Eight Global Ethnic Majority curators will participate in a residency, placement and pitching programme in Nottingham; deadline 19 March 2026
New Art Exchange (NAE), Nottingham, has opened applications for CURATE 2026, a co-curated professional development programme for emerging Global Ethnic Majority curators based in the Midlands, United Kingdom.
The programme, which launches in Spring 2026, is designed as an intensive upskilling and mentorship initiative combining residency, practical exhibition experience and proposal development. Eight participants will be selected. Each will receive a bursary to support travel, accommodation and associated expenses.
Residency and professional development structure
CURATE 2026 will begin with a three-day in-person residency in Nottingham from 29 April to 1 May 2026. The residency will be facilitated by curator Mark Devereux, whose practice spans artist professional development, exhibition production and project management. With over 18 years of experience in the sector, Devereux has led national development programmes and delivered extensive mentoring and critique sessions for artists and curators.
Two online feedback sessions with Devereux will follow the residency, offering participants continued guidance as they refine their curatorial thinking and project proposals.
Placement and final pitching opportunity
Participants will also undertake a two-day curatorial placement at New Art Exchange during the installation period of Open 2026. This placement provides hands-on experience within the practical realities of exhibition production, including installation processes and institutional workflows.
The programme will culminate in a final pitching day, during which participants will present an exhibition proposal developed through the residency and mentoring process.
By combining conceptual development with practical exposure, CURATE 2026 positions curatorial practice as both critical inquiry and collaborative production.
Eligibility and application requirements
Applications are open to emerging Global Ethnic Majority curators based in the Midlands. NAE defines the programme as tailored to those seeking to strengthen their curatorial skills through peer exchange, mentorship and institutional engagement.
Applicants are required to submit a link to a website or social media page demonstrating examples of their curatorial work or practice. If there is no online presence, applicants may indicate this in their submission.
Submissions close on 19 March 2026 at midnight.
Enquiries can be directed to David Sinclair at david.sinclair@nae.org.uk or via telephone at +44 (0)115 924 8630.
Institutional context
New Art Exchange is an award-winning creative space located in Hyson Green, Nottingham. The organisation is internationally recognised for its commitment to culturally diverse contemporary arts, presenting exhibitions, events and public engagement programmes that foreground artistic excellence and community dialogue.
Through initiatives such as CURATE 2026, NAE continues to invest in the development of curatorial voices and infrastructures that reflect the multiplicity of contemporary cultural practice in the United Kingdom.
Applications for CURATE 2026 close on 19 March 2026.
