Organizer Information
The Triennial GIST (GIST 2027) is an initiative of the intermunicipal cooperation IGS Zennevallei Hergist, a regional cultural collaboration platform operating across the Zenne Valley in Belgium. The project is developed in partnership with several local cultural centers, including CC Coloma, CC de Meent, and CC ’t Vondel, as well as municipal authorities of Beersel, Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, and Halle.
IGS Zennevallei Hergist focuses on strengthening regional identity, cultural participation, and creative placemaking within the Zenne Valley—a landscape defined by the intersection of nature, industry, heritage, and urban proximity. Through initiatives such as GIST, the organization seeks to reposition the Zenne Valley as a recognizable cultural destination, fostering collaboration between artists, residents, local industries, and tourism stakeholders. The triennial format allows for long-term artistic development embedded in the region’s evolving ecological and social context.
Title & Description
Open Call: curator art route GIST 2027 – “Teire / Kontreir”
GIST 2027 is a major triennial contemporary art event taking place in the Zenne Valley under the central theme “Teire / Kontreir”, which emphasizes contradiction, resistance, and creative counterforce. The curatorial open call invites an (inter)national curator or curatorial collective with demonstrated experience in public-space art projects to design and lead an outdoor art route consisting of approximately 20 site-specific installations.
The curator will be responsible for shaping the artistic vision of the route, selecting artists, developing conceptual coherence, and ensuring integration of artworks within the unique landscapes of the Zenne Valley. The project emphasizes site-responsive, socially engaged, and interdisciplinary practices, where artworks interact with the valley’s complex identity—its coexistence of rural landscapes, industrial heritage, waterways, and expanding urban influence.
The artistic concept should align with the metaphor of “fermentation,” inspired by the region’s lambic beer tradition: slow transformation, experimentation, unpredictability, and emergence. The selected curator will translate this idea into a cohesive public-space exhibition that connects contemporary art with ecological, historical, and social narratives of the region.
The project runs as a large-scale public art trail, integrating visual art, installations, and temporary interventions across multiple municipalities, encouraging audiences to explore the Zenne Valley through walking, cycling, and immersive encounters.
Categories
- Visual Art
- Public Art / Site-Specific Installation
- Curatorial Practice
- Contemporary Art
- Interdisciplinary Art
- Environmental / Land Art
- Community-Based Art
Eligibility
- Open to international or national curators or curatorial collectives
- Applicants must have proven professional experience in curating exhibitions, particularly in public space or art trail contexts
- Strong familiarity with site-specific, contextual, or socially engaged art practices is required
- Ability to work collaboratively with municipalities, institutions, and local stakeholders
- Experience managing artist selection, production coordination, and curatorial frameworks
- No explicit age restriction is stated
Program Benefits & Awards
- Curatorial fee up to €25,000 (including VAT)
- Full production budget of approximately €100,000 for the realization of ~20 artworks (covers artist fees and production costs)
- Dedicated production and technical support team from January 2027 onward
- Logistical support, including transport, installation, and maintenance, is provided by the organizing municipalities
- Communication and marketing support, including a dedicated communications manager
- Opportunity to lead a high-visibility international public art triennial
- Extensive professional exposure across multiple municipalities in Belgium
- Collaboration with established cultural institutions and public authorities
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Concept note (maximum 1000 words) outlining curatorial vision and approach
- Visual materials supporting the proposal (optional but recommended)
- Updated CV (maximum 2 pages)
- Financial quotation for curatorial fee
- Portfolio or relevant documentation of past curatorial projects (implicitly expected)
How to Apply?
Applications must be submitted via email to: geert.poelaert@beersel.be
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 26 June 2026
- Jury Interview (shortlisted candidates): 3 July 2026
- Project Preparation Start: 1 September 2026
- Production Team Onboarding: From January 2027 onward
- Exhibition Period (GIST 2027): 21 August – 3 October 2027
Location
Zenne Valley region, Belgium
Additional Details
- The curator becomes part of the official GIST 2027 core project team
- Approximately 20 artworks will be selected and integrated into a curated outdoor route
- The project emphasizes long-term collaboration with local communities, industries, and cultural stakeholders
- Strong focus on sustainability and responsible integration of artworks into public environments
- Thematic framework “Teire / Kontreir” encourages experimental, critical, and non-conformist curatorial approaches
- Evaluation criteria prioritize:
- Artistic vision (50%)
- Regional engagement (15%)
- Public impact (15%)
- Feasibility (10%)
- Budget alignment (10%)