Organizer Information
The fellowship is jointly initiated by Upė Foundation and hosted in collaboration with Camden Art Centre. Camden Art Centre is a major contemporary art institution based in London, internationally recognised for its rigorous exhibition programme, artist residencies, public engagement activities, and educational initiatives. Operating since 1965, the centre occupies a historically significant building originally constructed as a public library in 1890, now adapted into a flexible exhibition space that prioritises experimentation, accessibility, and artist-led inquiry.
The Upė Foundation is a cultural organisation focused on supporting emerging curatorial practices and fostering cross-regional dialogue, particularly between the Baltic region and major European art institutions. This fellowship forms part of its broader Curatorial Fellowship Programme aimed at strengthening institutional access for early-career curators.
Title & Description
Upė Foundation Curatorial Fellowship at Camden Art Centre (Fall 2026 Programme)
This opportunity is a full-time, 12-month curatorial fellowship embedded within Camden Art Centre’s Exhibitions Department. The fellowship is designed for a Baltic early-career curator with a demonstrated curatorial practice and an interest in institutional exhibition-making within a leading contemporary art environment.
The selected fellow will work as an Assistant Curator, contributing directly to the development, coordination, and delivery of exhibitions, publications, public programmes, and artist-focused projects. The role emphasises curatorial research, production workflows, and international collaboration, particularly in relation to Baltic and Central and Eastern European artistic contexts.
The fellowship encourages curators to operate within an institutional framework while developing independent research trajectories, enabling critical exchange between London-based practices and Baltic regional perspectives.
Role Overview
- Position: Assistant Curator / Curatorial Fellow
- Contract Type: Full-time, fixed-term (12 months)
- Extension: Possible 6-month extension (up to 18 months total), subject to review
- Salary: £30,960 per year
- Reporting to: Exhibitions Curator and Director of Camden Art Centre
- Programme Context: Exhibitions Department, including international contemporary art programming, residencies, talks, and publications
- Work Mode: On-site institutional role in London, United Kingdom
Position & Tasks
- Support the delivery of exhibitions, projects, and public events
- Assist in curatorial research, exhibition planning, and production logistics
- Contribute to interpretation materials, wall texts, and publication content
- Liaise with artists, galleries, lenders, designers, writers, and institutional partners
- Assist with loans administration, contracts, shipping, and registrar coordination
- Support exhibition installation and documentation processes
- Participate in internal curatorial discussions and programme development
- Develop and share research relating to Baltic and broader regional contemporary art contexts
- Engage in institutional learning and mentorship structures within the Exhibitions team
Categories
- Curating
- Visual Arts
- Contemporary Art
- Exhibition Production
- Art Writing & Research
- Institutional Practice
- Cultural Programming
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be early-career curators with demonstrable curatorial experience (institutional, freelance, or independent practice)
- Have a clear connection to the Baltic region (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, or diaspora), including lived experience, heritage, language competency, or professional engagement
- Hold a BA, MA, or equivalent qualification in curating, art history, visual culture, or related fields
Desirable:
- Working knowledge of Lithuanian, Latvian, or Estonian
- Additional language fluency
- Experience with Articheck software
- Experience using CRM systems (especially Salesforce)
Legal eligibility requirements:
Applicants must have the right to work in the UK via one of the following:
- UK “new entrant” Skilled Worker visa route (under age 26)
- Creative Worker visa eligibility
- Existing UK work rights (citizenship, settled/pre-settled status, or valid visa)
Program Benefits
- Annual salary of £30,960
- Full-time curatorial employment within a major contemporary art institution
- Professional mentorship within the Exhibitions Department of Camden Art Centre
- Direct involvement in international exhibitions and artist projects
- Exposure to institutional curatorial workflows (production, loans, installation, publications)
- Networking opportunities within the UK and international contemporary art sectors
- Dedicated space for research and development focused on Baltic and Central/Eastern European art discourse
- Potential extension to 18-month total fellowship duration
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Completed application form
- Monitoring form (as provided in the job pack)
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Supporting documentation as specified in the official job pack
- All materials should reflect original writing and individual practice
How to Apply?
Please download the application form and email it to recruitment@camdenartcentre.org
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 13 July 2026
- Interviews (Round 1): 6 August 2026
- Final Decision: Mid-August 2026
- Start Date: Autumn 2026
- Contract Duration: 12 months (with possible extension to 18 months)
Location
Camden Art Centre, London, United Kingdom
Additional Details
The selection process is jointly managed by Upė Foundation and Camden Art Centre. Applications are reviewed in multiple stages: initial assessment, first-round online interviews, and final interviews with a smaller shortlist of candidates.
The selection panel operates on consensus-based decision-making. Candidates are encouraged to submit materials that reflect their own curatorial voice and avoid generic or AI-generated content, as authenticity is explicitly prioritised in evaluation.
This fellowship is structured as both a professional employment opportunity and a curatorial development programme, offering embedded institutional experience alongside independent research capacity-building within a leading European contemporary art context.