Organizer Information
apexart is a non-profit arts organization based in Lower Manhattan, New York, founded by artist Steven Rand in 1994. It was conceived to offer opportunities to independent curators and emerging and established artists, and to challenge set ideas about culture, art, exhibitions, and curation. To date, apexart has worked with more than 1,500 artists from around the world through its exhibitions and residency programs. Each year the organization stages seven to nine gallery exhibitions — some at its Tribeca space, others at temporary venues internationally — alongside a Global Fellowship program, publications, and more than 50 public lectures and performances. Admission to apexart's gallery is always free and open to the public.
Title & Description
apexart Open Calls (NYC Open Call and International Open Call)
apexart's Open Calls are opportunities for artists, curators, and other professionals to turn a curatorial idea into an apexart exhibition, combined with inviting apexart's international community to collectively determine the organization's programming through an online jury process. Winning proposals become part of apexart's next exhibition season and receive funding and staff support; apexart is not a granting organization, and all selected exhibitions become part of apexart's own programming. There are two annual Open Calls: the NYC Open Call, for exhibitions held at apexart's own Tribeca space, and the International Open Call, for exhibitions held anywhere in the world except NYC. Submitters propose a focused, idea-driven, and original group exhibition, presented for the first time, featuring artists who work independently of one another. Prior curatorial experience or training is not required — applicants need a strong idea, a basic understanding of the exhibition organizer role, and at least three artists under consideration for inclusion.
Categories
- Curatorial
- Visual Arts
- Exhibition
- Interdisciplinary Arts
- Public Presentation
Eligibility
- Open to anyone, from anywhere — curators, artists, writers, and creative individuals regardless of experience level, background, or location
- Prior curatorial experience or training is not necessary
- Proposals must describe an idea-based group exhibition presented for the first time, featuring at least three artists who work independently of one another
- Curatorial teams/collectives are welcome to apply
- Applicants may include themselves as a fourth artist, but the proposal cannot be a solo show or an "artist project" (a project where multiple artists/individuals work on one person's predetermined idea)
- For the International Open Call, the submitter must select a geographic location they have visited or lived in, sufficient to be familiar with local logistics, culture, and resources; apexart does not have satellite locations
- One application per Open Call location and season is permitted; winning a given location-based Open Call makes the winner ineligible for future Open Calls at that same location (but not other locations)
- Only one proposal per organizer/curator per Open Call is allowed
- Jurors cannot submit and jury the same Open Call in the same cycle
Program Benefits
- Total exhibition budget of $10,000 per selected Open Call proposal
- Up to $8,000 of the budget covers curator travel, artwork shipping, artist and public program participant honorariums, assistant fees, equipment, installation materials and labor, photo/media documentation for exhibitions outside NYC, and wire transfer fees
- Curator/organizer honorarium of up to $2,000, paid after the exhibition closes and all expenses are settled, for coordinating the project and writing the exhibition brochure essay
- For International Open Call exhibitions, apexart will match up to $1,000 of the budget for venue rental costs, paid after the exhibition closes and expenses are settled
- apexart separately covers costs for approved insurance, advertising, publicity, documentation (NYC exhibitions only), the design, printing, and mailing of the exhibition brochure, and the local opening reception
- apexart oversees and handles most exhibition logistics, including loan agreements and shipping, working closely with guest curators/organizers
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 31 October 2026
- International Open Call submission period: February 1–March 1, 2026 (for apexart's 2026–27 program season)
- NYC Open Call jury voting period: November each year
- International Open Call jury voting period: March each year
Location
New York, United States
Additional Details
- A diverse, changing international jury of more than 600 individuals from more than 70 countries evaluates proposals in a blind online voting process; jurors do not know each other's identities, there is no discussion among jurors or with apexart staff, and every proposal receives an equal number of views
- University classes also participate in the jury process in some years
- Proposal text becomes the first part of the eventual exhibition brochure essay; the second part covers the artists in the exhibition
- The three potential artists named in the submission are not binding and are not required to be confirmed, living, or even artists/art materials in the traditional sense
- The exhibition venue cannot be a commercial space and should ideally be a "non-exclusionary" location accessible to everyone (past international venues have included a laundromat, an abandoned prison, and a beauty salon)
- apexart cannot guarantee specific exhibition time slots to coordinate with biennials or external projects, and does not allow co-sponsorship credit for in-kind donations or other support
- Selected organizers may not solicit artists through their own open call, include a residency component, or engage in sales of works or editions as part of the exhibition
- Outside crowdfunding or additional funding requests are not permitted for these exhibitions
- NYC exhibitions generally run about 6 weeks; international exhibitions should be on view for a similar period, at least 4 weeks