Organizer Information
Objectifs is a Singapore-based centre dedicated to photography and film, functioning as both an exhibition platform and a production-support organization for image-based practices. Its programming focuses on contemporary photographic and moving-image practices, curatorial experimentation, and public engagement through exhibitions, workshops, and talks. Objectifs plays an important role in Singapore’s visual arts ecosystem by supporting emerging and mid-career practitioners, particularly in lens-based disciplines, while also contributing to regional curatorial discourse in Southeast Asia. The Curator Open Call is one of its key recurring initiatives designed to expand curatorial research and support new exhibition-making approaches within its Chapel Gallery space.
Title & Description
Curator Open Call 2026 Singapore – Chapel Gallery Exhibition Programme
The Curator Open Call 2026 invites Singapore-based curators to propose a fully developed exhibition for presentation at the Chapel Gallery at Objectifs. The programme is designed to support curatorial experimentation, research-led exhibition-making, and innovative interpretations of image-based practices (photography, film, and related visual media).
Selected proposals will be realized as a physical exhibition scheduled for January 2027, with a duration of up to six weeks, aligning with Singapore Art Week 2027. The initiative prioritizes projects that demonstrate strong conceptual grounding, audience engagement strategies, and sensitivity to the exhibition history and spatial character of the Chapel Gallery.
Curators are encouraged to propose exhibitions that respond to contemporary social, cultural, or visual issues, while also engaging critically with curatorial methodologies. The programme also emphasizes accessibility, visual storytelling, and the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly to diverse audiences.
Categories
- Curatorial Practice
- Visual Art (Photography, Film, Lens-based Media)
- Video / Moving Image
- Exhibition Making
- Contemporary Art / Interdisciplinary Practices
- Public Programming (Talks, Workshops, Screenings, Performances)
Eligibility
- Open primarily to Singaporean citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents
- The main applicant must be based in Singapore for up to 3 months prior to the exhibition opening
- Applicants must be present for installation and de-installation
- International curators may participate only as part of a collaborative curatorial team led by an eligible Singapore-based curator
- Artists may apply as curators only if proposing a group exhibition or curating other artists’ works
- Strong emphasis on curators with interest in contemporary, research-driven, and audience-focused exhibition practices
Program Benefits & Awards
- Curatorial honorarium of $1,000 SGD
- Production budget of up to $8,000 SGD
- Mentorship from Dr Adele Tan (Senior Curator, National Gallery Singapore)
- Production, administrative, and marketing support from Objectifs
- Exhibition presentation at Chapel Gallery for up to 6 weeks
- Inclusion in Singapore Art Week 2027 visibility ecosystem
- Institutional exposure within Singapore’s contemporary art sector
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- 100-word project summary
- Up to 500-word curatorial concept statement
- List of proposed artists with short bios
- Curatorial CV (or team CVs if collaborative)
- Completed budget worksheet (template provided by Objectifs)
- Work samples:
- Minimum 4 images per artist
- For video/sound: URLs and access passwords if required
- For unrealised work: conceptual descriptions and reference materials
Additional expectations:
- At least 50% of works must be photo- or film-based
- At least 50% of artists must be Singaporean or Singapore PRs
- Must include at least two public programmes (talks, panels, workshops, screenings, or performances)
- Proposal must be original and not previously exhibited
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 16 June 2026
- Notification of Results: by July 2026
- Exhibition Period: January 2027 (up to 6 weeks)
- Alignment: Singapore Art Week 2027
Location
Chapel Gallery, Objectifs, Singapore
Additional Details
Selection is based on:
- Artistic and intellectual merit of the curatorial proposal
- Feasibility of exhibition production in January 2027
- Clarity of communication and audience engagement strategy
- Relevance to Objectifs’ mission and exhibition history
- Consideration of space architecture and heritage context
Shortlisted applicants may be contacted for proposal refinement or clarification. The selection panel includes Dr Adele Tan, Siddharta Perez (curator and educator), and the Objectifs team.
The programme strongly encourages proposals that are audience-centric and that integrate strong public programming components. Curators are also encouraged to consider extending exhibition activity into outdoor or alternative spaces within Objectifs, such as the courtyard.