Emerging Curators Institute Fellowship at Yearly Emerging Practices

Organisation: Emerging Curators Institute (ECI), a programme of Yearly Emerging Practices
Location: Minnesota, USA; meetings primarily in Minneapolis–St. Paul and/or online
Stipend: $4,000 for the learning period
Duration: December 2026–September 2027
Time commitment: Approximately 10–15 hours per month
Application deadline: 30 October 2026, 11:59 p.m. Central Time

The Emerging Curators Institute is accepting applications for three fellowships supporting Minnesota-based emerging curators and creatives. The programme offers in-depth learning, individual mentorship and creative development, particularly for practitioners who may not otherwise have access to its funding, resources or education.

During the ten-month learning period, fellows will reflect on their own and others’ curatorial practices through research, discussion and visits to museums, galleries and other art spaces across the Twin Cities. Each fellow will be paired with a mentor and receive an initial $4,000 stipend.

Fellowship activities and support

Fellows will attend up to two cohort gatherings each month, meet regularly with their mentor and develop a curatorial project with feedback from peers, guest curators and the ECI team. The programme includes an opportunity to develop a public pop-up cohort presentation at the end of the learning cycle.

Curatorial projects do not need to take the form of exhibitions. ECI welcomes approaches centred on public programming, education, community engagement, outdoor performance and other forms of presentation.

Following the learning period, fellows may be invited to participate in a practicum with a Minnesota institution. Further stipends, resources and project funding may be available for subsequent phases, but are not guaranteed.

The stipend is intended to supplement other income and may be used as fellows consider necessary. Additional support for travel and access needs may be available depending on circumstances; relocation and housing funding are not provided.

Eligibility

Applicants must be living in Minnesota for the majority of both 2027 and 2028. The fellowship is intended for practitioners with limited curatorial experience, including artists with curatorial interests, self-taught practitioners, graduates, and arts and community organisers. Previous curatorial experience is not required.

ECI places particular emphasis on supporting women, non-binary and gender-nonconforming practitioners, LGBTQIA2S+ people, Black, Native and Indigenous people, people of colour, racialised people, and disabled or neurodivergent applicants.

The eligibility section states that applicants currently enrolled in a degree-seeking programme are not eligible, although an earlier passage specifies full-time enrolment. Applicants studying part-time should clarify their eligibility with ECI.

Fellows must be vaccinated against COVID-19. Cohort meetings are mandatory, and fellows are expected to consider accessibility and community engagement throughout their practice.

A virtual information session is planned for 20 October 2026. Applicants will be notified of the outcome by mid-December, with an introductory cohort meeting in late December.