Open Call for Exhibition Proposals 2027
Organisation: Bronx Council on the Arts
Location: The Bronx, New York, USA
Exhibition period: February–July 2027
Curator honorarium: $2,500
Artist honorarium: $300 per participating artist
Application deadline: 2 September 2026
Eligibility: Independent curators, artists and arts professionals residing in New York City
About the Open Call
The Bronx Council on the Arts invites independent curators, artists and arts professionals to submit exhibition proposals for the Longwood Arts Project.
The organisation welcomes bold, innovative and thoughtfully conceived exhibitions that engage with personal, social, cultural, political, historical or experimental subjects and demonstrate a clear curatorial vision.
All themes are welcome. Proposals will be evaluated according to their conceptual clarity, artist selection, feasibility and meaningful engagement with Bronx communities.
Role of the Curator
Selected curators will be responsible for:
- Coordinating with participating artists.
- Sourcing exhibition materials.
- Writing all exhibition texts.
- Attending the installation, deinstallation and exhibition opening.
- Designating a qualified representative if they are unable to attend a required activity.
The Bronx Council on the Arts is particularly interested in curators who push boundaries and demonstrate familiarity with artists and communities in the Bronx.
Eligibility and Exhibition Requirements
- Applicants must be independent curators, artists or arts professionals residing in New York City.
- All visual arts media are eligible, including installation, video, sound, sculpture, painting, photography and interdisciplinary work.
- Proposed group exhibitions should feature between four and eight artists.
- The majority of participating artists must be based in the Bronx.
- Curators may not include their own artwork in the proposed exhibition.
- Public programmes such as artist talks, workshops, screenings and gallery tours are encouraged but not required.
- Selected exhibitions will be presented between February and July 2027.
- Exhibitions may take place at the Council’s exhibition space or external partner venues, including non-traditional exhibition spaces.
- Curators should consider how their proposed exhibitions could be adapted to different settings.
Selection Criteria
Proposals will be assessed according to:
- The clarity and strength of the curatorial concept.
- The thoughtfulness and cohesion of the selected artists and artworks.
- The quality of the curatorial research and exhibition plan.
- The feasibility of the proposed exhibition.
- The project’s potential to engage Bronx audiences meaningfully.
- Its support for emerging and historically underrepresented artists, including women, LGBTQIA+ artists, artists of colour and other marginalised communities.
Preference will be given to proposals featuring confirmed artists.
Honoraria and Support
The selected curator will receive a $2,500 honorarium for curating and organising the exhibition, including coordinating with participating artists.
Each participating artist will receive a $300 honorarium.
The Longwood Arts Project will cover artwork insurance and professional art handling. A member of the Council’s staff will support the curator with exhibition logistics, artist contracts, coordination with art handlers and promotional activity.
Shipping, travel and the transportation of artworks to and from the exhibition venue are not covered.
Submission Requirements
Applications must include:
- The applicant’s name, address, telephone number and email address.
- An exhibition proposal of no more than 500 words, including a curatorial statement, goals, objectives and technical requirements.
- A list of between four and eight participating artists, the majority of whom must live in the Bronx.
- A checklist containing four to eight sample images that communicate the exhibition’s concept and the aesthetics of the proposed work.
- A curatorial CV of no more than two pages.
The artwork checklist does not need to be final.
Selection Process
Proposals will be selected based on the strength of the art and project. A panel composed of Bronx Council on the Arts staff will consider conceptual clarity, artist selection, feasibility and engagement with Bronx communities.
Finalists may be invited to a virtual or in-person interview before the selected projects are announced.
Timeline
15 July 2026: Open call begins
2 September 2026: Application deadline
30 September 2026: Applicants notified
February–July 2027: Selected exhibitions presented
About the Longwood Arts Project
Founded in 1981, the Longwood Arts Project is a flagship programme of the Bronx Council on the Arts and was one of the first alternative gallery spaces in the Bronx.
The programme maintains a pioneering focus on artists whose traditions and cultural practices are underrepresented by mainstream venues. It predominantly showcases artists of colour, women and LGBTQIA+ artists, presenting exhibitions that explore Bronx history, intersectional cultures and social justice issues affecting local communities.
Since September 2024, the Longwood Arts Project has operated from the Council’s headquarters on East Tremont Avenue and at external venues.
About the Bronx Council on the Arts
Founded in 1962, the Bronx Council on the Arts works to advance cultural equity across the Bronx.
Its programmes support artists, audiences and the wider cultural sector by building connections, providing resources and advocating for equitable practices. The organisation offers direct services to more than 1,500 artists and 250 community-based arts groups each year, with a particular focus on artists of colour, women and LGBTQIA+ communities.