ties to Alberta.
Please note: applicants that currently hold an open AFA project grant are eligible to compete for, and enter into, a contract with the AFA through the Emerging Curators Fellowship.

Ineligible applicants

The following applicants are ineligible:
  • Applicants with more than six years of professional, curatorial experience
  • Applicants who are employed full-time in a curatorial role at a museum, gallery, or cultural institution
  • Applicants currently enrolled in an undergraduate program
  • Applicants, including ensembles, who are incorporated under either provincial or federal legislation
  • Previous recipients of this fellowship.
How to apply
The AFA will accept fellowship applications by mail or email at the address listed below. Email applications must be received by 2 pm of the deadline date; while all mailed applications must be postmarked with the application date. Please note:
  • The AFA does not accept late or incomplete applications
  • Applications must be received prior to the commencement of the project
  • Projects involving more than one artist must be submitted by one individual on behalf of the ensemble or group. The AFA will not accept separate applications for the same project.
Applications can be mailed or emailed to: Elizabeth Capak, Art Collections Consultant -- Acquisitions Alberta Foundation for the Arts (Arts Branch) 10708 105 Avenue Edmonton, AB T5H 0A1 Email: elizabeth.capak@gov.ab.ca

What to include in your application

Applicants must submit:
  • Statement of Interest (max. 500 words) addressing:
    • Why you are interested in curating
    • How this Fellowship would help support your curatorial career
    • Your curatorial values and approach
    • Your past knowledge and experience working with Alberta’s visual arts
  • Resume or CV outlining relevant experience of all curators involved
  • Exhibition Proposal (max. 500 words) including:
    • Proposed theme or concept
    • Target audience, engagement strategy and proposed educational enhancement(s)
    • Proposed project timeline and budget. Please note business start-up costs or basic equipment purchases are ineligible.
  • Work Samples:
    • Gallery text from two previous curatorial projects (maximum 3 pages, pdf) along with applicable artwork label text (maximum of 4 labels, pdf).
    • Up to 6 images of past curatorial or artistic work (in jpeg format, up to 5 MB each)

What Selected Fellows Receive

  • CAD $15,000 (individual or collective)

  • Mentorship from AFA staff

  • Physical access to the AFA Art Collection for research

  • Curatorial support and high-resolution digital images

  • AFA support for exhibition preparation, installation, and promotion

Ineligible Projects

  • Exhibitions produced as part of academic programmes or for academic credit

  • Projects completed or underway prior to the funding period

  • Previously exhibited or published exhibitions

  • Business start-up costs or basic equipment purchases

Application Fee

None

Key Dates

  • Application deadline: January 30, 2026 (2:00 pm)

  • Draft exhibition plan due: December 2026

  • Exhibition installation & opening: May 2027

Location

Calgary, Canada Website: https://www.affta.ab.ca/funding/find-funding/emerging-curator-fellowship