Open call for exhibition proposals

Open Access: Exploring 130 Years of American Design / Open call for exhibition proposals. Due: June 28, 2026.

Van Alen Institute has spent more than 130 years at the intersection of design ambition and civic life. Its archive, comprising thousands of competition boards, jury records, photographs, and correspondence, is one of the most significant collections of American architectural history in existence. Much of it has never been seen by the public.

Open Access: Exploring 130 Years of American Design positions the archive not as a museum piece but as living material, something to be questioned, reinterpreted, and held accountable to the present. It also invites careful reflection on Van Alen’s 130-year influence within the field of design and upon the shaping of American cities.

For this request for exhibition proposals, Van Alen invites emerging designers and creatives of all disciplines to delve into the currently accessible portions of our archive and consider its material through the lens of open and fair access.

We are seeking proposals that provoke deep reflection on how the pursuit of greater access to design can and must progress into the future, both within the profession and as a tool to reckon with society’s greatest challenges. We welcome a wide range of creative approaches and encourage applicants to propose the medium that best serves their concept—architectural models, drawings, images, projections, video, photography, writing, or other media.

Projects can either respond directly to specific materials within the archive, such as competition prompts or submitted drawings, or engage the archive’s content more thematically. Projects that invite direct engagement and interaction are strongly encouraged, as are multi-disciplinary collaborations. Ideas for public programming to enrich your project, such as workshops, talks, or other events, are welcomed (but not required). 

Five projects will be selected and displayed together during the Open Access exhibition at Van Alen Institute, September 28–November 13, 2026. 

Eligibility
Applicants do not need formal architectural training. Individuals whose practices engage public space, cities, culture, or civic life are strongly encouraged to apply. This opportunity is open to emerging creatives across disciplines including but not limited to: Architects, archivists, artists, designers, educators, filmmakers, graphic designers, interdisciplinary practitioners, photographers, planners, researchers, scholars, and writers. Collaborative proposals are permitted; however, honoraria may need to be shared among collaborators.

To be eligible, applicants must:
–Be at least 18 years old
–Be legally authorized to work in the United States, or capable of receiving an artist honorarium
–Be available to participate in hybrid project check-ins between July and November 2026
–Commit to delivering exhibition-ready work according to the project timeline

Award
Selected participants will receive:
–3,000 USD honorarium
–Access to archival materials and curatorial support
–Mentorship from Van Alen staff, advisors, and invited professionals
–Inclusion in a public-facing exhibition at Van Alen Institute, September 28–November 13, 2026
–Opportunities to participate in public programming and related events
–Access to free materials through Materials for the Arts
–Professional documentation of exhibited work

For complete submission requirements, application instructions, thematic prompts, and selection of archival materials, visit here.

Open Access: Exploring 130 Years of American Design is made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts. Van Alen Institute's work is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and by the Goldman Sachs Office of Corporate Engagement through a grant recommended by Goldman Sachs Community Development Grants Program.