VisArts Emerging Curator Program 2027 / Calls & Submissions

VisArts invites applications from emerging curators to work with an experienced mentoring curator to develop and present an exhibition at VisArts in the Kaplan Gallery in the fall of 2027.

The VisArts Emerging Curator Program offers a unique opportunity for an emerging curator or artist with an interest in exhibition-making or curating to work with an experienced mentoring curator to develop and present an exhibition and to assist in the presentation of the mentor’s exhibition. To develop expanded education programming and enhanced visitor experiences, the 2027 Emerging Curator and the 2027 Mentoring Curator will also focus on developing tools to support public programming that promotes social interaction, creative exchange, and audience engagement.

VisArts will provide the Emerging Curator with a $10,000 budget to cover exhibition costs and curatorial fees. Additional staff support for printing, promotions, and execution of exhibition programming is available. The program is one year and will begin in January 2027.

International applicants must be eligible to work in the United States. VisArts is unable to provide or assist with visas.

The selection panel includes the VisArts Galleries Director & Curator, Artist Advisory Council, and the 2027 Mentoring Curator.

VisArts is a nonprofit arts center in Rockville, Maryland. We’re the largest visual arts organization in the area and an active, significant presence in the greater metropolitan arts community. Our contemporary art galleries, artist studios, and 355 POD Space Gallery are located in Rockville Town Square, a thriving gathering place for the local community. VisArts presents exhibitions of contemporary art in our five galleries, along with related programs and events. We also offer Emerging Curator and Studio Artist Programs along with art classes and VisAbility Art Lab, our supported studio for adult emerging artists with disabilities.

2027 Mentoring Curator: Fabiola R. Delgado

Fabiola R. Delgado (b. Cabimas, Venezuela 1990) is an independent curator and creative producer based in Washington DC. A former Human Rights lawyer and political asylum seeker from Venezuela, she brings a deeply personal lens to her work, and channels her commitment to justice through artistic and cultural experiences. Recognizing storytelling as the essence of her practice, she develops socially engaged projects that recenter perspectives and foster intergenerational creative learning. Her work spans exhibitions, scholarship, editorial projects, and public programming for all ages.

Delgado is a recipient of the first National Leaders of Color Fellowship (a collaborative program from the six U.S. Regional Arts Organizations,) as well as a Fellowship from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. Her practice bridges formal and alternative art spaces, working with a wide range of institutions––from major museums like the Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden, National Museum of American History, Brooklyn Museum, and Smart Museum of Art, to experimental and public art initiatives including Washington Project for the Arts, Times Square Arts, Transformer, apexart, Foggy Bottom Biennial, and the FUNDRED Project by MacArthur “Genius” Mel Chin. Her work has been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, BmoreArt Magazine, Artishock Magazine, Arte al Día, and Intervenxions by The Latinx Project at NYU, among other publications.

Curatorial Collaboration

During the yearlong program, the curatorial team (mentoring curator and emerging curator) will:

Conduct curatorial research
Develop a cohesive and compelling exhibition proposal
Develop writing skills for catalogs and other printed and online materials
Develop budgets for executing exhibitions and exhibition programming
Communicate with artists and lending institutions, developing contracts and loan information
Design and implement educational exhibition programming and outreach activities that engage artists, curators, and public audience of all ages
Develop sponsorship/fundraising initiatives to support the exhibition programming (if needed)
Oversee exhibition design and installation
Develop marketing and public relations materials in support of the exhibition, such as press releases, website + social media content, and print media
The VisArts Emerging Curator Program provides emerging curators with practical, hands-on experience at a community arts organization. It’s designed to support diverse exhibitions presenting a broad spectrum of ideas and curatorial approaches. In addition, it enhances the VisArts exhibition experience by developing educational opportunities, public programming, and opportunities for community engagement through expanded use of interactive interpretive media.

Application

Applicants don’t need to have a fully realized curatorial proposal, but we’re interested in getting a sense of your interests, tastes, and sensibilities. The formal proposal will be developed with the support and guidance of the 2027 Mentoring Curator and the Galleries Department.

To apply online, create a Submittable account and complete the form.

Submission Requirements

1. Application form

2. CV

3. Evidence of past curatorial projects:

Up to 10 still images
Up to five minutes of video and audio tracks
List of images with artist name, title, year, medium, and descriptive information
Supporting PDF documents
4. A statement that addresses the following:

What makes presenting an exhibition in a nonprofit community arts center with the guidance of a mentor an ideal opportunity?
What do you hope to achieve with this exhibition and mentoring program?
What do you consider your curatorial intentions or interests in regard to exhibition-making?
How do you envision enriching the audience experience?
How would you engage the community?
What sorts of programming and content delivery would you like to see paired with exhibitions?
Timeline

Application deadline: December 18, 2026
Finalists notified: January 8, 2027
Finalist interviews: January 13-15, 2027
Emerging Curator notified: January 20, 2027
Program: January 2027 – January 2028 (detailed schedule TBD)
Emerging Curator exhibition:  October 15, 2027 – January 9, 2028
Mentoring Curator exhibition:  August 27 – October 10, 2027
About VisArts

VisArts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Our mission is to transform individuals and communities through the visual arts.

A hub for artistic exploration and social impact since 1987, VisArts brings people together through shared creative experiences, including:

Critically acclaimed contemporary art exhibitions, programs + events
Studio Artist and Emerging Curator programs
Award-winning art classes and camps
VisAbility Art Lab and Accessible Arts classes for artists with disabilities
Community art workshops
Art and wellness programs
Volunteer and internship opportunities
The annual Rockville Arts Festival
These inspire new ideas, encourage self-expression, embrace diverse perspectives, and celebrate the visual arts as fundamental to a connected community.

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