Organizer Information
The Emerging Curators Institute (ECI) is a curatorial development program operating under Yearly Emerging Practices (YEP). It supports emerging practitioners from diverse backgrounds by providing access to mentorship, funding, professional resources, and opportunities for creative development. The institute focuses on expanding access to curatorial education beyond traditional academic settings and fostering critical dialogue around contemporary art and curatorial practice. Since its establishment, ECI has awarded 20 fellowships. Its programming encourages experimentation, interdisciplinary exchange, accessibility, and community engagement.
Title & Description
Emerging Curators Institute Fellowship 2026–2027
The Emerging Curators Institute Fellowship 2026–2027 invites emerging curators and creative practitioners based in Minnesota to participate in a ten-month learning program focused on developing their curatorial practice. Three fellows will be selected for a program combining individual mentorship, collaborative learning, research, discussion, and engagement with contemporary art across the Twin Cities and Minnesota.
The fellowship welcomes a broad understanding of curating. Applicants may propose projects that extend beyond conventional gallery exhibitions, including public programming, arts education, community engagement, outdoor performance, and other experimental approaches. Applicants do not need extensive previous curatorial experience or a fully developed project proposal.
Categories
- Visual Art
- Curatorial Practic
- Contemporary Art
- Art Research
- Cultural Programming
- Community Engagement
- Arts Education
- Interdisciplinary Art
- Performance and Exhibition Development
Eligibility
The fellowship is intended for Minnesota-based residents who will be living in Minnesota for the majority of 2027 and 2028. Applicants should have limited curatorial experience and be interested in developing their practice through mentorship and collaborative learning.
ECI particularly encourages applications from people who identify as women, non-binary, gender nonconforming, LGBTQIA2S+, Black, Native, Indigenous, People of Color, racialized, disabled, and/or neurodivergent. The program also welcomes self-taught practitioners, artists interested in curating, arts and community organizers, and graduates of studio art, art history, cultural studies, or related programs.
Applicants currently enrolled full-time in a degree-seeking program are not eligible. Fellows must be vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the published eligibility information. This is a geographically restricted opportunity rather than an unrestricted international open call.
Program Benefits & Awards
- $4,000 stipend to support participation in the learning period.
- Individualized curatorial mentorship.
- A ten-month curatorial learning cohort, with up to two gatherings per month.
- Feedback and ongoing support from mentors, guest curators, fellow participants, and the ECI Director.
- Opportunities to research and potentially present a curatorial project.
- The opportunity to develop a public pop-up cohort presentation at the end of the learning cycle.
- Access to a regional, national, and international network of artists, curators, arts organizations, and cultural practitioners.
Additional stipends, resources, and funding may be available for selected fellows continuing into an experiential practicum, research period, or small-scale presentation after the main learning cycle. Additional support for travel and accessibility needs may be available in certain circumstances; relocation and housing funding are not available.
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Virtual information session: 20 October 2026
- Application Deadline: 30 October 2026
- Application review and finalist interviews: November – mid-December 2026
- Applicants notified of their status: Mid-December 2026
- Fellowship learning cycle begins: Late December 2026
- Fellowship learning period: December 2026 – September 2027
- Learning cycle concludes: September 2027
Location
Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area and other locations across Minnesota, United States
Additional Details
The expected time commitment is approximately 10–15 hours per month. Participation includes mandatory cohort gatherings and regular meetings with an assigned mentor. Fellows are expected to engage with research, discussions, exhibitions, community partners, and accessibility-focused approaches to curatorial practice.
Applicants who need accessibility support or have questions about eligibility may contact the institute directly.