RAY – Triennial of Photography 2027: Associate Curator

Call for Applications: Associate Curator

RAY – Triennial of Photography 2027
TRUTHS

Application deadline: 17 March 2026
Remuneration for entire project: €8,000

The RAY – Triennial of Photography is an international festival organized by several art institutions in the Frankfurt/Rhine-Main region, Germany. The sixth edition of the festival will take place in 2027. The aim of the festival is to bring together a wide a range of photographic positions —both contemporary and historical— visual languages, and thematic approaches under one overarching theme, thereby highlighting the creative potential of the photographic arts. It explores the social, cultural and political impact of photography and related media. The festival includes exhibitions, talks, events and educational programs connecting the national and international photography scene. The triennial is organized by the non-profit organization „RAY Fotografieprojekte“ and is financed by public funds, sponsors and foundations. A curatorial team is responsible for the festivals’ concept and the main exhibitions.

The theme of the sixth RAY – Triennial of Photography is TRUTHS, reflecting on authenticity, impact and versatility of the medium. The 2027 curatorial team is: Anne-Marie Beckmann and Cornelia Siebert (Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation), Celina Lunsford and Andrea Horvay (Fotografie Forum Frankfurt), Dorothee Linnemann (Historical Museum Frankfurt) and Matthias Wagner K and Jonas Deuter (Museum Angewandte Kunst).

RAY – Triennial of Photography is offering the position of an Associate Curator between May 2026 and August 2027 with the aim of enriching the collaboration through additional viewpoints and diverse ideas. This position is aimed at mid-career curators who are open to work collaboratively and want to expand their fields of interest, research, and organizational practice.

Position:

The Associate Curator will work collaboratively with the curatorial team starting in May 2026 until August 2027 (festival opening June 3, 2027)
The Associate Curator helps shaping the concept of the festival and supports the selection of artists for the main exhibition and talks program
This job allows the Associate Curator to integrate the work maintaining their current professional position regardless of their location
The collaboration consists of research, remote meetings and on site visits
Remuneration of €8,000 for the entire project, plus coverage of travel expenses up to €2,000

Candidate Profile:

Curators with at least four years of professional experience in curating photography exhibitions in museums, galleries or cultural institutions
Strong conceptual thinking and the ability to develop thematic curatorial frameworks
Interest in diverse, international perspectives, contributing to expanding our scope and representation
Flexibility, enthusiasm and commitment to working collaboratively
Strong communication and language skills (fluent in English, spoken and written) and willingness to collaborate remotely (including monthly meetings) and occasional travel

Applicants should submit the following materials:

Concept draft with possible positions related to the topic TRUTHS (no more than 2 pages); the core idea of the triennial topic can be found at the end of this document
Motivation letter outlining their interest and relevant experience (no more than one page)
Curriculum Vitae (no more than 2 pages)

How to apply:

Please email your application as one PDF file (download link if documents exceed 10mb) to info@ray-triennale.com with the subject line “Associate Curator RAY 2027“ by March 17, 2026
Selected candidates will be invited for an online interview in early April 2026, the planned start date for the position is May 2026

We welcome applications from all individuals regardless of race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion, or belief.

Core Idea for RAY – Triennial of Photography 2027 – TRUTHS

RAY 2027 presents works by artists who explore the meaning of truth and authenticity in contemporary artistic photography and related media, reflecting on their role in society. The question of the extent to which photography can and wants to be true is as old as the medium itself. From the outset, it has been used to seek and depict truth, but also to question, distort, or even create new truths. In his book „Die helle Kammer“ („Camera Lucida“) philosopher Roland Barthes argued that photography has a special relationship with truth because, more than other art forms, it gives the impression of reflecting reality. At the same time, Barthes emphasized that images always incorporate subjective perspectives and prejudices. The truth conveyed by a photograph is therefore not objective, but rather the result of a complex interplay of perception, intention, and interpretation.

In the age of artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI, the concept of truth has once again undergone fundamental change, expansion, and individualization. New technologies make it possible to create images and scenes that never existed in the real world. This raises interesting questions about what we understand to be “true.” The apparent dissolution of truth(s) has a fundamental influence on discourse and on both journalistic and artistic engagement with contemporary issues and conflicts in politics and society. Against the backdrop of its increasing appropriation by the far right and conspiracy theorists, the exploration of truth is becoming particularly important with and through the medium of photography. In a world where images are omnipresent, it leads to timeless and existential reflection on reality, subjectivity, and cultural contexts. In this new reality, we must not only critically approach existing images but strengthen our ability to question and contextualize what we see. Artists of different generations are exploring this aspect of the medium in dynamic, critical and sometimes comical ways. Photography thus remains a powerful medium that can both reveal truths and construct fictions: a source of emotional resonance and intellectual engagement with the world.

For more information please contact: info@ray-triennale.com or visit our website: ray-triennale.com

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