Organizer Information
The Gulbenkian Exhibitions Fund is an initiative of the UK Branch of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, a major international philanthropic institution dedicated to advancing arts, culture, education, science, and social development. The Foundation has a long-standing reputation for supporting cross-cultural exchange and strengthening artistic ecosystems across Europe and beyond. Through its UK operations, it actively invests in cultural programming that increases the visibility of underrepresented artistic regions and fosters international collaboration.
This specific funding scheme reflects the Foundation’s strategic commitment to amplifying contemporary artistic voices from Portugal and Portuguese-speaking African countries within the UK cultural landscape. It is designed to strengthen institutional relationships between UK-based cultural organisations and artists from these regions, while also encouraging curatorial innovation, new commissions, and public engagement with diverse artistic practices.
The Fund operates as a competitive open call and distributes grants directly to UK-based cultural institutions. It is not an artist-led grant; instead, it relies on institutional applicants to curate, host, and deliver public-facing exhibitions and programmes. The Foundation’s broader mission is to ensure long-term cultural exchange and sustainable visibility for artists working across visual and interdisciplinary fields.
Title & Description
Gulbenkian Exhibitions Fund
This funding programme supports UK-based not-for-profit arts organisations to develop and present exhibitions and public programmes showcasing contemporary artists from Portugal and Portuguese-speaking African countries, including Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, and São Tomé and Príncipe.
The core purpose of the fund is to enhance the presence and visibility of these artistic regions within the UK, fostering curatorial dialogue, institutional partnerships, and audience engagement. Supported projects may include solo exhibitions, group shows, multidisciplinary presentations, film retrospectives, performance-based exhibitions (when integrated within exhibition contexts), touring projects, site-specific installations, or newly commissioned works.
The emphasis is on institution-led programming that meaningfully integrates artists into the conceptual and curatorial framework of exhibitions rather than incidental participation. Projects must be physically presented in publicly accessible UK venues and contribute to the development of international cultural exchange.
Categories
- Visual Arts
- Contemporary Art Exhibitions
- Moving Image / Film (including retrospectives and video art)
- Performance Art (only within exhibition contexts)
- Interdisciplinary / Multidisciplinary Art
- Curatorial Projects
- Site-Specific Installations
- Public Art Programming
Eligibility
- Applicants must be UK-based, not-for-profit arts organisations or cultural institutions
- Eligible organisations include museums, galleries, festivals, biennales, and similar institutions
- Freelance artists and independent artist collectives cannot apply directly (though they may be included in funded projects)
- Projects must include at least one living artist from or based in Portugal or the eligible Portuguese-speaking African countries
- Projects must be institution-led (hosted, curated, and managed by the applying organisation)
- Projects must take place in a physical public venue (online-only projects are not eligible)
- Projects must take place between June 2026 and August 2027
- Organisations holding an active Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation grant at the time of application are not eligible
Program Benefits & Awards
- Grants of up to £30,000 per project
- Funding may cover up to 50% of total project costs
- Up to 15% of the grant may be allocated to core organisational costs directly related to project delivery (e.g., staffing, utilities, administrative support)
- Support for exhibitions, commissions, touring projects, and public programming
- Opportunity to strengthen institutional partnerships between the UK and Lusophone artistic communities
- Increased international visibility for participating artists
- Potential for long-term curatorial collaboration and cultural exchange development
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Completed online application form
- Project proposal outlining curatorial concept and exhibition structure
- Detailed project budget
- Institutional information (for eligibility verification)
- Information on participating artists
- Project timeline (must fall within the eligible delivery period)
- Supporting documentation as requested in the guidelines
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 27 April 2026
- Project Delivery Period: June 2026 – August 2027
Location
United Kingdom
Additional Details
- Projects must take place in publicly accessible venues; private or closed events are not eligible
- At least one living artist from the eligible countries must be prominently featured in the project
- Performing arts are only eligible when integrated into exhibition contexts (standalone theatre, dance, or opera are excluded)
- Grants are awarded directly to institutions, not to individual artists
- Costs already covered by other funding sources or incurred before the project start are not eligible
- Artwork acquisition costs are not covered under this fund
- Strong emphasis is placed on curatorial intention and meaningful integration of artists into exhibition narratives