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You will submit this application online using AnyArtist.org. |
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| Activated: 04/30/2025 Deadline: 05/30/2025 |
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| Call Summary In 2026, the Contemporary at Blue Star will focus in on a theme of “community” in its exhibition program as we celebrate our 40th anniversary. Our intention is to both explore this theme in the content of the projects on view and to actively build local, national, and international networks that generate lasting connections and opportunities for artists and curators. The Sister City guest Curator Collaborations focus on international cultural exchange and expanding the Contemporary’s reach and network. We invite curators from the following cities to propose a solo or group project by living, contemporary artists from their city. San Antonio, TX’s Sister Cities include: Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico (1953) Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico (1974) Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain (1975) Gwangju, South Korea (1981) Kaohsiung, Taiwan (1981) Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain (1983) Kumamoto, Japan (1987) Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India (2008) Wuxi, People's Republic of China (2012) Windhoek, Namibia (2016) Darmstadt, Hesse, Germany (2017) The Contemporary regularly works with guest curators. Recent guest curators and collaborators include Fabiola Iza (Mexico City), C & (Germany); Jill Baird (Canada) and Greta De Leon (Mexico City), Christopher Blay (Fort Worth, TX), Sharmila Wood (Australia), Jacqueline Chao (Dallas), Amber Zora (South Dakota), Asmaa Walton (Detroit), Independent Curators International, and Risa Puelo (Chicago). |
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| Budget Description Four projects will be selected for exhibitions at the Contemporary in 2026. |
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| Project Description • Projects will be selected for exhibitions taking place in 2026. • Exhibitions will be on view June 5, 2026 – October 4, 2026 and July 10, 2026-October 4, 2026 in one of our 4 gallery spaces. • Curatorial Open Call Dates: April 25 – May 30, 2025 • Curators with selected project proposals will be notified by June 30, 2025. Overview of curator responsibilities if project is selected (full details outlined in agreements) • Scholarly exhibition statement and didactic exhibition material for wall labels, participating artist list, artist statements, curator and artist headshots, and artist and curator bios. • Inventory checklist of artworks in the exhibition to include photographs of each artwork, artist’s name, artwork title, year, dimensions, materials, sale price, and insurance values • Assistance coordinating incoming shipment with Contemporary staff and accumulation of works for international shipment as well as confirming receipt of outgoing shipping • Contact list for participating artists including email and phone number • 3-4 Zoom planning meetings in preparation for the exhibition • Exhibition layout and details of design, fabrication, and technology requests |
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| Eligibility For this opportunity, we are seeking curators and artists working together in the same city and/or in relationship to the same city. This framework holds potential for an impactful exhibition that will result in a project that provides a perspective from the inside out, rather than an outside curator coming in and only accessing the surface of an art ecosystem. • Curators must be based in one of the below Sister Cities of San Antonio or have strong ties to the city and share how they are connected to it if they do not currently live there. o Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico (1953) o Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico (1974) o Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain (1975) o Gwangju, South Korea (1981) o Kaohsiung, Taiwan (1981) o Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain (1983) o Kumamoto, Japan (1987) o Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India (2008) o Wuxi, People's Republic of China (2012) o Windhoek, Namibia (2016) o Darmstadt, Hesse, Germany (2017) • Artists featured in the exhibition must be located in one of San Antonio’s Sister Cities. • Curators may be independent curators or affiliated with an institution. |
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| Application Requirements | ||||
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Biography Resume: 3 page(s) maximum Letter of Interest: 1000 word maximum Project description 500-1,000 words detailing the curatorial vision for the exhibition with name(s) of the artist or artists you will feature in the exhibition. References: 2 |
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| Artists are NOT allowed to apply in teams. | ||||
| Additional Requirements | ||||
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| Selection Information | ||||
| Selection Process Proposals will be reviewed by the Contemporary's Curator and Exhibitions Director and Executive Director. |
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| Selection Criteria Proposals will be evaluated based on if they meet eligibility standards (curators and artists being located in one of San Antonio, Texas's Sister Cities. The ideal projects will highlight contemporary, living artists and be in line with the scope of projects executed by the Contemporary at Blue Star. We are seeking innovative, contemporary projects, and are not limiting subject, themes, or material. |
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| Timeline • Projects will be selected for exhibitions taking place in 2026. • Curatorial Open Call Dates: April 25 – May 30, 2025 • Curators with selected project proposals will be notified by June 30, 2025 • Exhibitions will be on view June 5, 2026 – October 4, 2026 and July 10, 2026-October 4, 2026 in one of our 4 gallery spaces. |
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| Additional Resources | ||||
| https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/px619z872sl4yl2s6ee2u/AMxiwsz5sxyMxj6KdZ4w9Zk?rlkey=lwpd624f9kj06i9wbcgy8cml2&st=ppm2qi2u&dl=0 | ||||
| Letter of interest-project description example (PDF) | ||||
| Proposed checklist sample (PDF) | ||||
| Project description example 2 (PDF) | ||||
| Checklist sample 2 (PDF) | ||||
| Contact Information | ||||
| Jacqueline Saragoza McGilvray Curator and Exhibitions Director 116 Blue Star San Antonio TX 78204 United States jack@contemporarysa.org (210) 227-6960 |
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| Submission Instructions |
