Open call deadline: 30 July 2025
Fee: € 6,300 excl. VAT
Garage Rotterdam Prize for young curators
For over a decade, the exhibition space for contemporary art Garage Rotterdam has been an important part of the Dutch art scene, presenting 45 exhibitions in collaboration with 21 different curators and with over 300 artists. In the summer of 2025, Garage Rotterdam will launch the Garage Rotterdam Prize for young curators. The winner will create an exhibition at Garage Rotterdam in the spring of 2026.
Do you want to further develop yourself as a curator of Garage Rotterdam?
Create a concept for a group exhibition at Garage Rotterdam based on a theme of your choice, in which you show how the selected artists and their works form a coherent exhibition which expresses your concept. Please take recent developments within contemporary art into account while creating your concept.
The artistic objective that Garage Rotterdam gives its curators is: to create an exhibition that is relevant, layered, and visually intriguing. In your concept you explain how the exhibition is relevant on multiple levels. Describe the (art history) discourses of your artist and artwork selection as well as their mutual coherence within the chosen theme.
Every exhibition at Garage Rotterdam is accompanied by a public program called Brandstof. Brandstof is an in-depth side-program developed by the curator and tailored to the exhibition. The challenge is to deepen the theme in an attractive way, so that a wide audience feels attracted to visit the program. Include your idea for Brandstof in your proposal.
About Garage Rotterdam
One of the most important objectives of Garage Rotterdam is talent development by, amongst other things, offering opportunities to young curators. Exhibitions present upcoming artists next to established ones. Over the past decade, Garage Rotterdam has collaborated with a large number of emerging artists and curators who have now proven themselves successfully in the field.
Jury and production budget
The jury consists of board members of Garage Rotterdam. They assess the content and feasibility of the proposals. From all the proposals, three nominees are invited to present their proposal to the jury.
The curator with the most innovative, intriguing and professional exhibition proposal gets the opportunity to realize his/her/their concept with a budget of € 23,000 excl. VAT for the exhibition (including artist fees, production and communication) and the side-program Brandstof. The curator receives an amount of € 6,300 excl. VAT as compensation. In addition to the production budget, the curators are encouraged to apply for a subsidy in the event of a special side-program.
Who is eligible?
- You have curated multiple exhibitions
- You have your own view on recent developments in contemporary art
- You are 35 years or younger
Requirements for the curator
- Experience in formulating exhibition concepts
- Organizational experience in the realization of exhibitions and budget control
- A cooperative and flexible attitude
Send the following to info@garagerotterdam.nl before July 30th;
- A short bio, portfolio and CV
- Your proposal for a group exhibition at Garage Rotterdam and the associated Brandstof activity. Describe your concept and the side-program in a maximum of one-page A4. Your proposal can be written in English or Dutch.
- Add 2 pages A4 with images of the artists/artworks you have in mind for the exhibition.
If you are selected, the preparation and production of this exhibition will start in the spring of 2026. We expect you to be available for the preparation (from the beginning of 2026), production and building-up of the exhibition. During the period of the exhibition, we also ask you to be available for events, guided tours and media requests.
Questions? Mail to info@garagerotterdam.nl or call Hanne Lemson, 010 737 0875
