Curator Open Call 2026
Deadline for applications is 16 June 2026, 2359 SGT
Curator Open Call invites Singapore-based curators to submit proposals for an exhibition to be realised at the Chapel Gallery, Objectifs. This is part of our ongoing effort to broaden perspectives by supporting curatorial research and innovative ways of presenting image-based work.
Successful proposal will receive:
A curator
honorarium
$1,000
A production budget
of up to
$8,000
Mentorship from
programme mentor
Dr Adele Tan
Production guidance, administrative and marketing support from
Objectifs
The show will be presented in January 2027, at the Chapel Gallery for a period of up to 6 weeks.
It will coincide with Singapore Art Week 2027.
Who Can Apply?
- The main applicant must be a curator who is either a Singaporean or a Singapore Permanent Resident.
- The curators must be based in Singapore up to 3 months before the opening of the show, and must be present for its installation and de-installation.
- We welcome proposals from curatorial teams or collaborations with curators of other nationalities/based overseas.
- Artists may apply as curators, only as part of a group show or as a curator for another artist’s work.
Selection Process
Selection will be based on the artistic and intellectual merit of each applicant’s project, and its attentiveness to Objectifs’ priorities of ensuring accessibility through clear communication and strong visual storytelling. We will also consider the feasibility of presenting the show in January 2027. Shortlisted applicants may be contacted to refine their proposals or answer specific questions from the selection panel about their project. Successful recipients will be contacted by July 2026.
The applications will be reviewed by
- Dr Adele Tan, Senior Curator, National Gallery Singapore (Programme Mentor)
- Siddharta Perez, curator and educator, and programme mentor for 2025
- The Objectifs team
What To Consider In Your Proposal?
The proposal should feature a creative approach to curatorial research and/or respond to contemporary issues or concerns. Additional consideration will be given to proposals that attend to the exhibition history of the space, the priorities and concerns of Objectifs as reflected in its programming and mission statement, and the architecture and heritage of the site. We will prioritise proposals that have an audience-centric approach in their communication and programming.
In addition, applicants should note that:
- At least 50% of the artwork selection must be photo or film based
- At least 50% artists proposed must be either Singaporean or Singapore Permanent Residents. We understand that the line up may change in the planning of the show, but encourage curators to submit their most realistic list.
- The proposed show must not have been presented before.
- The proposal must include plans for at least two public programmes. These can include artist/curator talks, panel discussions, workshops, screenings and performances.
- Apart from the Chapel Gallery, applicants may also consider utilising outdoor spaces such as the Objectifs courtyard.
Submission Requirements
Applicants must submit the following documents in PDF.
- A 100 word summary of the proposed project
- A detailed statement about the concept of the exhibition (no longer than 500 words)
- A list of proposed artists and short bios for each
- CV of the curator/curating team
- A completed budget worksheet (download template here)
- Work samples
– At least 4 images per artist must be submitted. Where the work is yet to be created, please submit a short statement outlining the concept and images of past work and sample images for context.
– For video or sound work, please provide URL links and passwords where required
Read about previous Curator Open Call projects here.
Queries about Curator Open Call can be sent to soak@objectifs.com.sg.
About the Programme Mentor
Dr Adele Tan received her PhD in art history from the Courtauld Institute of Art, London and is Senior Curator and Assistant Director of Curatorial Programmes at National Gallery Singapore. Her research focuses on modern and contemporary art in Southeast Asia and China. She also lectures in Art History at the National University of Singapore.
Her exhibitions include and the 2023 Ng Teng Fong Roof Garden commission by Mumbai-based artist Shilpa Gupta, the solo retrospective “Kim Lim: The Space Between” in 2024 and the revamped DBS Singapore Gallery, “Singapore Stories: Pathways and Detours in Art” in 2025, and most recently in 2026 “Passion is Volcanic: Desire in Southeast Asian Art”. She is currently preparing for a major monographic survey of Thai artist Montien Boonma in 2027.