Emerging Curator Residency Program, Curatorial Internship and Curatorial Photography Internship Program
Montréal Québec H3H 2S6
Canada
Aiming to continuously rethink and re-examine the scope and the boundaries of “curating architecture,” the CCA launches the call for the Emerging Curator Residency Program 2026–27, soliciting ideas for projects that take innovative curatorial approaches and experimental formats. The Program offers the opportunity to propose and curate a project at the CCA related to contemporary debates in architecture, urban issues, landscape design, and cultural and social dynamics while completing a residency at the CCA.
Proposals should bring a compelling curatorial model to current architectural discourse, using the project as a tool to generate ideas, question established positions, introduce new research themes, and critique prevailing modes of practice, with the aim of advancing new thinking for architecture and the built environment. Particular attention will be given to projects that situate architectural discourse within broader interdisciplinary contexts, point to overlooked areas of knowledge, and engage plural and diverse voices.
Projects may take many forms, including an editorial initiative, a program of seminars or research colloquiums, public events or workshops, a collection-based project, web and social media content, a documentary film, or a physical or virtual exhibition. Interdisciplinary and collaborative practices are encouraged. Proposals must clearly articulate the relationship between format and content.
The program includes a mentorship period designed to familiarize finalists with CCA culture and curatorial procedures. Three finalists will be mentored remotely by the CCA curatorial team over two months (September–October 2026) to refine their proposals and receive feedback. At the end of the mentorship period, the CCA will select one project to develop and produce in collaboration with the selected Emerging Curator. The two other finalists whose projects are not realized will have the opportunity to publish their research on the CCA website.
The call is open architects, journalists, designers, critics, historians, photographers, artists, and other scholars and professionals who are 30 years of age or younger on 1 January 2026 are eligible, regardless of citizenship or place of residence. Collective or collaborative proposals are welcome, though financial support remains the same and must be shared among members. All submissions must be new projects, not previously presented, published, or realized. Application deadline is 9 March 2026.
The selected candidate will complete a three-month residency at the CCA in Montréal to develop and implement the project with the CCA team, working closely with the institution’s resources, collection holdings, and curatorial expertise. The residency will take place between January and June 2027. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2028.
Each finalist will receive a support fee of CAD 1,000 for participation during the mentorship period. The selected Emerging Curator will receive CAD 12,000 to cover travel, housing, and living expenses for the three-month residency. Project production costs will be funded by the CCA. The scope of the project and residency timing will be confirmed in consultation with members of the CCA’s curatorial committee.
Past recipients include Andy Lu Lee, who will launch his film and exhibition American Remediation later this year, and Yutong Lin, who recently released Zomia Garden as part of the CCA Singles series, alongside Clarissa Lim Kye Lee (Making Mamak), Joyce Joumaa (To Remain in the No Longer), Niklas Fanelsa (Patterns of Rural Commoning), Evangelos Kotsioris (Lab Cult), Sben Korsh and Maxime Decaudin (Market Landscape), Robert J. Kett (Prospects Beyond Futures: Counterculture White Meets Red Power), Víctor Muñoz Sanz (Off:Re:OnShore), Francesco Garutti (Misleading Innocence), Carrie Smith (Best Supporting Actor), and Dan Handel (First, the Forests).
Since 2021, the Emerging Curator Residency Program has replaced the Emerging Curator Program offered by the CCA since 2011, and is generously supported by the Power Corporation of Canada.
We also invite applications for the Curatorial Internships Program, a nine-month internship in Montréal for young professionals to become acquainted with the CCA’s curatorial approach, and the Curatorial Photography Internship Program, also nine-month internship in Montréal focused on editorial and curatorial work in photography. Application deadline is 9 March 2026.
For more about our curatorial, publications, films, research, exhibition and public programs, and more opportunities, visit our website. To keep in touch, subscribe here.
