VisArts Emerging Curator Program 2026
Application Deadline: January 9, 2026, Midnight
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 2026.
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 2026 Emerging Curator and the 2026 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 2026.
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 2026 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.
2026 Mentoring Curator: John Massier
John Massier is the Visual Arts Curator at Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center in Buffalo, NY.
He has been a curator and writer of contemporary art since 1988, during which he has worked with hundreds of national and international artists to present their work to the public through solo, group, and residency exhibitions, including Suzy Lake, Laylah Ali, Julio Cesar Morales, Ruben Ochoa, Betty Tompkins, Jacob Kassay, Guy Richards Smit, Wayne Hodge, Marla Hlady, Jillian McDonald, Sam Van Aken, virocode, Jennifer Locke, Kelly Richardson, Christina West, Kara Tanaka, Andrew Reyes, Joan Linder, George Afedzi Hughes, Ester Partegas, Shary Boyle, Deborah Aschheim, David Kramer, Katie Bell, Alexandria Smith, Kenny Rivero, Shea Hembrey, and Emily Vey Duke & Cooper Battersby, among many others. Prior to joining the staff of Hallwalls in early 2001, John Massier had been a curator and writer in Toronto since 1988. Through the 1990s, he curated more than sixty exhibitions of emerging and mid-career Canadian artists.
He has written feature articles, catalogue essays, artists’ profiles, as well as exhibition and book reviews for various galleries and visual art publications, including Canadian Art, MIX magazine, Coagula Art Journal, THIS magazine, Art in America, Art Papers, the Buffalo News, UB Art Galleries, the Burchfield Penney Art Center, and the Albright Knox Art Gallery. In 1997, he co-founded the Toronto art publication LOLA.
In 2010, he served as Project Director for the regional survey biennial Beyond/In Western New York 2010: Alternating Currents, organized with the Albright Knox and ten other Buffalo-area visual arts organizations.
He is a key organizer of Hallwalls annual benefit auction as well as its twice yearly Live Drawing Rally events and since 2008, with the University at Buffalo, organizes the ongoing Science & Art Cabaret.
He has served as External Advisor to multiple MFA candidates (Vermont College, Maine College of Art, Guelph University); performed hundreds of studio visits with artists across the WNY region; served as Panel Chair several times for the Visual Arts at the New York State Council on the Arts; juried multiple local and regional art exhibitions; as well as lecturing, providing workshops, and visiting crits in North Tonawanda, Olean, Alfred University, Syracuse University, and Carnegie Mellon University. He has also served multiple times as a screener for the Ann Arbor Film Festival.
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 2026 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: January 9, 2026
- Finalists notified: January 16, 2026
- Finalist interviews: January 20-21, 2026
- Emerging Curator notified: January 23, 2026
- Program: January 2026 – January 2027 (detailed schedule TBD)
- Emerging Curator exhibition: November 13, 2026 – January 3, 2027
- Mentoring Curator exhibition: July 31 – October 26, 2026
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, camps, and parties for children and adults
- 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.
VisArts Solo Exhibitions 2026: Free, Open Call
VisArts invites artists working in all media to apply for 2026 solo exhibitions in the Gibbs Street Gallery, Common Ground Gallery, and Concourse Gallery. Exhibitions in each of the galleries explore the breadth of contemporary art and feature emerging to mid-career artists. Exhibits reflect a wide range of media and experimental approaches that offer the viewer unexpected interactions with art.
- The Gibbs Street Gallery is approximately 1,100 square feet with 16-foot ceilings. It’s at street level with floor-to-ceiling windows along one wall. International, national, and local artists are welcome to apply.
- The Common Ground Gallery is located on Floor 2 and is approximately 300 square feet. International, national, and local artists are welcome to apply.
- The Concourse Gallery is located on Floor 2 and is approximately 500 square feet. It has curved windows along one wall. International, national, and local artists are welcome to apply.
Applicants who’ve participated in a solo exhibition at VisArts within the past three years aren’t eligible to apply.
Application Deadline: Friday, November 14 at 11:59 PM
All VisArts calls are free.
Incomplete applications won’t be reviewed.
Floor Plans of Galleries
SketchUp plans for the galleries are available upon request.
Required Application Materials
- Application form
- High resolution images with captions for up to 10 works of art.
- Images must be in .jpg, .tiff, .png, or .gif file format with a minimum image resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels.
- Film and video pieces are welcome; two minutes of video, film, sound, or performance documentation equals one work. You may submit up to 10 minutes of film or video in total. Videos must be in .mp4 or .mov file format.
- Artist statement (200 words maximum)
- Artist bio (200 words maximum)
- Exhibition proposal
- Resume/CV
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:
- Award-winning art classes, camps, and parties for children and adults
- Critically acclaimed contemporary art exhibitions, programs + events
- Studio Artist and Emerging Curator programs
- VisAbility Art Lab and Accessible Arts Classes for artists with disabilities
- Community art workshops
- Art + Wellness programs
- Volunteer and internship opportunities
- The Rockville Arts Festival
These inspire new ideas, encourage self-expression, embrace diverse perspectives, and celebrate the visual arts as fundamental to a connected community.
VisArts is an active and important presence in the greater metropolitan arts community. We’re located in the heart of Rockville Town Square, a thriving gathering place for the neighborhood and surrounding cities. Rockville offers easy access to public transportation to Washington, DC via the Metro (Red Line), an excellent bus system, bike trails, and parking.