Deadline: 20-Oct-2025
Submissions are now open for Exhibition Proposals that aim to support curators in engaging deeply with contemporary artistic practices in the UAE. The initiative also encourages dialogue with broader Arabic-speaking geographies, including diasporic communities.
Instead of fully completed exhibition plans, applicants are expected to present focused curatorial concepts grounded in critical inquiry and open to evolution. Selected curators will collaborate with the 421 team over several months to refine their ideas, conduct research, and connect with local artists and practitioners.
Applicants are encouraged to reflect on questions such as the narratives shaping Arabic-speaking regions, emerging artistic expressions from marginalized areas, and the role of curatorial practice as a space for listening, translation, and reimagining.
One proposal will be chosen for further development. The selected curator or curatorial collective will participate in a research and workshopping phase with 421’s curatorial and programs teams. This process will include studio visits, introductions to UAE-based artists, and guided development of the curatorial concept.
The final exhibition must feature at least 50% UAE-based artists, though this is not required at the proposal stage. The 421 team will assist in connecting curators with suitable local artists during the development process.
The selected curator(s) will receive a competitive curatorial fee, which will be shared in the case of collectives. Full production support, including fabrication, shipping, and installation, will be provided by 421, along with exhibition promotion and interpretive materials co-developed with the curator and artists.
The exhibition will be hosted in Gallery 2 during the Winter/Spring 2027 season. Curators and curatorial collectives are invited to apply for this opportunity to develop and present their exhibition at 421.
For more information, visit 421 online.
