Emerging Curator Fellowship

Discipline: Visual Arts & New Media
Organiser: Alberta Foundation for the Arts
Deadline: January 30, 2026 (2:00 pm)
Location of Exhibition: AFA Art House, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Fellowship Value: Up to CAD $15,000
Duration: Two-year initiative
Projected Start Date: February 2026

The Emerging Curator Fellowship is a professional development opportunity supporting the growth of early-career curators through the development of an original exhibition drawn from the AFA Art Collection. The fellowship aims to introduce new curatorial perspectives while increasing the visibility of artworks—particularly those in media and formats with limited circulation—within the TREX Exhibition Program and other AFA art placement initiatives.

The final exhibition will be presented at the AFA Art House in downtown Calgary.

Who Can Apply

This opportunity is open to emerging curators with fewer than six years of professional curatorial experience. Applications are accepted from individuals or collaborative curatorial teams/collectives, provided all participants meet the eligibility criteria.

Eligible Applicants

• Applicants aged 18 or over

• Individuals with a college diploma or undergraduate studies from a recognised institution

• Canadian citizens or permanent residents with a connection to Alberta, including:

  • Alberta-based curators

  • Expatriate curators formerly resident in Alberta

  • Non-Alberta curators with a demonstrated Alberta connection (e.g. exhibitions, collaborations, research, residencies, or Indigenous family/cultural/Treaty ties)

Applicants holding an active AFA project grant are eligible to apply.

Ineligible Applicants

• Curators with more than six years of professional curatorial experience

• Applicants employed full-time in a curatorial role at a museum, gallery, or cultural institution

• Applicants currently enrolled in an undergraduate programme

• Incorporated organisations or collectives

• Previous recipients of the Emerging Curator Fellowship

What the Fellowship Supports

• Development and curation of an exhibition of up to 20 artworks from the AFA Art Collection

• Exhibition presentation in the approximately 3,000 sq ft AFA Art House gallery

• Preparation of curatorial texts, labels, and exhibition design

• Development of one or more educational enhancements, such as gallery guides, lesson plans, public programmes, or virtual exhibition content

The selected fellow(s) will work closely with AFA staff and receive mentorship throughout the project.

What Selected Fellows Receive

• CAD $15,000 (individual or collective)

• Mentorship from AFA staff

• Physical access to the AFA Art Collection for research

• Curatorial support and high-resolution digital images

• AFA support for exhibition preparation, installation, and promotion

Ineligible Projects

• Exhibitions produced as part of academic programmes or for academic credit

• Projects completed or underway prior to the funding period

• Previously exhibited or published exhibitions

• Business start-up costs or basic equipment purchases

Key Dates

• Application deadline: January 30, 2026 (2:00 pm)

• Draft exhibition plan due: December 2026

• Exhibition installation & opening: May 2027

This fellowship offers a significant opportunity for emerging curators to develop a major exhibition, receive professional mentorship, and engage Alberta audiences through innovative curatorial practice.