Organizer Information
The Curatorial Laboratory is organized by Improper Walls, an independent contemporary art space based in Vienna, Austria. Improper Walls is known for supporting emerging artistic and curatorial practices through exhibitions, public programs, critical discourse, and community engagement. The organization actively collaborates with artists, curators, and cultural practitioners from diverse backgrounds and seeks to create accessible opportunities within the contemporary art ecosystem.
Recognizing that many aspiring curators face structural barriers—particularly those from migrant, working-class, or non-academic backgrounds—Improper Walls has developed the Curatorial Laboratory as a response to the lack of paid mentorship opportunities and limited access to professional networks. The program promotes a non-hierarchical, collaborative learning environment where curatorial knowledge is shared openly rather than gatekept. Through mentorship, practical experience, and peer exchange, the initiative aims to strengthen the next generation of curators working in Vienna’s contemporary art scene.
Title & Description
Curatorial Laboratory – Mentoring Program for Emerging Curators
The Curatorial Laboratory is a four-month intensive mentoring and professional development program designed for emerging curators based in Vienna. The initiative supports individuals who have already gained some practical curatorial experience—whether through self-organized projects, artist-run initiatives, assistant roles, or independent practice—but who are not yet established within institutional structures.
The program combines mentorship, practical exhibition-making experience, professional networking, and collaborative learning. Two selected participants will work closely with the Improper Walls team and four invited mentors to develop, plan, produce, and realize a contemporary art exhibition from concept to completion.
Participants will engage in workshops, mentoring sessions, studio visits, gallery and off-space tours, and exchanges with cultural professionals. Throughout the program, curators will explore their own thematic interests while developing critical curatorial methodologies rooted in care, dialogue, responsibility, and collaboration.
The mentorship is structured around the full lifecycle of exhibition production, allowing participants to gain firsthand experience in concept development, project management, exhibition realization, and public programming. The program culminates in a public exhibition and related events, providing participants with tangible professional experience and visibility within Vienna's contemporary art community.
Importantly, the program is conducted entirely in English, making it accessible to participants who may face barriers within German-language professional environments.
Categories
- Curatorial Practice
- Contemporary Art
- Visual Arts
- Exhibition Making
- Arts Administration
- Cultural Management
- Public Programming
- Professional Development
- Mentorship Program
Eligibility
- Be based in Vienna, Austria.
- Have a strong interest in curatorial practice.
- Possess some practical curatorial experience, ranging from self-organized projects to assistant positions.
- Not yet be established within institutional curatorial structures.
- Have a clear thematic interest, research focus, or curatorial topic they wish to explore.
- Value collaborative and care-centered approaches to curating.
- Be interested in developing professional networks and peer relationships.
- Be available throughout the entire mentorship period.
- Be comfortable working in English.
The program particularly welcomes applicants from backgrounds that have traditionally had limited access to curatorial networks and professional opportunities, including migrant, working-class, and non-academic communities.
Program Benefits & Awards
- Honorarium of €500.
- Four months of intensive curatorial mentorship.
- Guidance from four professional mentors.
- Direct collaboration with the Improper Walls team.
- Hands-on experience in every stage of exhibition production.
- Studio visits and meetings with artists.
- Visits to galleries and independent art spaces.
- Professional networking opportunities with curators and cultural practitioners.
- Documentation of their curatorial work.
- Opportunity to co-develop and realize a public exhibition.
- Participation in an active contemporary art network.
- Practical knowledge of curatorial research, planning, production, and public engagement.
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Maximum one A4 page.
- Letter of Motivation
- Maximum one A4 page.
- Should explain interest in the program and curatorial aspirations.
- Completed Registration Form
- Overview of One Previously Curated Project
- A project selected by the applicant that demonstrates prior curatorial experience.
- Statement of Themes or Topics of Interest
- Areas of research, inquiry, or curatorial focus the applicant wishes to explore.
- Contact Information
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: June 30, 2026, at 23:59 CET
- Pre-selection and Interviews: July 2026
- Final Selection Announcement: End of July 2026
- Exhibition Dates:
- Exhibition Opening: November 18, 2026
- Exhibition Duration: November 18, 2026 – January 18, 2027
- Program Duration: September 1, 2026 – December 18, 2026
Location
Vienna, Austria
Additional Details
- The working language of the program is English.
- Only two participants will be selected.
- Participants must reside in Vienna during the program period.
- The mentorship is intensive and requires regular attendance.
- Activities take place at least twice per week.
- Sessions typically last around five hours but may vary according to project needs.
- The schedule remains flexible rather than following fixed office hours.
- Participants should be prepared to commit substantial time to collaborative work, exhibition planning, production tasks, and public programming.
- The program emphasizes peer learning, knowledge sharing, and collective growth rather than traditional top-down educational models.
- Curatorial Laboratory is conceived as a full-cycle curatorial training experience, allowing participants to move from initial concept development through exhibition production and public engagement.