curators in flux
OPEN CALL
Curators in Flux
Founding Edition
A 6-Week Hybrid Curatorial Laboratory
Berlin, Germany | February-March 2027
Applications are now open.
Curators in Flux is a six-week hybrid professional development programme designed for emerging curators who wish to expand their curatorial practice through research, critical dialogue, mentorship, and direct engagement with Berlin's contemporary art ecosystem.
Bringing together a small international cohort of 4–6 curators, the programme combines four weeks of online learning with two immersive weeks in Berlin, culminating in a collective public exhibition.
Rather than offering a conventional curatorial course, Curators in Flux creates an experimental learning environment where participants critically examine contemporary curatorial practice while building meaningful professional networks across institutions, artist-run initiatives, and independent cultural spaces.
Programme Structure
Phase I
Online Laboratory
4 Weeks
The online programme creates a collaborative space for research, discussion, and project development.
Participants meet several times each week through workshops, lectures, mentoring sessions, and peer discussions.
The programme includes:
• Curatorial methodology workshops
• One-to-one mentoring sessions
• Group critiques
• Artist and curator talks
• Reading seminars
• Curatorial writing workshops
• Exhibition development
• Peer learning sessions
Throughout the online phase, participants gradually develop the curatorial concepts that will later be realised collectively during the Berlin residency.
Phase II
Berlin Laboratory
2 Weeks | Berlin
The second phase takes place entirely in Berlin.
Participants immerse themselves in one of Europe's most dynamic contemporary art scenes through an intensive programme of institutional visits, artist studio visits, workshops, and collaborative exhibition production.
The programme includes:
Institutional Visits
Participants will visit leading contemporary art institutions and meet members of their curatorial teams to gain insight into exhibition development, programming, collections, public engagement, and funding structures.
Independent Galleries & Artist-Run Spaces
Visits to Berlin's independent galleries, project spaces, and artist-run initiatives introduce participants to alternative exhibition models and self-organised cultural practices.
Artist Studio Visits
Participants will meet Berlin-based artists in their studios, learning about artistic research, production processes, and artist-curator collaboration.
Workshops
Topics include:
• Curating Beyond Institutions
• Exhibition Design and Spatial Thinking
• Curatorial Writing
• Budgeting & Fundraising
• Working with Artists
• Audience Engagement & Mediation
• Accessibility in Curatorial Practice
• Producing Exhibitions with Limited Resources
Individual Mentoring
Each participant receives personalised mentoring sessions focused on their curatorial development and professional goals.
Exhibition Production
During the final week, participants collaboratively curate and produce a public exhibition in Berlin, presenting projects developed throughout the programme.
The exhibition is accompanied by an opening event and public conversation.
Who Can Apply?
Applications are open to emerging curators from all countries.
Applicants should:
• Have a minimum of two years of curatorial experience
• Have previously organised exhibitions, public programmes, or independent curatorial projects
• Demonstrate an interest in collaborative and experimental curatorial practice
• Be available for the full six-week programme
The working language is English.
What Participants Receive
Participants will receive:
• Six-week hybrid curatorial programme
• Weekly workshops and seminars
• Individual mentoring
• Artist and curator talks
• Institutional visits
• Artist studio visits
• Independent gallery and project space visits
• Professional networking opportunities
• Collective exhibition in Berlin
• Certificate of participation
Application Requirements
Applicants should submit:
• CV
• Short biography (maximum 200 words)
• Letter of motivation (maximum 700 words)
• Portfolio of previous curatorial work (maximum 10 pages)
• One curatorial research question they would like to explore during the programme (maximum 500 words)
Key Dates
Applications Open: 05.08.2026
Application Deadline: 04.11.2026
Interviews: 05.11.2026
Selected Participants Announced: 07.11.2026
Programme Begins: February 2027
About Curators in Flux
Curators in Flux is an international platform dedicated to supporting the next generation of curators through critical learning, interdisciplinary exchange, and collaborative practice.
By connecting institutions, independent organisations, artist-run initiatives, and cultural practitioners, the programme encourages participants to rethink curating as a socially engaged practice capable of building new forms of dialogue, collaboration, and cultural imagination.
The Founding Edition marks the beginning of a long-term initiative that will expand into a multi-country hybrid curatorial programme across Central Europe.