Open call for curators - Autumn 26

OPEN CALL for Curator in residence fall/winter 2026 // CIR26

GRAC will invite one curator or a curator duo to a residency program focusing on exploring the artistic scene of the Agder region in the south of Norway. The program will provide a deep dive into an interesting and developing region with a lot of momentum in the contemporary scene and an extensive cultural heritage.

The program is structured as

1) a three week stay in Kristiansand,
2) an independent working period where you plan an exhibition,
3) production of an exhibition with artists from the Agder region.

You will stay in Kristiansand during (approximately) 4-24 of September 2026. During these weeks GRAC will facilitate and take you on field trips, studio visits and events that will provide a thorough insight in the art scene of Agder.

(Approximately) 4-24th of September:
The goal of the first stay in Kristiansand is to provide you with the best overview and insight in the artist scene in Agder. You will live and work from Kristiansand while exploring the region together with GRAC. This period will be planned together with the GRAC team. We will take you on field trips and studio visits based on your field of interests and GRACs evaluation of who and what are the most interesting artists, institutions or spaces to show you. You will get the opportunity to get to know GRACs local network and take part in the cultural sphere in Kristiansand, a city with a lot of happenings parallel with it being easy to withdraw and work in calm surroundings. 

You will have enough time to work independently on either residency-related stuff or your other overlapping projects, while being surrounded by beautiful nature and peace and quiet to have work focus. You are also invited to explore more and make your own meetings/visits outside the planned schedule.

October-December:
The goal of this period is to plan and curate an exhibition that will be shown in GRACs exhibition space. You must evaluate the artists and works you have seen during your stay. We expect you to work independently and directly with the artists and plan the exhibition. GRACs head of production will work together with you to look at the possibilities of using our space and resources creatively, as well as planning for the production week. 

Late January/early February:
The precise exhibition period will be set together with GRAC, and depends on your schedule and amount of funding we get. The goal of the residency program is that you will curate and produce an exhibition. Our art space is the first floor of a 270 sqm industrial and rough old flour mill that can be used in various setups. The space is a multipurpose and cross-disciplinary room where we have the resources to show painting, sculptures etc., as well as sound art, video, food and performance. We encourage you to take advantage of these resources when curating your exhibition. 

Premisses:

• All artists taking part in the exhibition must get paid. This is a principle of GRAC, and even if the artists propose that you can borrow their work for free you must pay a minimum fee of 1000 NOK to them.
• The exhibition must be cross-disciplinary.
• You can include works from outside of Agder as well, but there must be a definite overweight from the Agder region (which is the purpose of the program). The exhibition is not where you can curate artists you already have in your network and want to promote further. This is why the program contains a longer planning period.
• All artists must invoice GRAC directly.

Who are you:

• Working as a professional curator, but being early on in your career
• You can be based anywhere in the world
• Must be able to work independently and live alone during your stay
• Have an interest in getting to know this specific region of Norway
• Have an interest in creating cross-disciplinary exhibitions

We cover:

• Housing in Kristiansand 4-24 september 2026 and during the production period in January/February (approximately one week)
• Daily office space at GRAC headquarters
• Travel expenses to a maximum of 20 000 NOK (To cover two trips to Kristiansand. Booked by us on your behalf.)
• A bicycle to use during your stay
• Field trips in the Agder region to artists, institutions and studios
• A fixed salary of 20 000 NOK (invoiced after 24.09). If you apply as a duo, you must split the salary.
• A production budget of 40 000 NOK. This can cover actual production costs for works made for the exhibition or as fees to artists for lending existing works for the exhibition.

We do not cover:

• Living costs, as food and beverage
• Travel outside the planned activities
• Tickets to events that are outside the suggested schedule from GRAC
• Travel or housing for friends or family that wants to visit your during your stay
• Salary and travel expenses are based on one person. If you apply as a duo you must split the set amount.
• Remaining amounts from the production budget can not be added as salary.

Application deadline 21st of Juni 2026 by midnight.

Please include the following attachements, and send to post.grac@gmail.com with subject tag “Open call 2026”:

• Your CV and portfolio
• Motivational letter
• Letters of recommendations (optional)
• You do not need to send a project description for the residency