Gulbenkian Exhibitions Fund: Portuguese & Lusophone African Art in UK

Deadline: 27-Apr-2026

The Gulbenkian Exhibitions Fund, launched by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation UK Branch, provides grants of up to £30,000 to UK-based, not-for-profit arts organisations. The fund supports exhibitions and projects presenting contemporary artists from Portugal and Portuguese-speaking African countries, aiming to enhance visibility, audience engagement, and international artistic exchange. Projects must take place in public physical venues between June 2026 and August 2027.

Overview

The Gulbenkian Exhibitions Fund supports UK arts and cultural institutions in presenting contemporary artists from, or based in, Portugal and Portuguese-speaking African countries. The fund encourages UK organisations to expand international programming, increase audience engagement, and foster cross-border artistic exchange.

The initiative aligns with the UK Branch’s strategic priority to promote international exchange and strengthen connections between Portuguese-speaking regions and the UK cultural landscape.

Funding Details

• Grant amount: Up to £30,000 per project

• Project period: June 2026 – August 2027

• Number of awards: Limited; funding is competitive

• Eligible costs: Costs incurred by the UK hosting institution delivering the project

Purpose and Objectives

The fund aims to:

• Expand UK-based programming of international arts from Portugal and Portuguese-speaking African countries

• Increase visibility and recognition of artists from these regions, particularly through first-time or step-up exhibitions

• Engage UK audiences with contemporary arts from Portugal and Portuguese-speaking African countries

• Strengthen organisational capacity of UK-based, not-for-profit institutions to deliver high-quality exhibitions and projects

• Foster cross-border artistic exchange and dialogue between Portugal, Portuguese-speaking African countries, and the UK

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants must be:

• UK-based, not-for-profit arts organisations or institutions

• Museums, galleries, festivals, or biennales that can manage the project and deliver the proposed activities

• Organisations responsible for hosting the project in a physical public venue

Purely online or private initiatives are not eligible.

Eligible Projects

Supported projects may include:

• Solo or group exhibitions and showcases

• Multidisciplinary presentations

• Art film retrospectives

• Touring or site-specific projects

• New commissions or presentations of existing work

Projects may involve multiple partners and touring, but the grant agreement will be signed with a single UK hosting institution. Eligible artistic fields include visual arts, moving image (including film), and performance/performing arts when presented within an exhibition context.

Projects focused primarily on architecture or design are not eligible.

How to Apply

Applicants should:

1. Confirm eligibility as a UK-based, not-for-profit arts institution

2. Develop a detailed project plan, including objectives, activities, timeline, and budget

3. Submit an application in line with the Foundation’s guidelines before the deadline

4. Ensure the project will take place in a public physical venue between June 2026 and August 2027

Expected Outcomes

Grantees are expected to:

• Enhance the international visibility of contemporary Portuguese and Lusophone African art within the UK

• Increase audience engagement and appreciation of arts from these regions

• Strengthen organisational expertise and capacity for international programming

• Foster cross-border collaborations and long-term connections between artists, institutions, and cultural professionals

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Who can apply for the Gulbenkian Exhibitions Fund?
   UK-based, not-for-profit arts organisations and institutions, including museums, galleries, festivals, and biennales.
2. What is the maximum grant amount?
   Up to £30,000 per project.
3. What types of projects are eligible?
   Projects presenting contemporary visual arts, moving image, or performance/performing arts within an exhibition context. Architecture or design-focused projects are not eligible.
4. Can online or private initiatives receive funding?
   No, projects must take place in physical venues open to the general public.
5. Can projects involve multiple partners or tour?
   Yes, but the grant agreement will be signed with one UK hosting institution, which will cover eligible costs.
6. What is the project timeline?
   All supported projects must take place between June 2026 and August 2027.
7. Can existing works be included?
   Yes, the fund supports new commissions as well as presentations of existing works.

Conclusion

The Gulbenkian Exhibitions Fund supports UK-based arts organisations in presenting contemporary artists from Portugal and Portuguese-speaking African countries, fostering international exchange, audience engagement, and organisational capacity-building. Through competitive grants of up to £30,000, the fund strengthens the visibility of Lusophone arts in the UK while encouraging cross-border dialogue and collaboration.

For more information, visit Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.